Army lifts weight of tuition

By Ms. Elyssa Vondra (Fort Jackson)September 15, 2018

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

A future social worker and an aspiring physician assistant felt the weight of their tuition lighten Sept. 6. Sgt. Brianna Scott and Sgt. Jessica Taylor were each awarded a $1050 scholarship at an awards ceremony where Col. Stephen Elder, Garrison Commander, presented them with their checks.

The award is offered annually by the 100th Infantry Division and Henry B. Williams, Jr.

"The scholarship was (first) awarded in 1992 when retired Maj. Alden Small persuaded the division association to offer $250 scholarships," said Veronica Fields-Cox, education services officer, during the reception. "In 2011, it was renamed to honor the memory of Pfc. Henry B. Williams."

He died that summer.

Two scholarship recipients are chosen every year. They must be active duty members of the Army at Fort Jackson, and current college students, with a rank of sergeant or staff sergeant.

Scott, a native of McBee, South Carolina, is an aspiring social worker. She is a student of Brescia University, earning her Associate's degree online. She plans to transfer the credits to a Bachelor's program after graduating, and later to a Master's.

Taylor, of Corbin, Kentucky, is part of the Army Interservice Physician Program. She is enrolled online through Thomas Edison State University, and will use her credits to transfer into a Physician Assistant program once she completes her prerequisites through the IPAP-AMEDD in March.

Scott didn't realize until the ceremony that the award had increased over the years. She thought the scholarship was still in the amount of $250.

She was thrilled, needless to say.

"It means a lot … it means that I'll be able to continue my classes without having a deficit," she said. Taking an overload of courses -- six this semester -- she has had to use both Tuition Assistance and funding from the GI Bill to pay her college fees. Still, tuition payment is a constant worry. This supplement helped put her mind at ease.

"It definitely covers that difference," Scott said.

She was originally inspired to join the Army to fund her education.

"I told my mom that I was not going to make her pay anything out of pocket for my education," Scott said. "We couldn't afford it. So I joined the Army."

For Taylor too, having her education paid for was one of the biggest benefits of enlisting 10 years ago.

"The Army has given me so much," Taylor said. "I always knew I would do military."

Taylor, who submitted her application on the very last day it was open, said she "was ecstatic" to win. "The scholarship will allow me to take that last class and not have to pay anything out of pocket," she said. Since starting her program in 2015, she has "not paid a dime out of (her) own pocket." The TA for Active Duty Army members of up to $4000 per year has covered all of her post-secondary education costs; she hasn't even had to touch GI Bill funding, and will be able to pass it down to her kids, she said.

Both Scott and Taylor have shown determination toward their education, as recognized by the award.

Panelists selected winners based on essays describing applicants' need for financial aid and on merit. They considered transcripts, accolades, extracurricular activities and community service.

Scott has a grade point average of 3.8. Still, she said she was "so shocked" to learn she'd won the scholarship. "There are a lot of qualified NCOs," she added.

She is proud to have this accolade on her resume. "It's prestigious," she said. "It makes you feel accomplished … I'm really excited."

Sept. 6 was Taylor's first day back from maternity leave. She finished her final projects for last semester's coursework the same week she had her baby. He was born on a Wednesday, she said, and that weekend she completed two final exams and a 10-page paper.