Excelling students receive commissary scholarships

  • Published
  • By Airman Anthony Jennings
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Six students received scholarships presented by the Eglin Commissary, May 27. 

Forty-six students applied for the Scholarships for Military Children, a program administered by the Fisher House Foundation, which offers military children the chance to earn a $1,500 scholarship. This is the eighth year the commissary has given out the scholarships. 

The students six who won the scholarships are: 

Brianna Bikker, Patrick Fitzgerald, Lauren Halbert, Thomas Reho, Whitney Schmieder, and Ryan Urenda. 

"Community involvement is what the Eglin Commissary is all about and Scholarships for Military Children is one way to show we care," said Luana Harris, store manager. 

Scholarships are offered yearly to qualified children of U.S. military ID card holders, to include active duty, retirees, and guard and reserve members. Graduating high school seniors and students currently enrolled in a four-year program are eligible to apply. 

A minimum of a 3.0 grade point average and demonstration of community involvement were among the requirements for consideration. This year, applicants were also required to submit an essay about what they would place in a time capsule to help people opening the capsule in the next century understand military life today. 

"It's no surprise that these are some impressive kids," said Col. Rick LoCastro, 96th Air Base Wing vice commander. "Some of them have better resumes than many adults I know." 

One of the winners, Brianna Bikker, said the scholarship helps to relieve some of her stresses of continuing her education beyond high school. 

"It's tough trying to balance school, family, church, a social life and sports," she said. "This scholarship helps out a lot because it eases one of the stresses of going to college--and honestly we'll take all the help we can get."

Applications for Scholarships for Military Children are accepted from November to February each year. For more information visit www.militaryscholar.org