Photo By Sgt. Lilliana Magoon | The Disponett Family, along with Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, pose with Alana...... read more read more
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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The students and faculty of Seventy First High School sat on the football field bleachers for what they believed to be an end of the year assembly. Little did they know, the Army Golden Knights Parachute Team would soon perform to honor their fellow student.
The 82nd Airborne Division awarded Alana Disponett, a graduating senior, the Junior Paratrooper of the Year for her resiliency, contributions to the unit and community, and involvement in extracurricular activities. She was able to achieve it all while enduring the challenges of being a military child.
As part of the ceremony, Disponett was presented with several certificates, checks, a laptop and printer from various organizations connected to the 82nd Abn. Div.
“It was a very huge surprise. But I'm very thankful,” says Disponett.
Alana Disponett is the daughter of Maj. Chris Disponett, who is a part of the Division's 307th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. Due to the requirements of his career, Alana has moved to eight different schools, three of them being high schools.
There are several military children in the unit who face similar challenges. By being named the Junior Paratrooper of the Year, Disponett is able to represent them.
“It means a lot to be able to represent them,” says Disponett. “I can explain how hard it is.”
Despite the constant moving, Disponett has a full scholarship to Western Kentucky University, where she plans to pursue psychology.
“What she's been able to do through her dedication and putting in hours outside of the classroom, it's not just emblematic of what a lot of military children do, but it's unique,” explained Lt. Col. Kwame Boateng, commander of the 307th Eng. Bn.
The Junior Paratrooper said that she was inspired to pursue psychology because she likes to study and help people.
Disponett's passion for helping others does not stop there though. She has contributed her time to her father's unit on several occasions.
On one particular occasion, Disponett volunteered to help design a memorial dedicated to every fallen paratrooper since WWI. She also invested her time to create dog tags for every paratrooper named in the memorial.
“She's getting ready to go through a major transition herself. She's getting ready to go to college,” says Boateng. “That's typically not the time where you start becoming a community service volunteer, but she did that.”
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2021 15:02 |
| Story ID: | 397612 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG , NC, US |
| Web Views: | 92 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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