By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
Nov. 4, 2009
Elaine.wilson@dma.mil
I owe my college degree to the military.
I had more than 100 credits under my belt when I dropped out of college in my junior year. I was in love, got married and started working full-time. I attempted to take a class here and there, but it was a struggle with bills to pay and a house to run.
When I joined the Air Force at 28, I again became passionate about finishing my degree and took full advantage of the military’s programs. More than a decade after I started, my college diploma arrived in the mail and I couldn’t have been prouder. I still feel proud, and grateful.
I’ll always be thankful to the military for that and am a huge fan of its amazing education programs.
Today, I found a great example of the military’s ongoing efforts to support education. The Defense Commissary Agency is offering free college money to high school or college students from military families.
The agency opened its 2010 Scholarships for Military Children Program to applicants Nov. 3. Scholarship applications are available in commissaries worldwide and online through a link at https://www.commissaries.com and directly at http://www.militaryscholar.org.
Since the program began in 2000, it has awarded $7.3 million in scholarships to nearly 5,000 children of servicemembers, an agency release said.
The program is an example of commissaries supporting their local communities by helping to improve the quality of life for military families, said Defense Commissary Agency Director and CEO Philip E. Sakowitz Jr., in an agency release.
“Being part of something that makes higher education more affordable for military families is thrilling, as we feel it makes a better future possible for their children,” Sakowitz said. “The program awards $1,500 scholarships to well-rounded, accomplished servicemembers’ children, enabling these families to save some on their children’s tuition.”
At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary location with qualified applicants.
Only dependent, unmarried children, younger than age 21 — age 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university — of active-duty, Reserve, Guard and retired military members; survivors of servicemembers who died while on active duty; or survivors of individuals who died while receiving retired pay from the military may apply for a scholarship. Eligibility is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database.
The applicant must be planning to attend, or already be attending, an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2010, or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.
Applicants should prepare to submit an essay on the following topic: “You can travel back in time; however, you cannot change events. What point in history would you visit and why?” Applications must be turned into a commissary by close of business Feb. 17.
For more information, visit www.commissaries.com or www.militaryscholar.org.
If you know of a great way to save for college or a unique scholarship program, don’t hesitate to share.
This is an awesome story. I also owe my college education to the military. I joined in 1985 with no understanding of the MGIB (Montgomery GI Bill) or other education opportunities, 20 years later I retired with 3 associates, a bachelors and a masters degree. I am the only one out of my family to have completed a college education and it was due to the fact I wore the Air Force blue uniform. Thanks Air Force.
Now another question, I run a youth program on base and we provide scholarships to youth through the SMART Program, a scholarship program through the United States Bowling Congress. I am looking for sponsors so we can provide incentives to our youth bowlers. Any one having an idea where i can look for assistance can email me at Hill AFB. My email is vivian.hughes@hill.af.mil
I’m posting this on behalf of a reporter:
I’m doing research for a national magazine and would love to hear from you or your readers who would be up for sharing their insights. The story is on couples and money differences and I’m trying to see how people have solved/worked through their financial issues.
I’m looking for a married couple in their 20s or 30s who have different points of view when it comes to saving and spending or credit or debit–and it’s a source of conflict. Maybe one lives for the present, the other wants to save for the future? Or one takes risks with stocks the other wants it all in the bank. One’s a tightwad and the other’s a spendthrift. I’d need to use real names and indicate where they live and their ages, but other than that wouldn’t need much detail.
If interested, e-mail kerryjaneshaw@gmail.com by Nov. 16.