Photo caption: (l to r) Parker Pugh is presented with the Minuteman Scholarship by Bernard House LTC, FA, Professor of Military Science University of Tennessee at Martin/Murray State University. courtesy of Bramblett Group
Henderson — Page High School Senior Parker Pugh received the prestigious Tennessee National Guard Minuteman Scholarship in the amount of $171,240. For Pugh, winning the four-year scholarship was a surprise.
“About 25,000 people applied for this scholarship, only six people received it and I was one of them,” Pugh said. “This is a great burden off my parents, and I know they’re really proud.”
Pugh, who lives in Franklin, Tennessee, will major in history at Freed-Hardeman University this fall. “I’ve always wanted to join the Army National Guard.”
The Minuteman Scholarship provides the winner with full tuition and uncapped fees to attend any college or university served by an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, or can be used toward room and board, capped at $10,000 per year.
Scholarship recipients also receive a yearly book allowance of $1,200 and a monthly stipend from $300 to $500 while attending school, depending on their year in the ROTC program.
Minuteman Scholarship recipients must participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), in which they participate in an Army Reserve unit monthly drill and a 14-day annual training and are paid as a sergeant. After graduation and commissioning, Minuteman Scholarship recipients are guaranteed placement in the Army Reserve.
To qualify for the scholarship a student must currently be in the Army Reserve or eligible to enlist (meaning test and physically qualified but not sworn in), a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Nationalbetween 17 to 28-years-old and must not turn 31 by December 31 of the year of commissioning. Candidates must also hold a valid Chapter 2 MEPS physical for enlistment, must be able to pass a Cadet Command Physical Fitness Assessment (required to sign contract and receive scholarship benefits), comply with AR 600-9 body composition standards, and hold an official University/College acceptance letter. Applicants are required to hold a 2.5 GPA and SAT score of 850, a 19 on the ACT or a 110 on the GT (General Technical). Recipients must participate in Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) and once commissioned, they must fulfill a eight year service obligation to an active drilling unit.
The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu.