Marine scholarships booming

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is distributing a record number of need-based higher education grants this year to children of Marines and Navy hospital corpsmen, the organization announced.

The charitable group awarded 2,194 scholarships worth $6.6 million for post-high school education and career training in 2014-2015. West Coast recipients will be honored during an announcement ceremony Thursday night at Camp Pendleton.

California residents contributed more than $1.3 million last year to fund the scholarships. Beneficiaries include 211 students with California ties, including disbursements for study at San Diego State University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Palomar College and San Diego Miramar College.

Among them is Hayley Heiselt, a junior at California State Polytechnic University whose gunnery sergeant father inspired her to become a Navy nuclear engineer after graduation.

The soaring cost of college tuition in recent years has hit military families especially hard, often outpacing their income, foundation representatives said.

“At a young age, children of Marines and Navy corpsmen face challenges that most people will never experience in a lifetime. These courageous and brave children deserve our full support,” said Margaret Davis, president and chief executive of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

“Our scholarship recipients are our nation’s future leaders. We must recognize their hard work and sacrifice, and honor the service of their parents.”

Since its inception in 1962, the foundation has provided over 33,000 scholarships valued at nearly $90 million. Children of Marines and corpsmen killed or wounded in combat and students demonstrating financial need are eligible.

For more information, visit www.mcsf.org.