Madison Long, 13, is in good company.

The Woodbrook Middle School, Lakewood seventh grader was recently selected as a semifinalist for Operation Homefront's 2011 Military Child of the Year Award. Nominees were culled from submissions from around the world, with 20 children from each branch of service - 100 in all - continuing to the semifinal round. Ideal candidates "demonstrate resilience and strength of character, and thrive in the face of the challenges of military life," according to a Feb. 7 Operation Homefront press release.

Madison, who lives on Joint Base Lewis-McChord with her father, 497th Transportation Company Staff Sgt. David Long, mother Suzanne and brothers Devin, 15 and Brandon, 11, was nominated in January by Suzanne.

Madison has battled epilepsy since the age of 5 and suffers from sporadic and unpredictable Grand Mal seizures. "She's not negative about it at all," Suzanne said. "She doesn't feel sorry for herself and has never complained."

She's even used one of her seizures as a teaching opportunity. While in the 5th grade, Madison suffered a seizure in class and had to be taken to the hospital. Instead of being embarrassed - like many her age would be - she returned to school the next day and explained her condition to her classmates.  "If I don't tell them what happened, they'll be scared," she said, noting that one classmate said he was afraid to touch her because he thought it would trigger a seizure.

Many kids with Madison's condition are afraid to play sports, Suzanne said, but Madison "would rather live her life and enjoy it versus watching other people do what they do." She likes football, and was one of only three girls to play on her school's football team this year - even earning a "Best Defensive End" award for her efforts.  She also played basketball for the school, and will soon start volleyball as well.

Madison also spends time with her cancer-stricken grandfather, and while at an Operation Purple Camp last summer she volunteered to help clean up the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery. She is also a good student who enjoys photography and is on the yearbook staff at her school.

These are some of the traits that led Suzanne to nominate her daughter for Military Child of the Year, a fact she kept hidden from Madison until last week, when she learned that she had made the semifinal round. Madison was the only Army youth from Washington to make the list.

While "shocked and pleasantly surprised," Suzanne said it makes her feel good "that someone else sees what I see. ... She deserves some recognition."

Each semifinalist will be interviewed by staff from Operation Homefront, and the 20 finalists (five from each branch) will be announced March 4. A committee made up of active-duty servicemembers, Family Readiness Support Assistants, teachers, military mothers and community members will determine the winners, who will be announced on March 9.

For the first time this year, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine Corps will each have its own winner.  The win brings with it a $5,000 prize as well as a trip to Washington, D.C. for a recognition ceremony to be held April 7.

"It's cool," said Madison of the accolade. "If I win, that'll be a really big shock."

For more information about Operation Homefront, visit www.operationhomefront.net.