FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Having awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships over the past 12 years, the Fort Rucker Community Spouses Club continues to help local students fulfill their dreams of continuing education.
That mission continued with the FRCSC 2017 Scholarship and Community Grants Awards Ceremony May 9 at Divots located at Silver Wings Golf Course where $17,500 in scholarships and $2,500 in grants were awarded to local students, according to Megan Ishum, FRCSC scholarship chair.
Throughout the spouses' club's history, hundreds of students have been helped through the scholarship and grant program, including not just family members of active-duty service members, but Guard, Reserve, retirees, survivors, and Department of the Army and Department of Defense civilians, as well, said Laura McCormick, FRCSC first vice president.
"These scholarships are crucial to bridging the ever-increasing gap between tuition costs and what families can afford to spend on higher education," she said during her opening remarks. "Many of the scholarship recipients go on to attend local and state colleges, which boosts the local economies."
New to this year's program is the community grant program, said the vice president, which is meant to serve as an attempt to raise awareness of the club's community outreach, as well as thank the organizations that support the military community.
Funds for the scholarships and grants are raised through community events, such as the annual Hollyday Bazaar, which brings together nearly 100 small businesses on Fort Rucker to share their wares and services with the community, and additional funding is provided by local sponsors, such as the Fort Rucker Thrift Shop, First Command, Sikorsky, S3, Enterprise Dental Associates, Edward Jones and Boeing.
The scholarships aren't given out lightly, according to Ishum, and are awarded based on academic performance, community and volunteer involvement, work experience, career courses, school activities, an essay each applicant must submit, as well as two letters of recommendation.
Each applicant must also be considered a full-time student and be currently enrolled in an accredited university or college, or trade or vocational school.
For more information on the spouses club, scholarship or grants, visit www.fortruckercsc.com.
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