Ben Eielson Graduate receives Fisher House Scholarship

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The Eielson commissary announced the 2011 Fisher House Scholarship winner May 17. Chynna Sandgren was presented with a certificate, which the 354th Mission Support Group commander presented to her in front of a large group of supporters.

Chynna Sandgren, daughter of retired Master Sgt. Fred Sandgren and retired Senior Airmen Georgia Sandgren, received a scholarship of $1,500 to help mitigate the cost of college tuition and books.

The Scholarships for Military Children Programs are tailored to the needs of sons and daughters of active duty, reserve and guard, or retired military commissary customers.

The recipient must be enrolled or plan to enroll full-time in a four-year undergraduate college or university accredited in the U.S. In addition, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Scholarships are funded by commissary business partners that provide products and services for commissaries around the globe.

"This scholarship and others have helped me on my chosen path and made my educational future possible," said Ms. Sandgren.

When it comes to scholarships, grants and financial help for education, getting the right information is one of the most important steps. Another step for college hopefuls is to make sure they start early and exhaust all available resources.

School staff are a resource available to help students. Principals, counselors and teachers can advise students on how to use resources, and how to make sure they meet requirements for various scholarships, grants and financial programs.

In addition to getting the right information, students who have the support of friends and family often do better on meeting deadlines. Students stay motivated and dedicated when encouraged by those who want to see them do well.

"My mom was probably my biggest motivator," said Ms. Sandgren. "It seemed like every time I saw her she was pushing me to write another essay for another scholarship."

The Scholarships for Military Children was one of many programs the Sandgren family utilized and later submitted applications in an attempt to offset educational costs. As a result of her family's support, Ms. Sandgren's hard work has paid off and she plans to study business at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.

The Scholarships for Military Children is successful and has shown promise over the better part of a decade. Everyone involved benefits, especially scholarship applicants.

"We're excited to report that the scholarship program continues to be a success in helping military families defray the cost of education," said Thomas E. Milks, Defense Commissary Agency acting director and chief executive officer. "We're proud to be associated with a program that has awarded 5,402 scholarships totaling more than $8.3 million since its inception in 2001."

Nearly every one of the Defense Commissary Agency's stores will announce a local winner; many commissaries will announce multiple winners.

According to Ms. Sandgren, the Fisher House Scholarship was one of the most celebrated. She was happy to see how much support she received from her parents, her school and the different agencies on the installation, especially the Eielson commissary.

"I'm hoping more people apply next year," said Ms. Sandgren. "In my experience, I've learned preparation for the future starts early. I've encouraged next year's seniors to give it a try."

"I tell people who are going through the same thing to work harder because scholarships pay off," she added.

With education costs increasing in recent years, families, civilian and military alike, sometimes struggle to find the means to help children accomplish educational goals. The Fisher House Foundation bears all costs of the program so that every dollar donated goes for scholarships to continue to help make education possible.