Overcoming challenging situations is nothing new for U.S. Army veteran Isaac McCann. During two deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan he faced dangerous terrain, long security missions and the loss of several close friends. Despite these difficult challenges, he refused to quit.
After Isaac left the Army, transitioning back into civilian life came with its own set of challenges. He struggled to adjust to life as a full-time student and a bad semester nearly prevented his acceptance into his school’s Education program. Determined to become a history teacher, Isaac refused to give up. He used his military-gained skills to step back and refocus, and his perseverance paid off as he was accepted into the degree program a year later.
Isaac felt prepared to earn his degree, but again was faced with complications after exhausting his Post-9/11 educational benefits. His school’s student veterans organization suggested applying for the VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” to help meet his tuition demands. A month prior to the start of his senior year, Isaac received news that he had been selected to receive a $5,000 Help A Hero scholarship for the 2015 fall semester.
“I initially thought that this was a joke email when I read the subject line as I had not won any scholarships prior to this one,” said Isaac. “Once I realized it was a real email, I was astounded … it placed me in a state of euphoria for a while.”
The Help A Hero scholarship will continue to be there to help fill in the financial tuition gaps Isaac may face as he goes on to complete his master’s and doctorate degrees after graduating in May 2016.
The VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” was created to provide service members and veterans with the financial assistance they need to complete their educational goals without incurring excessive student loan debt. Awarded twice a year, scholarships help cover the cost of tuition and fees. The application period for the 2016 fall semester will open January 1, 2016 and run through April 30, 2016. For more information on the Help A Hero Scholarship program click here.