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).
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SOURCE Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association