Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association Reaches $5,000,000 in Scholarship Awards and Honors Military and Business Leaders
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association (SMSA), the nation's only provider of scholarships to the children and grandchildren of the U.S. Navy's fighting Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officers, will award 89 scholarships and recognize distinguished leaders from business and the military at its Building America's Future Gala today.
Since 1972, SMSA has provided over 2,800 scholarship awards totaling $5 million. SMSA provides critical financial aid to Seabee families as the ever-increasing costs of higher education significantly outpace the average military family income. More than 53 percent of SMSA scholarship recipients are pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors and they graduate from four-year colleges at rates twice the national average.
"Our scholarships honor the service and sacrifice of Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps Officers. We believe our scholarships are investments in America's future. SMSA scholarship recipients earn these awards through their exceptional leadership, community service and academic performance. The majority of our recipients graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school classes," said Rear Admiral Michael Giorgione, CEC, USN (Ret), SMSA Chairman.
Last summer, Siemens Government Technologies (SGT) selected two SMSA scholarship recipients to participate in their college-to-career professional development internship experience. SMSA scholarship recipient, Rebecca Kissinger, a senior biomedical engineering major at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute said, "My SGT internship afforded me the opportunity to apply what I'm learning in my engineering class in real-world situations. Working with business and engineering professionals and mentors throughout SGT has broadened my perspective on my future engineering and business opportunities." While the Siemens partnership is the first internship program, SMSA hopes to launch similar internship programs with other corporations.
SMSA will also honor military and business leaders and visionaries who demonstrate the Seabee "Can Do" values of service, honor, courage, and commitment in their work. At the gala three awards will be presented, including:
- The "Can Do" Award, presented to Parsons Corporation, for their generous scholarship investments and enrichment support to Seabees.
- The Searchlight Award, presented to Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., USN and to the men and women of the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM). Admiral Harris and the men and women of USPACOM exemplify high standards of service to our nation through their efforts to safeguard America and our allies in the Pacific region.
- Everyday Hero Award, presented to Lieutenant Commander Brad G. Coleman, CEC, USN and Lieutenant Andrew Roley, CEC, USN who rescued two children involved in a traffic accident.
SMSA accepts scholarship applications from the children and grandchildren of Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps Officers until April 15 each year. For more information on the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association and its scholarship program, visit www.seabee.org.
About the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association:
The Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association is the nation's only provider of scholarships for the children and grandchildren of individuals who have served with America's fighting Seabees and the Civil Engineer Corps (CEC). Since 1972 SMSA has awarded over 2,800 scholarship awards totaling $5 million. The Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association participates in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC number 11959).
SOURCE Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association
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