OCSC, ESC provide scholarships to families Published June 2, 2006 By Tarsha Storey 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The Officers Civilian Spouse Club and the Enlisted Spouse Club recently awarded a combined total of $11,000 in scholarships to 11 Shaw members. The ESC winners in the high school category were: Jenna Roberts -- $2,000, Courtnie Smith -- $1,000 and Ashley Smithhart -- $500. Winners in the spouse category were: Heather Souders -- $1,000, Shawnna Sluss -- $1,000 and Krystal Forgey -- $500. The OCSC winners in the high school category were: Ashlee Malone -- $2,000, Sabrina Porcher -- $1,000 and Zenobia Staley -- $500. Winners in the spouse category were: Kevin McCrory -- $1,000 and Bianca Adams -- $500. The scholarships are combined efforts of the spouses’ groups to help offset an Airman’s spouse or child’s college education costs, said Tammi Biggs, ESC president. Applicants must be the child or spouse of an active-duty or retired Air Force member. Children must be high school seniors attending any local public or private high school. Spouses and children must attend college in the local area, said Kellie Lohman, OCSC scholarship chairperson. Candidates are each judged on a written essay, but at this juncture spouses and children part to be judged in different ways. Children (high school seniors) are judged on grade point average, standardized test scores, honors, awards, school involvement, community involvement and how many times they have had to relocate due to the military. Spouses are judged based on their current GPA, work history and community involvement, Mrs. Lohman said. Mrs. Lohman said the funding for the OCSC scholarships comes from the Base Thrift Shop profits, based on the number of volunteer hours the members of the OCSC put in over the year. The ESC funds their scholarships through volunteer hours at the thrift shop, a golf tournament, a craft fair and members wrap Christmas gifts at the base exchange during the holidays, Mrs. Biggs said. These scholarships are awarded every year by the OCSC and the ESC. “We feel our military spouses and children sacrifice so much everyday that they deserve to be rewarded,” Mrs. Biggs said.