One of the military community’s premier benefits has become even more valuable to 700 college and high school students.
The annual Scholarships for Military Children Program winners have been announced.
Approximately 5,000 students applied for the scholarships at commissary locations worldwide. All of the recipients are listed at www.militaryscholar.org, the official website for the program.
Samara Barbee of Oakboro is a recipient of a $2,000 college scholarship awarded at Fort Bragg North. Fort Bragg North is one of more than 250 commissaries operated worldwide by the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA).
Samara’s parents are Howard Barbee III and Lisa Barbee. Samara is enrolled, or plans to enroll, at Covenant College.
Samara’s school and community activities include: volleyball, MVP; basketball, All State; basketball Coach’s Award; Kids Sports Camp Assistant Coach; Honors Chemistry.
The Scholarships for Military Children Program was initiated in 2000 to award scholarships to graduating high school seniors or college-enrolled students.
The scholarship program is open to qualifies sons and daughters of members of the U.S. Armed Services including active duty, retirees, guard/reserves, as well as children of deceased military personnel. Applications are turned in through commissaries.
Applicants for the 2018 program were required to maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average, participate in voluntary school and community activities, demonstrate leadership qualities, and write an essay on “With the development of high speed internet you are now living in a world that is completely different than 20 years age. What are the pluses and minuses for society and the family? How would you address the minuses?”
Manufacturers and organizations that do business with the commissary system funded the scholarships with money ordinarily used for various other contests and promotions.
Samara’s scholarship at Fort Bragg North was funded through the generosity of Fisher House Foundation.
The Fisher House Foundation administers the Scholarships for Military Children Program through Scholarship Managers, a professional scholarship management services organization.
Fisher House is known for building the military comfort homes near military medical facilities.