Military Education Scholarship Winners
VA Mortgage Center.com is proud to announce the five winners of our fourth semi-annual Military Education Scholarship Program. The five individuals we have selected all displayed remarkable strengths in numerous areas and wrote impressive essays about how their military experiences will prepare them for their careers. Congratulations to Jacob, Donna (for Zachary), Alicia, Terrence (for Allison), and Brandon. We thank you for serving our country proudly, and we hope that you are successful in your educational endeavors.
The Military Education Scholarship Program was put on and funded solely by the joint efforts of the employees of VA Mortgage Center.com. We support all of the servicemen and women that give so much for our country, and we enjoy working with you every day. Thank you.
Winner Profiles
Jacob Haider - ROTC
Jacob's Military career is only in the beginning stage as a member of ROTC, but very soon he will be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He is currently in his third year attending Saint John's University, studying Political Science, History, and Philosophy, as well as Military Science as a cadet in ROTC. Being a cadet in ROTC has helped him become a much stronger student and benefited him in almost every aspect of his life, showing him very clearly the immense potential to be unlocked through discipline.
Serving in the Military combines his desire to serve his country with his dreams of becoming a politician and helping to make a better world. Once he has concluded his service as an officer in the U.S. Army, he plans to immediately set to work becoming a politician and dedicate his life to this great nation, working to make not only the United States but the world as a whole a better place.
Zachary Hornberger - Son of Donna Hornberger - Captain U.S. Air Force
Donna's Military journey began in 1985 when she enlisted in the Army straight out of high school. After four years of active duty, she transferred to the Arizona National Guard, where she also began attending nursing school. In 1998, she decided to return to the Military and was commissioned into the Air Force as a nurse. Her essay highlights just a few of the amazing opportunities she and her family have had the pleasure to experience.
This scholarship will go directly to her eldest son, Zachary, who is pursing an undergraduate degree in Physics with a minor in Biology. His long-term goal is to enter medical school so he can "pay it forward."
Alicia Swartz - Air Force ROTC
Alicia is currently enrolled in AFROTC at the University of Missouri. She will graduate and be commissioned in May 2010. She decided to join the Military because of her love for her country and desire to give to the community.
She wrote about how being in ROTC helped her to become a better student and made her realize how important it is to be physically fit. After ROTC helped her become more aware about how to get fit, she now strives to help other people by using those skills.
Allison Thompson - Daughter of Terrence - U.S. Navy
Terrence originally joined the Navy due to a lack of direction in his life. The Navy provided direction and a future, and his career took him from a lowly and confused airman to the pinnacle as a proud and confident squadron Maintenance Chief, the most demanding job in the Navy. His career taught him to always be knowledgeable, decisive, and to trust his coworkers. These qualities have proven timeless and invaluable as they have served him from the beginning of his Naval service and still function now as he approaches the downward leg of his career with the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
His daughter Allison, is a junior at East Carolina University majoring in elementary education. She would like to obtain her Master's Degree prior to departing ECU, and has her eye on the administrative aspect of education. She added, "With a strained economy and ever increasing tuition and housing costs, this award is truly a God send. Thank you."
Brandon Rhodes - Junior ROTC
Brandon has been involved in the JAFROTC program with his high school since he was a freshman. Since then, his unit has been awarded the distinguished unit award beating out over 200 other high school programs. He commands the unarmed drill team while participating in the award-winning armed drill and inspection teams. The program has taught him discipline and allowed him to hone his leadership skills. Additionally, his program participates in over a dozen community service project throughout each school year.
Brandon plans to participate in the AFROTC program in college while studying to earn a criminal justice degree and eventually be commissioned in the United States Air Force to proudly serve his country. He would recommend JROTC to any high school student. He says it is a good way to meet people and learn about honor in service.
Past Winners
You may also be interested in checking out the winners from our May 2008 contest and the November 2007 contest, as well as the winners from our first contest, held in May 2007.
More About VAMortgageCenter.com
VA Mortgage Center.com is a leading provider of VA Loans and other VA lending products in association with the VA Home Loan Program. Each year, our VA Specialists work with thousands of new and existing VA Benefit-eligible homeowners to secure the home loan solutions that are right for them.
As mentioned, our Scholarship Program is 100% funded by the employees of our company. We hope our Scholarship Program helps make a difference in the lives of our customers and the service member community through the pursuit of higher education.
Brought to you by the employees of VA MortgageCenter.com
