ROTC Scholarship certificate or award?

For my DS his guidance counselor reached out to the local ROTC cadre., which is the school where he interviewed but not where he will be attending. They will be sending someone to his award night. Not sure if it would have happened if he hadn't got the ball rolling with guidance though
 
No recognition for DS at his award ceremony either. o_O Seems like a missed opportunity for the Air Force, although DS would rather not have the fuss made over him.
 
No recognition for DS at his award ceremony either. o_O Seems like a missed opportunity for the Air Force, although DS would rather not have the fuss made over him.
Same here, no recognition for DS last year. DS felt why should he be recognized when his classmates are going to Ivy Colleges, Hopkins, Duke, Rice, Swathmore, etc. Still feel kids entering Military & public service jobs should be recognized:(
 
Same here, no recognition for DS last year. DS felt why should he be recognized when his classmates are going to Ivy Colleges, Hopkins, Duke, Rice, Swathmore, etc. Still feel kids entering Military & public service jobs should be recognized:(
Most universities offer financial incentives to attract students to "their" school. The "recognition" is a business model. Thus, no special recognition in the school awards setting. ROTC is more in the realm of the recognition given to National Merit Semi-Fianalists/Finalists, who "entered" a national competition hoping to "win" a scholarship. The recognition to the ROTC winners and SA entrants is not only appropriate, but important, because the competition is more broad based than the other awards and the "service " requirement is a unique admirable aspect in a world that does not promote "give back." JMHO
 
Sons graduating class is well over 1000. You had to receive an invitation to even attend senior awards night. Just disappointed that a Naval ROTC or Air Force ROTC Scholarship doesn't even make the list where at some schools it's celebrated and recognized.
 
Our school is small (graduating class around 110-120), and the ironic thing is that he'll be recognized for a couple of small scholarships but not the full tuition + college-provided room and board. It really isn't so much to get him recognized as to let others know of the great opportunity provided by ROTC programs. This is a poor county - average household income is around $33,000 per year - and 4 year college is just plain out of reach for many, despite grades, SAT scores, and extra curriculars. Sometimes I think I need to look into starting a JROTC program at the school.
 
Our school is small (graduating class around 110-120), and the ironic thing is that he'll be recognized for a couple of small scholarships but not the full tuition + college-provided room and board. It really isn't so much to get him recognized as to let others know of the great opportunity provided by ROTC programs. This is a poor county - average household income is around $33,000 per year - and 4 year college is just plain out of reach for many, despite grades, SAT scores, and extra curriculars. Sometimes I think I need to look into starting a JROTC program at the school.

76035d1407656289t-hes-right-you-know1.jpg

I could not agree more with your comment. I teach at the school where my son attended, so I have some background on the inner workings of "office politics." DS had to arrange to have someone make the presentation at the awards ceremony (school does a separate "scholarship night" for local scholarships) which was in front of the entire student body and parents (about 800 kids). There was an audible "gasp" when the $ amount of the scholarship was mentioned.

I had a student that graduated in 2016, who knew at conception :) that he was going to be a Marine. He had the grades, activities and apptitude to pursue a NROTC/MO scholarship. I suggested that he pursue it, but his father was adamant about him enlisting. Nothing against enlisting in the military at all (I did, after all), but it was amazing that his father was so dead-set against it.
 
DS is going to college near our home (45 minutes away) so I directly contacted the University's NROTC Captain to ask if anyone ever came to honor's night to present an NROTC scholarship award. I mentioned that our school has very little military participation and thought that it would be a good recruiting tool also. He was unable to come, but in his place, he arranged for two Navy recruiters to come to our honor's night. It was the last of the specialized scholarships that were presented. The Petty Officer was amazing! He recognized all of the veterans in the audience, used humor, talked about what it takes to get the scholarship, and much more. My son was so proud! They actually presented him with the giant check and a bag of Navy items for him to give his parents. We had quite a few parents approach us after the awards night was over saying they thought it was the best part of the night!

So what I am saying is that I took the initiative myself to get things started. After just barely missing getting into the Academy (he made it all the way to the Waitlist before his TWE) and repeatedly telling people that 'no I didn't get in' even after people like coaches, etc. just assumed that he did, it was a nice recognition for all of his hard work, and an acknowledgement that he would still indeed serve our country proudly!
 
Just getting ready for my DS' senior awards night tonight. Two petty officers from the regional recruiting office will be there to present the big check. When he was awarded his ISR they said someone would be at awards night, then his contact at the office contacted him a few weeks ago to find out when the awards night would be. DS won't admit it, but I think he is really happy they will be there. I will openly say I am thrilled they will be there. He worked very hard for this, not just this year, but during his entire youth to put himself in a position to earn this scholarship and he deserves to be recognized. (And he knows the real work has just begun)
 
Just getting ready for my DS' senior awards night tonight. Two petty officers from the regional recruiting office will be there to present the big check. When he was awarded his ISR they said someone would be at awards night, then his contact at the office contacted him a few weeks ago to find out when the awards night would be. DS won't admit it, but I think he is really happy they will be there. I will openly say I am thrilled they will be there. He worked very hard for this, not just this year, but during his entire youth to put himself in a position to earn this scholarship and he deserves to be recognized. (And he knows the real work has just begun)

Exactly...his entire youth! DS didn't decide to go NAVY until December of his junior year in high school. Luckily he had already accomplished a lot, just because of the kid he is...Boy Scout, youth group, volunteering, sports, etc. and I, too agree that he deserved to be recognized.
 
