Pasadena State Rep. Pena to Nominate Student for Texas Armed Services Scholarship

PASADENA, TX — State Rep. Gilbert Pena, R-Pasadena, will nominate an area student for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program. Pena's office will accept applications for the nomination until Aug. 15.

The scholarship allows students to receive free in-state tuition to a public college or university, provided the student agrees to a four-year commitment to either the Texas Army National Guard, Texas State Guard, Texas Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Merchant Marine or becoming a commissioned officer in any branch of the U.S. armed forces.

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The scholarship is open to both incoming college freshmen and students already in college. Freshmen must meet two of the following four academic criteria at the time of application: (1) student is on track to graduate or has graduated high school with the Distinguished Achievement Program or the International Baccalaureate Program; (2) a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher; (3) must have achieved a college readiness score on the SAT of 1070 or ACT of 23; (4) ranked in the top one-third of the prospective high school graduating class.

Non-freshman students applying for an initial award must meet the continuing eligibility requirements: (1) maintains satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution in which the student is enrolled; (2) continues to be a member of a ROTC program; and (3) has not earned a baccalaureate degree or a total of 150 credit hours, including transferred hours.

Students interested in applying must submit the following to our office no later than August 15, 2016: (1) an official high school and/or college transcripts from all institutions attended; (2) resume; (3) one page double-spaced essay explaining your desire to serve in the U.S. Military; and (4) 3 letters of recommendation—one from an ROTC or JROTC instructor, if applicable.