Submitted by the Heart of Texas Chapter

The Heart of Texas Chapter recently awarded three educational scholarships totaling $10,000 to deserving students. The chapter funded the scholarships through its Freedom Is Not Free golf tournament held June 10 at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course.

Since 2006, the chapter’s educational scholarship and monetary support programs have awarded over $150,000 to deserving students attending or planning to attend accredited schools of higher education, to Baylor University Army and Air Force ROTC cadets, to cadets in Junior ROTC units at five local area high schools, to the Heart of Texas Young Marines program, and to multiple veterans programs in Central Texas.

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According to Lt. Col. Harold E. Rafuse, USAF (Ret), chapter scholarship program chair, applicants were evaluated on their planned academic program and high school or college GPA; financial need; involvement in extracurricular activities associated with their school, local community, and faith community; their anticipated future goals; and a short essay on “What America Means to Me.” Finalists then were interviewed, and results of the written application and interview evaluations were combined to determine the number and amounts of scholarships awarded.

This year’s recipients:

• Sydney Ryan King was awarded a General Harry A. Goodall scholarship of $5,000. She attends Baylor University.
• Montserrat Abigail Serrano was awarded a “Freedom Is Not Free” scholarship of $2,000. She attends Texas A&M University.
• Scott Harton also was awarded a “Freedom Is Not Free” scholarship of $3,000. He is an Air Force ROTC student at Baylor University and leads the Baylor Air Force ROTC Color Guard.

“The Heart of Texas Chapter has a commitment and duty to identify and support future leaders in their academic pursuits,” said Lt. Col. Michael Slavens, USAF (Ret), chapter president. “We do this by providing scholarships and/or other financial assistance to deserving applicants – the best and brightest of the active duty and veteran community in the Central Texas area. It is a cornerstone of our chapter’s mission and ethos.”