Two George Washington University students have been selected as 2014 Tillman Military Scholars in recognition of their service, leadership and academic excellence. A total of 60 U.S. service members, veterans and military spouses were chosen from more than 7,500 applicants.
Katherine Steele, a military spouse, is pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from GW. She currently is earning her degree online while living in Arizona but will move to Northern Virginia in June.
Tricia Robinson served for more than seven years in the U.S. Army as an enlisted soldier and a finance officer and was deployed to Iraq in 2009. Ms. Robinson is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.
Founded in 2008, the Pat Tillman Foundation invests in military veterans and their spouses through educational scholarships. The program is intended to create a diverse community of leaders committed to service to others, building on the legacy of Pat Tillman—the former NFL player who joined the U.S. Army in 2002 and was killed in Afghanistan while trying to provide cover for his fellow soldiers.
The newly selected class of Tillman Scholars will receive a total of $1.4 million in scholarships to pursue their higher education and continue service in medicine, law, business, government, education, technology and the arts.
“These students will no doubt continue to maximize their success while at GW, as well as during their careers,” said Vice Admiral (retired) Mel Williams Jr., associate provost for military and veterans affairs. “They are wonderful people with talent.”
Ms. Steele is a teacher who has served in K-12 school systems in eight states. After earning her graduate degree at GW, she hopes to design and create a replicable, standardized, quality education system for military families.
She said she admires Mr. Tillman’s call to action and was honored to be chosen as a scholar, since the program is about giving back to others.
“The Tillman Foundation invests in military veterans and spouses financially, which is incredible, but it does far more than just fund educational dreams—it connects scholars to a community of learners who have a desire to serve others,” Ms. Steele said. “As a Tillman Scholar, I will now be surrounded by a cadre of individuals who have a sense of vocation coupled with a commitment to positive change through hard work and dedication.”
Ms. Robinson hopes to use her clinical psychology degree to work with military and veteran populations. Fueled by her own experiences in the military, her primary focus will be understanding trauma and working to ensure service members, veterans and their families receive appropriate mental health care.
“Being selected as a Tillman Scholar means having the opportunity to network with passionate fellow military members and their spouses, who are all embarking on careers to make a difference in the future,” Ms. Robinson said. “Receiving the financial support of the Tillman Foundation is a significant encouragement as I endeavor to contribute professionally to the military community.”