Delivering on its commitment to help military veterans take a significant academic step forward, the national nonprofit SoldierStrong today announced the recipients of its annual scholarship initiative, SoldierScholar.
“Military service and education have long served as two of many pathways to prepare the next generation of great American leaders. Providing the very best of our nation with access to education when they return from service is the least we can do in honor of their sacrifices,” said SoldierStrong co-founder and chairman Chris Meek. “The Post-9/11 GI Bill seeks to do just that but, unfortunately, has funding gaps that can add extra burdens for veterans pursuing higher education degrees. SoldierStrong’s mission of easing the transition from military to civilian life is why we’re proud to offer financial assistance to help fill those gaps so that more veterans can reap the full academic benefits they deserve.”
The cost of textbooks, classroom fees, transportation, technology, tutoring and a number of other essentials are among expenses that the GI Bill has historically not covered. SoldierScholar was created in 2012 to alleviate those additional costs.
SoldierScholar scholarships are available to veterans who fought in the recent War on Terror, which includes Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. SoldierStrong, which primarily provides revolutionary medical technologies to Veterans Affairs medical centers across the country to help injured veterans lead full lives, has awarded more than $500,000 in SoldierScholar scholarships since its inception.
Past SoldierScholar scholarship recipients have gone on to work at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in civilian positions at the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Division of the U.S. Air Force, for various members of Congress and as policy advisors at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, among other esteemed professions. Recipients include:
Michelle Humphreys, Old Dominion University – Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering
Michelle Humphreys, a civil engineering major, grew up in a close-knit family in Passaic, New Jersey. Humphreys, the first in her family to pursue a STEM degree, joined the Navy right out of high school. She had already been thinking of joining the military when she met with a recruiter. Humphreys served as a nuclear electrician’s mate aboard the USS George Washington. She transitioned into civilian life in 2020 after six years of service. After graduation, Humphreys hopes to find a meaningful engineering position.
Kathleen Higgins, Old Dominion University – Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering
Kathleen Higgins joined the military right after high school. As a first-generation student, she was encouraged to take the military pathway by her mother and father – both Army veterans. In the Navy, Higgins worked as an aviation structural safety equipment mechanic on different F-18 models. Higgins left the Navy in 2020 after eight years of service. She took a position at Boeing before returning to school. It was an easy transition to the program at Old Dominion where Higgins is currently a mechanical engineering major with a focus on aerospace engineering. After she finishes her degree, Higgins hopes to obtain a position as an aerospace engineer.
Catherine Manning, Georgetown University – Bachelor Degree in Political Science
Catherine Manning has been a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet since 2019. Most recently she served as a Squad Support Flight Commander where she led 28 cadets in planning morale-raising events, organized squadron support functions and directly mentored six cadets. Her personal hobbies include reading, playing the piano and flute, and exercising including running, volleyball and tennis.
Marriler Wilson, Syracuse University – Master’s Degree in Public Administration and International Relations
Marriler Wilson is a United States Air Force National Guard veteran and former Mayor Placard Enforcement Detail for the New York Police Department. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration and international relations at Syracuse University with an expected 2025 graduation. Her law enforcement and security background, combined with community outreach and advocacy experience, gives her a unique perspective on the intersectionality of these two fields. She is interested in pursuing a career in diplomatic conflict resolution, where she can use her skills and expertise to promote understanding between individuals and communities.
Jose A. Baeza-Ruiz, Syracuse University – Bachelor Degree in Business Analytics
Jose A. Baeza-Ruiz, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, served as an intelligence analyst. His military experiences ranged from training ground level to bigger picture analysis and detailed research in a developed environment. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business analytics at Syracuse University with an expected graduation date of May 2024. He looks forward to opportunities that will allow him to expand the technical abilities in the field of business and data analytics.
