Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Awards $6,000,000; 136 California Students Benefit

Scholarship Announcement Ceremony in San Diego honors Marine children and their families

SAN DIEGO, July 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On July 23, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the nation's oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military families, will present 136 California students with college scholarships at the 2012 West Coast Scholarship Announcement Ceremony. These recipients represent the entire 2012-2013 scholarship class, which consists of 1,909 Marine Corps children who will receive more than $6,000,000 in educational aid.  

This year, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation celebrates 50 years of honoring Marines by educating their children. Through the support of corporate and individual donors, the Scholarship Foundation has increased scholarship awards by 51 percent since 2006, providing each and every eligible applicant with educational aid and paying particular attention to those whose parents have been killed or wounded in combat, or who have demonstrated financial need.

"Providing children of self-sacrificing Marine and Navy Corpsmen with educational aid is critical to their future success as well as America's economic well-being," said Margaret B. Davis, President and CEO of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. "This is a wonderful way to thank our nation's heroes who have sacrificed so much for us."

Scholarship recipients show the effectiveness of the program through their academic successes. Ninety-one percent of recipients attend four-year institutions and approximately 79 percent of these students graduate at a time when the nationwide rate is only 31 percent.

The 2012-2013 Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation recipients comprise the children of active duty Marine and Navy Corpsmen as well as the children of those who have been honorably discharged, wounded in combat and killed in action. This year, 97 students will receive Heroes Tribute for Children of the Wounded Scholarships and 13 students will receive Heroes Tribute for Children of the Fallen Scholarships.

Kiana Mendoza is one such student and will speak on behalf of those recipients whose Marine parents have made the ultimate sacrifice at this year's West Coast Scholarship Announcement Ceremony. With the Scholarship Foundation's help, Mendoza is fulfilling her dreams of higher education and honoring her father, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2005. Following his death, a fellow officer and friend, Maj. Doug Zembiec, wrote a letter to Mendoza and her brother, reminding them of their late father's values and urging them to persevere and achieve their goals in spite of adversity. Just five months later, Maj. Zembiec was also killed in action in Iraq. Mendoza took Maj. Zembiec's words to heart and is currently studying international relations at Claremont McKenna College.

Maj. Gen. Melvin Spiese, Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force; and Commanding General, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade; and Bill Kowba, Superintendent of Schools, San Diego Unified School District, will address scholarship recipients, their families and donors at Monday night's event.   

About the Foundation: Celebrating its 50th year, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the nation's oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to U.S. military families. Since inception, the Foundation has provided more than 30,000 scholarships valued at over $70,000,000 to Marine Corps sons and daughters whose parents have been killed or wounded in combat or have demonstrated financial need. The Scholarship Foundation has a four-star Charity Navigator rating. For more information on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation please visit http://www.mcsf.org/.

Contact:
Eugenia R. Gardner, Director, Communications & Investor Relations
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
(719) 433-8101
[email protected]

SOURCE Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation