Venting a little...

[NavyMom24]

Not a free ride when they have to serve after graduation.
Not a free ride when they have to fill out the next of kin form.
Not a free ride when they have to pick a life insurance beneficiary at the age of 22.

Not to mention, not a free ride when you need to provide the name and contact information for your dentist.....

 

[cb7893]

Please don't take this the wrong way, just wanted to add another perspective,

No, I do not. Your points are absolutely correct.

I live in a state which makes in state tuition very affordable. It is also the residence of Warren Buffet whose late wife's foundation leaves no one behind.. I also know many folks who complain about the cost of tuition, but whose sons and daughters have been allowed to choose higher priced options.

My comment about DS's situation was really only meant to recognize the fact that there are men and women in uniform, like your nephew, whose sacrifices, privations, and proximity to danger are much greater than his. a this point.

 

[KeyzCat]

SA got told to go to Communiyr College for his first year not understanding that to accept the ROTC scholarship he has to go to the chosen school. He doesn't want to have to pay his half. He thinks it would be less expensive. Heck he even is refusing to get Hunt the money his Dad gets for him starting college from VA. At least his school does reward hard work so if he does his work and passes PT test he can get bumped to 3.5 year. I just hope Hunt gets a couple local awards toningt at the Class night. During other awards nights the students that have signed up for Reserves or Active Duty were given their awards by recruiters but those that warned ROTC scholarships were not included. We did get told today that Thursday morning the Military Affairs Committee wants them to attend a recognition reception at 7am (We live on Big Pine Key and Key West is a 45min drive ) I appreciate they are doing something for all of our kids but I live in insomnia land a lot of times (like tonight/this morning) so getting up at 5 am ugh thought I was past thise days , but I guess it will be good for some more early morns for the kid. LOL Congrats everyone your kids earned their distinctions. This evening is our school's scholarships nigh (They have had 2 awards events already this is the last one) DS only applied for community service based awards since most of the scholarships for our area are for hospitality majors , medical and minorities which excluded Native Americans even though he has been the only Native American at his school til this year when a Frosh NA joined KWHS. So the smallest minority of 1 for senior class and was not covered under minority scholarship.He like;y will only get one if the 20 1K scholarships since he found out at honors event yjere is someone getting 1018 hours vs Hunt's 719

 

[Dckc88]

Today my DD's school had their senior awards assembly. With such a big class they do not mention everyone's awards and scholarships during graduation they just print it in the program. Instead they have an assembly during school to be able to recognize everyone's achievements. So today one of the administrators who is also in the Reserves (I think he said he is a Master Seargant?), called up my daughter and a young man going to USAFA to the stage. He explained what it meant to apply for and win a national ROTC scholarship (for my daughter) and an appointment to USAFA, and that they each were getting financial benefit to pay for school, however, he was very specific to say the bigger accolades went to how each of them were committing to train during their college careers how to be leaders of our military and to serve our country as officers in their respective branches. He commended each of them on their academic achievement, athletic achievements and leadership and gave them each a single rose. It was very classy, I have to admit I was a little teary eyed and proud that she is making this choice and working hard to get there. There were few parents there since it was during the day, however, I thought it was great that the under classmen got to see what is possible and might be interested enough to look into one of those paths for their own futures.

I just wanted to share, because it was a great moment. It was really nice that the school did that on their own to recognize them and took the time to explain what it all meant, since we have been discussing on this thread how most people don't understand it. I asked my daughter if she was surprised, she said she was, but even more surprised how long she had to stand up there while he explained everything! I personally thought that was the best part!

 

[Capri120]

Even though many of the parents, family, friends, etc. of the other seniors at my DD's graduation may not have fully understood an appointment to USAFA, her ALO, a Lt Col in uniform, presented her with a certificate and read a nice "explanation" of what the appointment meant along with other nice comments.

DD's class gave her a standing ovation, which quickly became an entire audience standing ovation. This was the one point I almost lost it during the entire graduation ceremony, even her ALO was having a hard time holding back the emotions.

 

[QA1517]

Here's something to think about in all this discussion. Even if people (other parents) are snotty, don't understand, jealous, or un-appreciative of the sacrifice made by the kids that receive these scholarships and appointments, most of them are so self absorbed that after the car ride home they've forgotten about your kid anyways.

 

[nofodad]

Here's something to think about in all this discussion. Even if people (other parents) are snotty, don't understand, jealous, or un-appreciative of the sacrifice made by the kids that receive these scholarships and appointments, most of them are so self absorbed that after the car ride home they've forgotten about your kid anyways.

I'd bet sooner than that...

 

[KeyzCat]

Well Scholarship night the first scholarship presented was a SSG from FIU (The closest college) He had another presentation folder and read the "This is a $133050 award or something like that and the whole auditorium did the WOW and applause he also got his already presented $500 from Lower Keys Golf Association and a $100 from a family that has a memorial scholarship that awards a $1000 scholarship this year in addition to the $1000 winner they gave all 12 kids that wrote a essay on why dive safety is important a thank you card with $100. The memorial is for their son who died at 16 while spear fishing. He was low on air but was trying to get this one last fish but he went too deep and his friend who was being his dive buddy was also low on air so they came up with out the needed decompression stops and because he had to be intibated the hyperbolic chamber at NOAA and on the Navy Base at the Army dive school can't accomidate a intibated patient so it took 6 hours for them to find a chamber on the main land but it was too late. It is stuff like that that really turned it around for me we were sitting there wanting to hear our kid's name called for this or that scholarship but 90% of the scholarships that were being given at his school were memorial scholarships with a majority of those being memorials for kids that didn't get a Senior night. With a few being because of accidents like the dive tragedy. I had DS go to the forndation's page and learn about that kid and why they are working so hard not just raising money for scholarships but also to have a hyperbolic chamber that can accommodate a intibated patient in Marathon so it is closer for lower and upper lower Keys emergencies that will not survive having to find a main land chamber. They usually can not be flown because that adds more atmospheres to the 'bendz'. I just thought I would share that I had a real WAKE UP moment when he got a gift just for writing an essay and probably wasn't thinking about the family was asking them to write the essay because this is a place where kids dive most without certifications because they grew up diving, freediving and spear fishing it is island kids version of Mainland kids learning to ride bikes. If your DS/D got a memorial scholarship or a few look up the person /foundation and find out about the person the scholarship is memorializing it definitely made me see that 'consolation' prize as the biggest thing he got that night. PS DS's Dad figured out he is a bozo and he is sending a check today so first semester is paid for YEAHHHH And Second Semester is paid for even if he doesn't get the extension to 3.5 years since his VA dependent ed Chapter 35 will have come in for Fall just in time to pay for Spring lol (But really hoping he gets the extension so that Chapter 35 money can put a dent in his car cost so it will be paid off before he graduates. Hugs everyone!!!!!