Sergeant First Class Raymond Richard Buchan Memorial Scholarship

Qualifications/Criteria

Scholarships will be awarded to at least one graduating senior from Bishop McCort, Conemaugh Valley, Ferndale, Greater Johnstown, Johnstown Christian, Richland, Somerset Area, Westmont Hilltop or Windber Area (or a home schooled 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, university, trade school, or vocational school and be taking at least 12 credits.

Qualifications.  A student qualifies for the scholarship if:

1)  he or she has 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, Coast Guard or Space Force including service on Active Duty or in the Reserve or National Guard.

or

2)  he or she has signed a written obligation to serve in any branch of the Armed Forces including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Space Force including the Reserve or National Guard.

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

A mandatory essay must be submitted with the application.  The theme of this year’s essay is “What does it mean to you that Americans have fought and died for your freedom?”  The essay must be typed and single-spaced and be no more than 500 words in length.

Applicants must submit their electronic applications by Friday, March 8, 2024 at the website of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies at:

https://cfalleghenies.org/scholarships/

Essays and proof of qualification* can be uploaded onto the application.  

The scholarship recipient(s) will be chosen by the selection committee consisting of local Veterans and family members of Veterans.

*Please provide proof that your parent, sibling, or grandparent has honorably served (i.e. Department of Defense Form 214) or is currently serving and, if applicable, proof that he/she was killed or sustained wounds as a result of combat (i.e. Purple Heart citation).  Also, if you are joining the military, please provide documentation of your written service obligation.  The committee reserves the right to request additional evidence verifying the service of your family member.