WASHINGTON -- A $5 million scholarship announcement was made by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to students and their families at the Library of Congress Sept. 13.
Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Micheal P. Barrett and Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer presented scholarships to 25 students who represented the 1,600 recipients worldwide.
Since May 28, 1962, the foundation has provided a total of 26,500 scholarships valued at more than $65 million to Marine children. As the foundation nears its 50th anniversary, the event provided an opportunity to celebrate its outstanding achievements.
The foundation is the oldest and largest need-based scholarship foundation provided for military children in the country, said Margaret B. Davis, president and chief executive officer of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
Students receiving the scholarships understand what their parents have sacrificed through their service to Corps and country.
“When I found out that I received the scholarship, I was really honored because I know how prestigious it is and what it is trying to accomplish,” said Charles Meyer of Kingsville, Md., a student at Towson University.
The foundation’s goal is to provide every child of a Marine a scholarship.
During the ceremony, retired Marine and philanthropist Chuck Scianna announced his $2.5 million gift to the foundation.
“Marine children are among one of the best investments anyone can make,” Davis said.
Trying to find ways to give back to Marines, the Corps first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War, Dakota Meyer decided to start his own initiative.
He announced the Sgt. Dakota Meyer Scholarship initiative, a $2 million scholarship initiative to benefit the Marine Corps Scholarship foundation.
Meyer intends to raise $1 million and is challenging America to “show the world how patriotic they really are” and match him dollar for dollar. Meyer has set the goal to have a total of $2 million raised by May 28, 2012, the 50th anniversary of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
"I chose to partner with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation on this initiative because of our common mission of supporting Marines and Navy Corpsmen families. Education paves the path for our future, and the money we raise will lead to a brighter future for the sons and daughters of many Marines," Meyer said.
To join the challenge visit www.DakotaMeyer.com