Sumter military child wins prize for academic achievement

The daughter of a Shaw Air Force Base airman won the third-place prize in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's You Made the Grade sweepstakes.

Col. Richard Brown, 20th Mission Support Group commander, and Leatrice Peyton, Shaw Exchange main store manager, presented a $500 Exchange gift card to Bree Dippold during a ceremony on Tuesday at the Shaw Exchange.

"Bree is a bright student, and the Exchange is honored to recognize her academic achievement," Peyton said in a news release. "Her resilience and determination make her an inspiration to military children around the world."

First- to 12th-graders who maintain a B average or higher can enter the sweepstakes for a chance at a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 Exchange gift card. Bree was randomly selected from more than 1,000 entries.

Bree and her two younger sisters entered the sweepstakes after their mom heard about it on Facebook, and after applying two or three times, they were on a road trip to Florida when her mother found out Bree won.

Bree is the daughter of Technical Sgt. Darrell Dippold and his wife, Ashley. Dippold has served 15 years in the U.S. Air Force, the last three years at Shaw Air Force Base in the 20th EMF Squadron, and has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Their daughter will turn 12 in August.

When she isn't studying or doing homework, Bree enjoys playing video games, but she plans to use her prize money on more practical things.

"I'm probably just going to buy school supplies," Bree said. "Maybe some shoes and clothes."