Awards Ceremony

T

Texasblues

5-Year Member
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Jan 23, 2010
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Hi Everyone....well the time is near for our DS or DD to be graduating. I can't believe it's finally here. I was putting together a bunch of photos from DS's senior year and I can't believe how much he's grown! Just 9 months ago before football season he looks like such a kid and now suddenly he's a young man! :eek:

So, has anyone experienced the scholarship awards ceremony? I was wondering if anyone has had an officer present the award to their DS or DS. Tomorrow morning will be our presentation and the officer from the university DS will be attending will be presenting the national scholarship. I'm excited and looking forward to it!:smile:
 
Sounds like a lot of fun.

The PMS from the school my son will be attending offered to do the Big Check scholarship presentation at his High School.

Unfortunatly my son attends a High School in Seattle, the school does not have a good relationship with anything military. When the AROTC came to our school the administration required signed permission slips from parents for any student that wanted to attend. Recruiters can drop off their material but they are required not to wear their uniform and are not allowed to talk to any students while they are in the building.

Having the PMS award the scholarship at school is considered by the administration as recruiting so it is a no go.

My son just smiled and said, "That figures, Oh well"

Enjoy the ceremony, take lots of pictures.
 
Texasblues, You will be crying during this ceremony so take tissues! My youngest was acknolwedged for his SA appointment last year and their are no words to describe that moment. The little boy is all grown up!

My oldest AROTC DS had a similar situation to jcleppe. No mention of ROTC scholarship allowed. (We lived overseas at the time, and the "American" school wouldn't even acknowledge the Service Academy appointees.

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, I had the Embassy's Army Foreign Affairs Officer and the biggest Army Master sergeant I'd ever seen surprise my son at his graduation dinner (20 kids and family) poolside at a very crowded restaurant. (Let's just say that most of the American Expat population was in that restaurant including the principal of the school..:wink:)

After the MSG had barked out DS's accomplishments, his scholarship, value of the scholarship, his future plans, etc etc etc the entire retaurant was dead silent listening. The Foreign Affairs Officer then presented him with a certificate, shook his hand for the photographer (Dad) and got to relish in the loud applause from the people at the restaurant.

:biggrin:
 
singaporemom said:
Texasblues, You will be crying during this ceremony so take tissues! My youngest was acknolwedged for his SA appointment last year and their are no words to describe that moment. The little boy is all grown up!

My oldest AROTC DS had a similar situation to jcleppe. No mention of ROTC scholarship allowed. (We lived overseas at the time, and the "American" school wouldn't even acknowledge the Service Academy appointees.

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, I had the Embassy's Army Foreign Affairs Officer and the biggest Army Master sergeant I'd ever seen surprise my son at his graduation dinner (20 kids and family) poolside at a very crowded restaurant. (Let's just say that most of the American Expat population was in that restaurant including the principal of the school..:wink:)

After the MSG had barked out DS's accomplishments, his scholarship, value of the scholarship, his future plans, etc etc etc the entire retaurant was dead silent listening. The Foreign Affairs Officer then presented him with a certificate, shook his hand for the photographer (Dad) and got to relish in the loud applause from the people at the restaurant.

:biggrin:
Click to expand...

Great story.

The program they print for my son's graduation ceremony has a page that lists scholarships, We made sure that our first son's scholarship was listed and made sure our youngest's will be listed this year.

As a side note, my son wears his US Army T-shirt and Sweatshirt to school almost everyday, he just smiles as he walks through the halls. When my son takes the time to explain the Scholarship, ROTC and the Army to those who ask or will listen, the kids usually change their tune and congratulate him, he says it's a nice feeling.
 
Usually the kids are very proud for those that receive these great honors. Both of my DS walked pretty tall those last weeks of school. Congrats to your son!

When the counselors (Texas School) requested a list of youngest son's scholarships, he listed the 3 ROTC and 4 schools they covered, his 2 civilian full rides, plus USNA appointment. You could have heard the air suck out of the room when they totalled it all up to 1.3 million dollars. The counselors sit up and take notice when one of their students make THEM look good.
 
The ROO from a school(not where my son attends but another state school) a couple of hours away drove all the way over last year for our scholarship night and presented the large check to my son. It was truly amazing to see and those in attendance clapped very loudly and we heard many "wows" in the crowd.

Enjoy the evening, it's priceless!
 
That is awesome that another officer would make that effort. It just proves that your son has made the right decision to join this honorable profession.
 
