2021 Child of an American Veteran Scholarship Winner: Joannea Parten
CCK is pleased to announce Ms. Joannea Parten as the winner of the 2021 Child of an American Veteran Scholarship. Inspired by her childhood in a Marine Corps family, Ms. Parten plans to give back to her community by becoming a trauma surgeon.
About the Child of a Veteran Scholarship Winner
In her application essay, Ms. Parten eloquently explained the ways in which the Marine Corps values of honor, courage, and commitment have impacted her throughout her life. As a child, she regarded the words “Semper Fidelis” tattooed on her father’s arm with wonder. She admired that the tattoo represented his bond with fellow Marines that would never be broken but struggled during his periods of service that took him away from his family.
However, when both her older and younger brothers decided to follow in their father’s footsteps, joining the Marines and etching the same “Semper Fidelis” tattoo into their skin, Parten realized her father’s service had also inspired her, albeit in a different way.
Parten is guided by the values instilled in her by being part of a Marine Corps family. Her father constantly repeated the words honor, courage, and commitment, helping her to realize that struggle and failure are nothing to fear. She shared how this mantra impacted her throughout her childhood, particularly when it came to her difficulties with science class:
“When my brother came back from boot camp,” she explains, “he told me he struggled the most on the Crucible, a 54-hour obstacle course that would finish his training. Thinking back now, the whole subject of science was my Crucible. I honored my failure within it, but I also had courage to try, and most importantly, I committed to knowing and hopefully mastering science.”
Ms. Parten expressed in her essay that although she does not plan to follow in her father’s footsteps by becoming a Marine, she will bring the values of the Corps with her everywhere. Her father’s “vow to always be loyal” has not only stayed with her, it has become hers as well; she wants to protect her family as they have always protected her. She aspires to become a trauma surgeon to honor their service, using the lessons she has learned as a military child to continuously inspire and help others.
About the Child of an American Veteran Scholarship
As part of our mission to serve veterans and their families, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD offers the Child of an American Veteran Scholarship each year to one deserving student. Any child of a United States military veteran with a cumulative 3.0 grade point average who is currently enrolled or will be enrolled in an accredited U.S. university or college is welcome to apply. A transcript, 500-word essay, and proof of parent’s veteran status are required as part of the application.
The deadline to apply for the 2022 scholarship is December 15, 2021. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the scholarship or the application process.
