Base dependants receive scholarships

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anne Gathua
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas --  Commissaries are an integral part of the quality of life offered to servicemembers and their families and for Elizabeth Wells, Brent Danner and Brittany Danner, a load was made lighter when they found out they were this year's winners of the Commissary Scholarships for Military Children. 

The scholarship program was created to recognize the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family community. It is the intent of the program that a scholarship funded through contributions be awarded annually for each commissary operated by the Defense Commissary Agency worldwide. 

The SFMC program is primarily funded through the generosity of manufacturers and suppliers whose products are sold at military commissaries worldwide. A minimum of one $1,500 scholarship is awarded at every commissary location where qualified applications are received. More than one scholarship per commissary may be available based on response and funding. The scholarship provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other related expenses. 

"The participants have to submit their grades, write an essay, be recommended by their teachers and have personal references," said Mr. Don Rouse, the Goodfellow Air Force Base commissary store director. 

All dependent, single children under the age of 23, of active duty personnel, reserve, guard, retired military members and survivors of deceased members with dependent identity cards are eligible to apply for a scholarship. 

Applicants must be enrolled, or planning to enroll in a full-time undergraduate degree program at an accredited college or university in the fall term of the year the scholarship is awarded. All applicants must also have a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 4.0 basis to be eligible to apply. 

Mr. Danner, a computer and electrical engineering student at Baylor University and his sister Ms. Danner, a nutritional sciences student at Texas Tech University, heard about the scholarship program from a friend who was a past winner.

 "All I had to do was fill out an application and write an essay titled, 'Military Life in the Twenty First Century'," said Mr. Danner. "I was very excited when I found out I had won. I knew it would be very competitive and I really needed the money to help ease the financial burden that college puts on me." 

Ms. Danner said she was thrilled to be among the winners and she urges future participants to take time to fill out the application and write the essay. 

The entire application and selection process is independently managed by Scholarship Managers, an international, nonprofit scholarship service organization. 

Since 2000, the scholarship program has received 40,002 applications and given out more than $5 million in awards to military family members around the world.

 "Out of 27 applicants at Goodfellow, three won $1,500 each," said Mr. Rouse. 

Mr. Danner said his parents, Dave and Barb Danner were very appreciative because the scholarship money would help ease the college expenses. 

"A lot of people don't know about this fantastic program," said Mr. Rouse. "We are honored to be part of it. Military families struggle with expenses of sending children to college and by doing this we are enhancing life for them. This program helps contribute to the dependant's future endeavors by giving them an opportunity to get better education which ultimately equates to better positions later in life." 

Ms. Danner, whose goal is to become a registered dietician, wrote an essay titled 'What would you place in a time capsule to help people opening the capsule in the next century understand military life today'?

"I am very grateful for this award," said Ms. Danner. 

Mr. Danner, who is currently in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Baylor, is set to commission as a second lieutenant when he graduates. He plans to either be a pilot or an engineer for the Air Force.

 "I would like to thank the commissary for their generosity and tell future participants it is worth the effort to fill out the application and write the essay," said Mr. Danner. "Take your time and give it your best effort. The hour or so you spend filling out the application may help you be a winner."

 For more information call x3357/58 or visit www.commissaries.com