FORT RUCKER, Ala. (April 21, 2015) -- The strength of Army family inspired one Fort Rucker Elementary School sixth grader to create an award-winning piece of art and earn the admiration of her peers.
Last November, FRES students completed hundreds of drawings in support of the Month of the Military Family. Those drawings were submitted to a Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation competition and Gabby Balanta, a student at FRES, was chosen as the winner.
Gabby's artwork was featured on the cover of this month's edition of "@ Ease," which she did not discover until coming home from school one recent afternoon.
"I was really happy," she said. "I didn't realize it, but my mom had the magazine at home. I saw the cover and realized it was my picture."
Gabby is the daughter of Staff Sgt. Mario Balanta Cruz, U.S. Army Aeromedical Center, and Alfa Polanco Firas. She has two sisters, Andriana and Andrea. And her family was present for an assembly recognizing Gabby's accomplishment.
"I know it was quite an honor," Sylvia Patrick, FRES sixth grade reading and science teacher and Gabby's homeroom teacher, said. "She was recognized in front of the entire school and given her prizes from (DFMWR) for winning the contest."
According to Patrick, the award was well-deserved.
"It was a wonderful surprise and I am proud of her," Patrick said. "She is a very hard working young lady. She takes her academics seriously. So, an award in this area of creativity just highlights another one of her wonderful traits."
The award-winning artwork features a prominent statement: "My family is Army Strong."
Gabby knows the definition of "Army Strong" and her family demonstrated resilience while her father was deployed at the beginning of the school year.
"Some families have members who are deployed," she said. "The rest of the family works together to take care of things.
"When you are the oldest, you help your younger siblings with their homework," she added. "And you also have to finish your own homework."
Although military life can be challenging, Gabby said she enjoys the opportunities available to her family.
"You can to move to different places and see new things," she said.
However, Gabby admits some aspects can be difficult.
"You have to make new friends," she said. "The working parent also has to make new friends, get to know new co-workers and maybe even learn a new language."
Gabby is no stranger to speaking more than one language. She speaks English and Spanish, a skill that has given her the opportunity to make her family more resilient.
"I sometimes help my mother with translations when we go shopping," she said.
According to Patrick, Gabby's accomplishment was a career first.
"It is such an honor to have a student become a published artist," Patrick said. "I have never had a student become a published artist in my entire teaching career. It is a wonderful thing."
For more information about the Month of the Military Child or to view the latest edition of "@ Ease," visit www.ftruckermwr.com.
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