Afton Terry came to the United States six years ago from the Democratic Republic of Congo, when she was adopted by Laura and Jonathan Terry. Afton, now a sixth-grader at Arundel Middle School in Odenton, Md., has been selected as the winner of the second annual 3M Play to Win Award presented by the Military Bowl and 3M. Her dad, Jonathan, is a U.S. Air Force major stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland.

The 3M Play to Win Award honors one of the region’s most deserving student-athletes. Coaches, parents, guardians, friends and others can nominate students in fifth through eighth grades for the award.

“One of our goals with the 3M Play to Win Award is to recognize local youth that demonstrate resilience and tackle challenges head on,” said Skip Driessen, 3M Government Markets Marketing Operations Manager. “Afton Terry defines the essence of this award and we are honored to recognize her.”

Afton is a competitive Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter, and, along with her father and grandfather, is an ardent fan of the University of Virginia and Washington Redskins. When she arrived in the U.S., Afton did not know a word of English, speaking only her native Lingala. By the time Afton enrolled in school the following fall, she was fluent in English.

As this year’s winner, Afton will receive four complimentary tickets to this year’s Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, as Virginia Tech plays Cincinnati on Monday, Dec. 31, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. She also will receive a prize package, will be on the sidelines for the start of the game and will run onto the field to retrieve the kicking tee after the opening kickoff.

“The Military Bowl is unlike other college football bowl games in that it has a larger purpose, which appeals to us,” said Rory Yanchek, vice president and general manager, 3M Government Markets. “Proceeds go to the United Service Organizations (USO) in support of veterans and their families who may benefit from rehabilitation and retreat centers. For 3M, it’s a privilege to be able to serve those who serve by engaging even further through the 3M Play to Win Award.”

The game, which begins at noon ET, will be televised on ESPN.

Learn more about 3M’s involvement with the Military Bowl and Play to Win Award. For the latest updates, visit www.militarybowl.org.

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