MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. –– Three Team McConnell spouses were recently each awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Corvias Foundation.
A total of 20 recipients across 13 military installations received the scholarship and can be used for any expenses associated with receiving their degree.
Tierra Monroe, recipient of the 2020 scholarship and spouse of Staff Sgt. Malcom Monroe, plans to use her scholarship to return to school and pursue her passion in the field of criminal justice.
Monroe completed law enforcement basic training while her family was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Despite deciding to then take time off, her dreams of helping those who were previously incarcerated remained.
“When I was working with the police department, I saw a large amount of recidivism,” said Monroe. “I want to use the scholarship to continue my bachelor’s in criminal justice and work in the civilian-reentry program to educate, and help lower the reoffender rate.”
Monroe will use the education she receives to provide rehabilitative resources to those released from prison through equipping them with job skills and getting the mental health help they may need.
Military families face unique difficulties when pursuing higher education due to frequent moves and deployments. Monroe, as well as the other two McConnell recipients are excited to return to school and thank Corvias for enabling the opportunity to do so.
“This unique mobile lifestyle presents economic challenges for military spouses due to high unemployment rates and significant wage gaps,” said Maria Montalvo, executive director of Corvias Foundation. “Corvias Foundation created this scholarship program to combat these hurdles and help these inspiring spouses receive their degrees to help provide for their families.”
McConnell recipients also include Brittni Haskett, spouse of Staff Sgt. Richard Haskett III, who is working toward her master’s degree in youth, families and community sciences, to help special needs adults, and Johanna Tsubaki, spouse of Staff Sgt. Isamu Tsubaki, who is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology to learn how to better serve her patients as a certified pediatric occupational therapy assistant.
The application window for the 2021-2022 academic year will open this November, and is open to spouses of active duty servicemembers. For more information, and to apply for Corvias Foundation’s 2021 scholarship, visit www.corviasfoundation.org.