The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is accepting applications for the 2015-2016 academic year. The deadline to apply is March 1.
Since its inception in 1962, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has awarded 33,000 scholarships valued at nearly $90 million to students nationwide. In the current 2014-2015 academic year, 96 students from and/or attending school in Arizona have received more than $272,000 in scholarships from the foundation’s Arizona Campaign.
These Arizona students have proven themselves to be focused and career minded, boasting an 86 percent graduation rate—more than double the national average. Eighty-nine percent attend four-year universities, and 50 percent are first-generation college students.
“My father has raised both my sister and I with the Marine Corps values: honor, courage, and commitment,” said Austin Parris, Arizona scholarship recipient. “Living by these values have helped me get to where I am today. I thank you for this incredible opportunity to take my education to a higher level and for helping me on my journey to become a Marine officer.”
To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be the child of an active duty, reserve or veteran U.S. Marine or U.S. Navy Corpsman who has received an honorable discharge or was killed while serving in the Corps. The student must meet income requirements, have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and plan to attend an accredited higher education institute. Special attention is given to children whose parent has been killed or wounded in action. To apply, visit www.mcsf.org and apply by March 1.
“The sacrifices Marines make are legendary, but sending their children to school shouldn’t be one of them,” said Antonio Rosacci, Arizona Campaign Scarlet & Gold Committee chairman. “We award a college or vocational school scholarship to every eligible applicant as our way of recognizing the service of that Marine or Navy Corpsman parent.”
The Fifth Annual Arizona Awards Dinner will be hosted on May 9 to celebrate local students and honor the community that supports them. To learn more about the Awards Dinner, scholarship eligibility or opportunities for corporations and individuals to get involved, visit mcsf.org.