Detroit Chapter #9 of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA#9) has donated $12,500 to the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Foundation to support its scholarship fund. The money will support five $2,500 scholarships to be awarded over the next five years.
The needs-based scholarships will support Michigan Wing cadets pursuing their undergraduate or graduate education. Funds can be used for tuition, books and/or room and board.
“We like working with military service organizations to help more young people pursue higher learning,” said Paul Palazzolo, president of VVA#9. “The Civil Air Patrol Foundation has a rich legacy of giving financial backing to students, so this was a perfect fit.”
CAP, the U.S. Air Force auxiliary, searches for and finds the lost, provides comfort in times of disaster and works to keep the homeland safe. Its more than 65,000 members work toward the well-being of their communities while also promoting aviation, aerospace and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and shaping future leaders through its cadet program. The foundation promotes and supports CAP by raising money to provide direct financial support to the organization and its programs, missions and operations and by providing scholarships to CAP members.
Maj. Gen. Mark Smith, CAP national commander, was grateful that a member — VVA#9 Treasurer John Mullins, who serves as the Michigan Wing’s financial officer and holds the rank of captain — suggested the arrangement.
“I am thankful for our Civil Air Patrol members who help to develop relationships with like-minded organizations who might be interested and vested in the success of our cadets,” Smith said. “Our CAP Foundation will work hard to ensure that the scholarship funds are put to the best possible use, helping deserving cadets to excel.”
Requirements for a scholarship include being a high school senior or graduate or earning a GED; earning CAP’s Gen. Billy Mitchell Award or higher; acceptance to a college, attendance at an accredited post-secondary school or college; and full-time enrollment during the academic year for which the scholarship was awarded.
The CAP donation is the latest philanthropic initiative by VVA#9, which over the last year has created scholarships and professional development opportunities for Junior ROTC students, the Michigan Marine Corps League and graduates of A. Philip Randolph Technical High School in Detroit.
The funding opportunities grew out of the 2017 sale of the chapter’s former location on Woodward Avenue.
For more information, go to: https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets/cadetinvest/academic-scholarships.
