Mr. and Mrs. Richard Buchan and the Sergeant First Class Raymond Richard Buchan Scholarship Committee are pleased to announce that the Buchan Memorial Scholarship is now available to graduating seniors from Somerset Area High School. Somerset Area High School previously had an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and has a long tradition of supporting the Veterans of its community. In addition, the high school has been recognizing Veterans at a Veterans Day breakfast and assembly for over 35 years.

The Buchan Memorial Scholarship was created in July 2009 to honor the memory of U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Raymond Richard Buchan, a 1991 graduate of Westmont High School, who was killed in action in Iraq in July 2007. The scholarship committee has awarded 15 scholarships since 2010 and the fathers and grandfathers of the 15 recipients have earned at least 17 Purple Hearts for their heroic actions since World War II.

The scholarship is available to graduating seniors from Bishop McCort, Conemaugh Valley, Ferndale, Greater Johnstown, Richland, Somerset Area, Westmont Hilltop and Windber Area High Schools (or a homeschooled or cyber schooled senior who resides in one of those school districts) who will be attending an accredited post-secondary educational institution to include college, trade school, or vocational school on a full-time basis.

In order to be eligible, an applicant must have a parent, sibling, or grandparent who has honorably served or is currently serving in any branch of the Armed Forces including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard with service on Active Duty or in the Reserve or National Guard OR has signed a written obligation to serve in the Reserve or National Guard of any branch of the Armed Forces including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.

Applicants are judged on the following criteria: extracurricular school activities, community service, citizenship, participation in leadership programs such as Outdoor Odyssey, employment history, and a mandatory essay. In addition, special consideration is given to an applicant whose parent, sibling, or grandparent was killed or wounded in action (recipient of a Purple Heart).

Applicants must submit their applications by April 22, 2016 at the website of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies at:

https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/48173-Community-Foundation-For-The-Alleghenies