KIRTLAND AFB, New Mexico -- Kirtland Officers' Spouses' Club gave out $19,000 in scholarships to 16 Kirtland AFB community students, at the Mountain View Club, May 13.
Col. Mohsen Parhizkar, 377th Air Base Wing vice commander, said, "The volunteers at the Thrift Shop were great contributors to this effort. They really put their hearts into the scholarship program and it paid off"!
Scholarship recipients:
High School
William Clinger, Eldorado
Rachel Currie, Hope Christian
Victoria DeLillo, Moriarty
Jessica Fox, Cibola
Lauren Flynn, Rio Rancho
Robert Hougas, La Cueva
Ashley Keeton, Highland
Andrew Lamb, La Cueva
Aubrey Meissnest, Highland
Matthew Morelock, Eldorado
Melaine Peterson, Cibloa
Jamie Rariden, Moriarty
William Rodriquez, Eldorado
Patrick Wallace, La Cueva
Continuing Education
Melissa Williams-Frank,
University of Colorado
Military Spouse
Kimberly Cunningham, College of Santa Fe
The KOSC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit association that raises funds to sponsor charitable, educational and welfare projects here and in the local community, including awarding scholarships to deserving students within the military community.
The annual scholarships are usually $500 to $25 and are given to high school seniors, continuing education students or spouses who have not earned a four-year degree. The KOSC can change the scholarship amounts on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants must have a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and must be planning on attending a four-year college, junior college or vocational school. All applicants must be a dependent of a military member who is on active duty, National Guard or Reserve that is stationed here or living within 50 miles of the base. If the sponsor is deceased, the applicant must be able to prove benefits based on the family relationship.
Continuing education students must have completed a minimum of six credit hours at an accredited post-secondary education institution and provide a sealed transcript with the application packet.
Scholarship applicants were judged on SAT and ACT scores, academic honors and awards, school and community involvement, activities, leadership experience, work and volunteer experience and three letters of recommendation. Applicants were also judged on a 500-word essay based on the topic, "How has your association with the military impacted your life."
For more information on the club or scholarships, go to the KOSC Web site, http://kirtlandosc.com or send an e-mail to KirtlandOSC@yahoo.com.