2021 Scholarship Winners

Sijan Chapter Aerospace Education Events

Submitted by Dave Geuting

The Lance P. Sijan Chapter is extremely proud of our continuing annual scholarship program.  Our scholarships are awarded to

outstanding high school seniors who have been accepted for enrollment at a college or university and to current outstanding college freshmen, sophomore and junior students.  High School applicants must be high school seniors/graduates who plan to attend college during the 2021-2022 academic year.  The scholarships are awarded based on the overall character and leadership potential of the student, which includes academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, community service and writing composition.  Each

submission must include an essay of no less than 500 words and no more than 1000 words that answers and justifies a question that is updated by the Vice President for Aerospace Education and the Executive Board each year.  This year’s topic was:  During the COVID-19 pandemic, do you think the use of the United States military (Active, Reserve, National Guard) at the federal and state level for distribution of the vaccine is a proper and effective use of the military? 

Christopher (Chris) Herz is a Dean’s List student at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, studying Biochemistry for Pre-Med.  In addition to his impressive resume, Chris’ application was supported by excellent letters of recommendation from the medical and military-affiliated individuals. As a pre-med student, Chris wrote an incredibly thoughtful and well-justified opinion of this year’s quetion.  Chris is a repeat recipient of the Sijan Scholarship, now having proven to be a top candidate for 2019, 2020 and 2021.  Congratulations Chris!  The Sijan Chapter is proud to have you as a highly deserving scholarship winner.

Our second scholarship recipient, Isabella Polombo, will be a Political Science freshman at the University of Colorado—Colorado Springs.  Isabella completed her high school education as an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme student.  Her Aerospace Science instructor named Isabella as a Top Cadet in JROTC, actively involved in CyberPatriot, Stellar Xplorers and Drill Team, plus having completed 400+ hours of community service. Congratulations Isabella and best wishes for the success we know you will have at UCCS! 

Additionally, Jim and Karen Wright established a legacy scholarship in their daughter Kim’s name.  A $3000 annual scholarship was to go to a deserving high school student who had at least a “B” average and who planned to attend a 4-year college or university.  The first recipient was Holly Rieping, who is now the very first Kimberly Wright Scholar to get her Bachelor’s Degree, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering, which she received recently from MIT!  In the fall, Holly will be returning to MIT to complete a Master’s of Engineering (MEng) degree in Computer Science and Engineering and working as a Teaching Assistant for the Artificial Intelligence class, 6.034. During the summer of 2021 she’ll be participating in her second Software Development Engineering internship with Amazon while also starting her Master’s thesis.  She’s been admitted into the MIT Sloan Early MBA program, so will be returning to MIT again in 2-5 years to get her MBA. What an amazing success story!  Thank you to the Wright Family for having faith in this amazing student and Congratulations Holly!  We are looking forward to all the achievements yet to come in your life!

Another Kimberly Wright Scholar is Nina Florek, who just completed her freshman year in college after having been featured as “Best and Brightest for 2020” in the Colorado Springs Gazette.  Her scholarship will continue until graduation as along as she maintains a “B” average.  The Wright family created a tremendous legacy for their daughter with their assistance to these two amazing recipients.

First-Ever Space Force JROTC Units

Headquarters Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (HQ AFJROTC), in union with the U.S. Space Force, recently designated 10 desired JROTC units from across the country to transform into the first-ever Space Force JROTC units.  The inception of the USSF as the newest military service, that protects U.S. and allied interests in space and provides space capabilities to the joint force, was the catalyst for these conversions.  Effective the Fall of 2021, the following schools will make history as the ten specifically chosen to be the inaugural cohort of high school SFJROTC units: Arlington Career Center, Arlington, VA; Del Norte High School, Albuquerque, NM; Durango High School, Las Vegas, NV; Falcon High School, Falcon, CO; Huntsville High School, Huntsville, AL; Klein High School, Spring, TX; Shadow Mountain High School, Phoenix, AZ; Space Coast Jr/Sr High School, Cocoa, FL; The Academy for Academic Excellence, Apple Valley, CA; and Warren County High School, Warrenton, NC.  Considerations for unit selection included school proximity to Space bases, facilities, and centers of influence, for example, Space Command Headquarters, NASA, Missile Defense Agency, etc., or current instructor cadre with prior space operations experience.

For more information contact AFJROTC Public Affairs at christian.hodge.1@us.af.mil