CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- The Marine Officers’ Spouses’ Club awarded scholarships to 10 Okinawa area students June 4 at The Marine Gift Shop on Camp Foster.

The MOSC awards scholarships annually to qualified high school students each spring.

“To be eligible for a scholarship, the student must have a family member that is a Marine or is a retired Marine working on Okinawa,” said Katy Tomlinson, the scholarship chairperson of the MOSC. “They must also be in their last year of high school or currently in college and be excelling academically.”

More than $12,000 was granted to the deserving students, according to Tomlinson.

“The purpose of the scholarship money is to assist students with tuition, books or fees,” said Tomlinson. “The money goes directly to the college, but the student can then use it for what their needs dictate.”

The club’s main purpose is to create a social network for its members while supporting philanthropic interests in the Okinawa and U.S. communities.

“We are here to help support the students in any way we can,” said Kate Johnson, the MOSC president. “That means we support everything from sports, language clubs and academic scholarships.”

While organizations can support a student, the ultimate drive comes from within the family.

“I can say that witnessing my father faithfully serve his country as a Marine, and even now as a Department of Defense civilian, has shown me what good can come out of service to others,” said Grant Loftesnes, a scholarship recipient and student at American University in Washington, D.C. “To give back to one’s community in even the smallest of amounts is to make a difference to someone.”

Some of the recipients plan to use their scholarship for not only academic purposes but also to impact their community in a positive way.

“I have been inspired to work for others,” said Makayla Palazzo, a scholarship recipient and Kubasaki High School senior. “After undergraduate school, where I plan to major in international affairs, I want to join the Peace Corps to help communities in developing nations. Afterward, I plan to attend graduate school and earn my Juris Doctor in international law. Then, hopefully, I can work for the U.S. Foreign Service or the United Nations.”

Several of the scholarship recipients expressed their appreciation for the opportunities afforded to them at the early stages of their academic careers.

“Being a military family member has allowed me to have a wider outlook on life, inspired a patriotic sense of mind, and opened up new opportunities,” said Stephen Guyton Jr., a scholarship recipient and Kadena High School senior. “I will be forever grateful for what military service has done for me and how it has affected my lifestyle for the better. Life is too short to not appreciate what you have, and you should always go for opportunities when they come around.”

The members of the club hope to assist more students in pursuing their degrees, according to Tomlinson.

“We hope that we can get more applicants,” said Tomlinson. “The more applicants we get, the more scholarships we can award to deserving students.”

For more information about the MOSC or the scholarships, please visit www.moscokinawa1.org.