I told my JROTC instructor that I had received an Army scholarship. So, he called the local recruiting office and a SFC came down and presented my scholarship on the awards night. It was a very humbling experience. You could hear people whispering "oh my God" and things like that under their breath through his short speech (which I thought was very tasteful, comparing the battle for an education to battles in a soldier's career). I received a standing ovation and I have several great photos from it.
 
Just got back from a Awards Ceremony, LTC from U. Ky. qave DS and another senior -
ROTC Scholarships, no big check, a certificate in a green portfolio.
He announced the value of the scholarships to audible gasps from the audience.
We are very proud, DS's 2 Grandmas and Grandpa were there.

The show stopper of the evening however was the mother of a class of 2000
graduate of DS's High School, who presented a scholarship in honor of her son,
He went Marine ROTC at the Citadel, and was killed in Ninewa province in 2008.

Thunderous applause, long standing ovation, and not a dry eye in the house.

Mom interviewed every scholarship applicants personally,
read every essay on 'What Patriotism means to me'

United States Marine Corps Captain Warren A. Frank, Semper Fidelis
Arlington Page

Details

Wife, Allison, and daughters Sophia and Isabella. Guestbook


Arlington Memorial Video
 
Surprised

There were 3 boys with ROTC scholarships at my son's school. Two marines presented the award for the first boy who had a Navy scholarship to Notre Dame and then a current teacher, ex USMA, presented to the two boys with Army ROTC scholarships. No huge checks but the entire gym gave them all a standing ovation - the only one during the ceremony.

Graduation was three days later and again the three were singled out and given another standing ovation by all in attendance. We live in the Midwest and there isn't a strong military culture so was quite surprised by this response.
 
gojack...What a moving experience that must have been. Thank you for sharing. My eyes tear up and a lump catches in my throat when I hear these stories.

The thunderous applause and standing ovations are in small part in regards to the monetary value of the education, but I think that that is just the WOW factor to get their attention. The vast majority of America gets it. They know that these young men and women are making sacrifices not only during their college years but for many years to come. And of course, it does not go unnoticed the danger that our kids will be in. They are being trained to serve our country, and with that is the possibility of the ultimate sacrifice.

For all of the parents on this forum, GOD BLESS YOU for raising such incredible children. Many are just starting on their path to the military, some are hitting stumbling blocks, and some have just had their commissioning ceremony.

To all the kiddos out there who have learned that serving this country is an honor, you have our unconditional support, love and respect. GOD BLESS YOU.
 
Awards night yesterday.:smile:
Big thanks to Maj. Fulton from the U of AZ. He represented Cadet Command for daughter's college in New York. I know that he didn't have to be there especially since she decided to forego U of AZ (which by the way is a great group of people). He presented the big check, certificate in green army folder and posed for pics. Thanks so much. Prior to that she was getting some flak from kids who were saying that it wasnt a real scholarship since it was the Army. They backed up quite a bit when he talked about the commissioning upon graduation as a 2Lt.
 
Not to burst any bubbles, but we are required to be there (if we can). ROO's are sent a list of scholarship winners in their footprint, and have to do their best to go present and recognize the winners. Personally the big check is a little bit overkill sometimes. When you sit through three hours of local scholarships from the local sub shop or the memorial scholarships, it's a little embarrassing to to stand in front of the whole towns in the gymnasium with a publisher clearing house check. I usually play it by ear, but I think most people "get it" without the prop.

Old hats like me don't mind going and doing these ceremonies. It's part of the job, and it's an opportunity to plant some seeds. At my main feeder school I went from 1 award to 3 to 6 and to 9 last year. Back down to one this year, but that's the nature of the beast. At that particular school I attend the JROTC award night, and also go to the school senior award night, so the winners get double recognition. Doesn't matter what school they are planning to attend, just that they be recognized.

Just wanted to share a little peak behind the scenes.
 
No burst bubbles here. I do appreciate the hard work you do as well as that of your associates. Many of the kids forget that there is more here than just money, that we are talking about service to country and committment after college.

Thanks to you too.
 
My DD just had her awards night this past week and the PMS from the local university (not where she is going, but the one who interviewed her), came and presented the AROTC (Nursing) scholarship. He did a great job and emphasized service to country over monetary benefit (she had asked prior to forego the big check and just go with the certificate). You could tell he had done a few of these before! My DD recieved a great applause and many complements afterwards. A great night for sure!
 
DS has his graduation on June 4th. AROTC at Rutgers is coming to present his scholarship at graduation. His school doesn't have an awards night and luckily there is only 2 High School seniors graduating! He goes to a very very small private HS in NJ. We are all looking forward to it and will let you know how it goes!
 
Class Standing

Congratulations to you and best wishes to your son. Apparently class standing (top 50% or bottom 50%) was not an impediment.
 
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