A Kaneohe mother of three has been selected as a national finalist for military spouse of the year.
The wife of a Marine is the only person from Hawaii to make the cut.
"I have been a military spouse for 11 years now and we have three gorgeous little boys, very active and a little puppy," said Kerry-Ann Ellington.
Originally from Jamaica, Kerry-Ann and her husband, a 1st Sergeant in the Marine Corps who recently returned from Afghanistan, moved to Hawaii three years ago. Kerry-Ann's family thought she'd be a great candidate for 2012 Military Spouse of the Year.
"I was really shocked, honestly, because there's a lot of us. There's 1.1 million spouses, so to get nominated and to get chosen I was like oh wow its shocking but it was truly an honor," she says.
In addition to her role as full-time mom and wife, the columnist works four part-time jobs helping military families and volunteers in her community.
"Once I came up with an idea of how I can affect the community I went ahead and said I think I can do this," Kerry-Ann says.
The 30 year-old who studied communication at the University of Southern Florida, where she met her husband, has launched a platform to change the education system for children of military families.
"I'd like to see all of the schools on bases be changed from regular schools to Department of Defense schools and I'd also like to see us implement one standard curriculum. So that way, kids have an easier transition when its time to move from base to base," she says.
Kerry-Ann knows first hand what its like to move children from one place to another; the family was stationed in California before coming to Hawaii. She says if a standardized curriculum were offered other children across the globe might have an easier transition too.
"You know we want to make sure we equip them with the best education possible to get there," she says.
Kerry-Ann is one of 30 finalists in the competition. Online voting is underway and ends next Friday. If she wins Kerry-Ann will be featured on the cover of Military Spouse Magazine.
