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*List of scholarship recipients below.
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - Marine Corps Recruiting Command recently conducted the Pedro Del Valle and Frederick C Branch scholarship boards March 24-27, awarding 20 scholarships to highly qualified men and women who want to become Marine officers.
“Of the 20 selected, 302 applied for the scholarships,” said Mrs. Jeanette Northan, NROTC Program Manager, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. “It’s very competitive, each year the competition gets harder."
The 302 applications received this year are the most the program has ever received, says Northan. Approximately seven percent are accepted annually, making this year one of the most competitive years to date.
More than 200 competed for the FCB scholarship, 17 were awarded. For the PDV scholarship, more than 146 applied, 3 were awarded.
Applicants must be between 17 and 23 when they apply and must score a 74 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Applicants must also score a 22 or higher on their ACT or a 1,000 or higher on the SAT (combined reading and math).
All applications are evaluated by a board of MCRC personnel who carefully review each application and grant the scholarships to the most qualified individuals.
Applicants are scanned for scholastic achievement, SAT scores, GPA, ASVAB scores and other factors, says Lt. Col. Charles Jennings, President, NROTC Selection Board. However they are also looked at from the “whole Marine” concept. Board members look for leadership roles they’ve had, volunteering, activities that show how they’ve demonstrated integrity, morale courage and other intangible qualities.
The scholarships are named after two Marine Officers, Capt. Frederick C Branch and Lt. Gen. Pedro Del Valle. Branch commissioned as a second lieutenant on Nov. 10, 1945, and became the first African-American Marine officer. Valle became the first Hispanic to reach the rank of Lieutenant General. The Marine Corps honors their success by offering scholarships to students wanting to attend either a Historically Black College or University or a Hispanic Serving Institute with an NROTC programs.
Although students are required to attend either an HBCU or HSI, students of any race or ethnic background who meet the moral, mental and physical requirements it takes to become a Marine officer may apply for the scholarships.
“The scholarships are one way we help deserving students who want to be Marines that have leadership abilities to become Marine Officers,” said Jennings.
The scholarship pays tuition and academic fees, a book allowance and monthly subsistence of $250 for freshmen, $300 for sophomores, $350 for juniors and $400 for seniors. The scholarship does not cover room and board.
Following college graduation, Scholarship recipients will attend Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va., a 10-week course where candidates are trained to become Marine Officers and receive their commission as second lieutenants in the United Stated Marine Corps.
“One of the best feelings I’ve ever had was graduating from OCS,” says Jennings. “For me it was the honor and the privilege I had to lead Marines. Anyone who aspires to go for the scholarships has to have the drive to lead.”
Anyone interested in applying for the scholarships can get more information on the application process at http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/apply.aspx. For more information about the Marine Corps or what it means to be a Marine Officer call 1-800-MARINES to get in contact with the nearest recruiter or visit http://www.marines.com/becoming-a-marine/commissioning-programs/four-year-colleges/nrotc.
*Recipients of the 2015 Frederick C Branch (FCB) and Pedro Del Valle Scholarships (PDV) are:
Isaac Arce, Miami, FL (FCB)
Brianna Benavidez, Brownsville, TX (FCB)
Rashieq Cockerham, Winston Salem, NC (FBC)
Kourtland Daughtry, Houston, TX (FCB)
Matthew Evans, Temecula, CA (FCB)
Eriana Glover, Hartsville, SC (FCB)
John Gomez, Davis, CA (FCB)
Monica Guerrero, Corpus Christi , TX (FCB)
Wendy Guzmancastro, Adkins, TX (FCB)
Sheridan Hart, Long Beach, CA (FCB)
Jacob Kelly, San Antonio, TX (FCB)
Cody Kickertz, La Porte, TX (FCB)
Deiante McBride, Eatonton, GA (FCB)
Kayla Paulsel, Montgomery, TX (FCB)
Darius Richardson, Roscommon, MI (FCB)
Joshua Sandiego, Aurora, IL (FCB)
Matthew Wawiernia, Eagle, MI (FCB)
Roland Cox, Las Vegas, NV (PDV)
Daniel Flores, Cypress, TX (PDV)
Ricardo Padilla, Montrose, CO (PDV)
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2015 17:08 |
| Story ID: | 159560 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 173 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Marine Corps Recruiting Command Selects NROTC Recipients, by Cpl Francisco Martinez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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