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Award winners shop till they drop

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kali L. Gradishar
  • 92nd ARW Public Affairs Office
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Before the base commissary opened its doors, Fairchild's 2006 Military Annual Award winners participated in a competitive shopping spree at the commissary on the morning of April 11, as a small audience of supporters cheered them on. It was the first year that more than one award winner had the opportunity to partake in the event. 

"This is done in recognition of the award winners and in honor of the folks who serve our country," said Eric Quantock, the commissary's store director. "It's a different way of saying thanks." 

Participants raced around the store, some filling their grocery carts to the brim and others being more wary of the total cost of the items they gathered. The goal of the shopping spree was to collect as close to, but not exceeding, $200 in groceries in two minutes. Each award winner was allowed to have an assistant, but it was not required. 

Staff Sgt. James Lorenzo, 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, and his wife, Cami, won the contest by obtaining only $92 worth of groceries. All other contestants went over the $200 limit. All of the contestant teams were able to keep up to $200 worth of groceries. 

The winning team received a commissary gift check for $108. That totaled the grocery allowance at $200, they also won an additional $200 worth of gift certificates to the commissary. 

The other annual award-winning contestants were 1st. Lt. Cassandra Bates, 92nd Security Forces Squadron, Senior Master Sgt. Dan North, 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Master Sgt. Hollis Severns, 92nd SFS, along with their assistants, and Senior Airman Amos Smith, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron. 

"I thought it was a great thing to do for all the annual award winners and it brought us all together," said Sergeant North. "We were just out there to have fun, but the $200 of groceries was nice."