Valley Forge Military Association Awards Scholarships To Cadets

CHESTER COUNTY, PA —The Valley Forge Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America awarded Liberty Bell Scholarships and special awards to high school and college students in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

“Each December, we honor those exceptional individuals entering the services and those who excel at continuing to serve,” Brendan “Murph” Murphy, president of the nonprofit, said, after the ceremony Saturday at the Desmond, East Whiteland Township.

The association has 350,000 members of active, retired and former members.

The college ROTC students were awarded $1,500 scholarships and the high school ROTC students were awarded $500 scholarships.

The nonprofit is in the process of expanding the scholarship program obtaining corporate sponsors in addition to holding fundraisers.

InTech Group Inc., a Exton-based consulting company, has committed an annual donation of $2,000 for five years.

Ernie Holling, 3rd vice president, said the area ROTC schools provide recommendations for the scholarships and the association selects the winners.

Scholarship award winners :

• Cadet Joseph Fassano, Drexel University student and member of Saint Joseph University Reserve Officers Training Corps received a scholarship. He is an accounting major and a member of the Pennoni Honors College offering more challenging courses within their major. His role in the Air Force ROTC is Cadet Operations Group Commander.
• Cadet Jacob Fisher, Widener University ROTC Dauntless Battalion commander, was the runner-up and was recognized by as a Distinguished Military Graduate.
• Cadet Dilia Reyes-Hill, a Valley Forge Military College Cadet, received a scholarship. The 2022 Liberty Bell special achievement scholarship. She was selected to attend the UPENN Environmental Conference and the West Point Ethics Commission. She is a Phi Beta Kappa and will continue her studies in engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington.
• Cadet Nathalie Villarreal, Reading High School’s Marine Corps Class Commander of the 400-member unit, received the junior achievement award Junior ROTC award. She also serves on the student council, the key club and cross-country club.
• Cadet Brandon Shilling, a Coatesville Area High School Air Force JROTC received a junior achievement scholarship. He is a member of the National Honor Society, student council, Civil Air Patrol, and is a volunteer firefighter.
• Ernie Holling, membership chairman and 3rd vice president, recieved The Eagle award for Outstanding Officer of the Year.

ROTC units are invited to apply for scholarships:

• St. Joseph University’s Air Force ROTC
• University of Pennsylvania Navy ROTC
• Valley Forge Military Academy & College ROTC
• Villanova University Navy ROTC
• Widener University Army ROTC.

Junior ROTC schools invited to apply for scholarships:

• Boyertown High School Navy JROTC
• Coatesville Area Senior High School Air Force JROTC.
• Owen J. Roberts High School Navy JROTC
• Phoenixville High School Air Force JROTC
• Reading High School Marine Corps JROTC.