JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The Air Force Services Activity’s Food and Beverage Division has awarded scholarships to six Air Force Club members or their family members.
The 2016 Air Force Club Scholarship Program offered three scholarships in each of two categories: written and video essays. There were 85 written and 26 video entries.
“We were very pleased with the number of entries received in the new video category and effort the applicants put forward producing quality submissions,” said Jonathan Boyd, chief of AFSVA’s Food and Beverage Operations Branch.
The winners in the written essay category are:
- Rita A. Hobbs, spouse of Master Sgt. Davie Hobbs of Travis Air Force Base, California, who won the $5,000 first-place scholarship
- Tech. Sgt. Stephen E. Yelbert of Goodfellow AFB, Texas, who won the $4,000 second-place scholarship
- Jason Davis, son of retired Chief Master Sgt. Valerie E. Davis of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, who won the $2,500 third-place scholarship.
The winners in the video essay category are:
- Paige A. Holmes, daughter of Master Sgt. Aaron R. Holmes of Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, who won the $5,000 first-place scholarship
- Katie L. Pauley, daughter of Master Sgt. Ryan M. Pauley of Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, who won the $4,000 second-place scholarship
- Darienne S. Bartsh, daughter of retired Master Sgt. Brian J. Bartsh of MacDill AFB, Florida, who won the $2,500 third-place scholarship.
“Many of the essays truly embodied this year's topic, ‘My Air Force Story,’ providing an insight on how the Air Force has impacted these people's lives,” Boyd said.
During the past 17 years, the program has provided college tuition assistance to more than 440 Air Force Club members and their eligible family members.
Qualifications for the 2016 program included completing an online application form; submitting an essay; and supplying a college or university letter of acceptance or admission (for their first associate’s or bachelor’s degree).
“This year there was a new requirement for two letters of recommendation. Applicants submitted letters from a wide array of people ranging from their congressman to clergy, wing commanders and supervisors, to community service leaders,” said Sally Truhitte, club scholarship program manager.
A panel of judges scored the entries on content, presentation and adherence to program guidelines.
The program also awarded the three Air Force installation clubs that produced the most eligible entries in either format $1,000 each to help pay for their efforts to encourage applicants. They are the clubs on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; Peterson AFB, Colorado; and Yokota Air Base, Japan.