Just getting ready for my DS' senior awards night tonight. Two petty officers from the regional recruiting office will be there to present the big check. When he was awarded his ISR they said someone would be at awards night, then his contact at the office contacted him a few weeks ago to find out when the awards night would be. DS won't admit it, but I think he is really happy they will be there. I will openly say I am thrilled they will be there. He worked very hard for this, not just this year, but during his entire youth to put himself in a position to earn this scholarship and he deserves to be recognized. (And he knows the real work has just begun)
Just realized your picture is U of M. That's where DS is going...are you in Michigan?
 
No, we are in California. We communicated last month when your DS received his TWE from USNA and opted for his NROTC Scholarship at U of M. My DS set yours up on the GroupMe chat for incoming freshmen. Not sure if you have your orientation date yet, but we are going July 5-7. The roommate he selected is going at teh same time.
 
No, we are in California. We communicated last month when your DS received his TWE from USNA and opted for his NROTC Scholarship at U of M. My DS set yours up on the GroupMe chat for incoming freshmen. Not sure if you have your orientation date yet, but we are going July 5-7. The roommate he selected is going at teh same time.

DS and his freshman roommate (also NROTC) spent quite a bit of time "bonding" via their PS4 over the summer, before they headed to school. When they arrived at campus, they'd already built a pretty solid relationship.
 
No, we are in California. We communicated last month when your DS received his TWE from USNA and opted for his NROTC Scholarship at U of M. My DS set yours up on the GroupMe chat for incoming freshmen. Not sure if you have your orientation date yet, but we are going July 5-7. The roommate he selected is going at teh same time.
Geesh. Should look before I reply. Been a long couple of weeks! Didn't look too close at the name...you changed the picture, right? I am obviously very visual! Also, he tried to get that date but the earliest date available was July 23rd!
 
Geesh. Should look before I reply. Been a long couple of weeks! Didn't look too close at the name...you changed the picture, right? I am obviously very visual! Also, he tried to get that date but the earliest date available was July 23rd!
Yes, I added a profile pic. Figured it was time to really rep DS' school. The first time DS tried to get that date, it was not available. He went in about a week later to pick another date and it was available again, so who knows?
 
I was sent an email from ROTC to fill an application to have my scholarship awarded.
 
Our school is small (graduating class around 110-120), and the ironic thing is that he'll be recognized for a couple of small scholarships but not the full tuition + college-provided room and board. It really isn't so much to get him recognized as to let others know of the great opportunity provided by ROTC programs. This is a poor county - average household income is around $33,000 per year - and 4 year college is just plain out of reach for many, despite grades, SAT scores, and extra curriculars. Sometimes I think I need to look into starting a JROTC program at the school.
The easier thing to start is a Navy League it is separate from the school (thus making it easier to start) but it still will give same benefits of a JROTC. You need to find a sponsor Like a local Veteran group) and you can find officers at bases near by or retirees that can pass background to at least give guidance. It can be Mommie run but if Mommie didn't wear combat boots find one that did. PLEASE!!
 
The easier thing to start is a Navy League it is separate from the school (thus making it easier to start) but it still will give same benefits of a JROTC. You need to find a sponsor Like a local Veteran group) and you can find officers at bases near by or retirees that can pass background to at least give guidance. It can be Mommie run but if Mommie didn't wear combat boots find one that did. PLEASE!!

I did wear combat boots (Army Nurse Reserve) and DH was enlisted Navy. There are no longer ANY active bases in Michigan, other than Coast Guard. I probably won't start a JROTC, but I wish someone would.
 
The presentation for these things is very special, and well deserved. My son's was for his appointment to USMA, and the whole packed auditorium gave him a standing ovation, led by his classmates who jumped up in unison. We loved every second, and although my son is the quiet shy type, I know he did too.

I agree that it is ridiculous that some schools don't provide the requisite time for the academy and ROTC presentations. I realize that the awards nights do take a long time, on a weekday evening, but there are a lot of better ways to streamline the process, than refusing to acknowledge the accomplishments of those who are committing themselves to defending the country, and had to outperform virtually all of the people in the room to earn the award. At our school they do every little scholarship separate, so most of these kids, including mine, has to step up and shake hands like six times or more, instead of having them all get up there and announcing all the separate scholarships for each kid one time. Either way though, these ROTC scholarships and academy appointments are hard to get, and require a commitment beyond what anyone else has. Those kids should get all the love they deserve.
 
Son doesn't care. He said that he didn't apply for a scholarship for a few seconds of fame at a high school awards assembly. I'm just disappointed because son is such a humble kid, always puts others first and mom wanted his moment. :(

He is going to be recognized for a few local scholarships he received $500-1000 but that scholarship he received valued at $180,000 won't even be mentioned.
It's a chance to offer inspiration to the school as a whole. I hope he gets recognized somehow for his leadership and hard work!
 
Back
Top