Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Partners with Roberto Clemente Foundation
New scholarship will honor the late Marine and National Baseball Hall of Famer
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Sept. 12, 2023) – Ahead of this week’s recognition of Roberto Clemente Day on September, 15, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF) today announced a partnership with the Roberto Clemente Foundation to establish the Roberto Clemente Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship commemorates the legacy of the Puerto Rican professional baseball player and his service in the United States Marine Corps. The award will support MCSF’s mission to honor Marines and Navy Corpsmen by providing scholarships for their children attending post-high school, undergraduate, and career and technical education programs in all 50 states.
Clemente enlisted in the Marine Corps after the 1958 season and spent six months on active duty at Parris Island, South Carolina and Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. He served until 1964 and was inducted into the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2018, Clemente was inducted into the Puerto Rico Veteran’s Hall of Fame.
“The Roberto Clemente Memorial Scholarship is a tribute to his enduring legacy of selfless service and sacrifice,” said Ted Probert, current President and CEO of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. “Awarded annually beginning in 2023, this scholarship will ensure that more children of Marines have the opportunity to pursue higher education and achieve their academic aspirations.”
Clemente was the first Caribbean and Latin-American player to be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He often attributed his success on the field to the rigorous Marine Corps training that allowed him to wield a heavier bat and adopt a more aggressive approach, enhancing his on-field performance.
“While Roberto Clemente’s remarkable accomplishments as a baseball player and humanitarian are often mentioned, his proud military service is an important part of his legacy,” said Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. “The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has selected a worthy individual to continue Roberto Clemente’s legacy of service in every aspect of life. We congratulate all future recipients of this scholarship which will honor military families while also inspiring future generations to serve their communities.”
There is no application for the new scholarship. Rather, when eligible students apply and are awarded scholarships from MCSF, recipients are screened for further awards. Latin or Puerto Rican students and children of reservists are given priority for the Roberto Clemente Memorial Scholarship.
“This scholarship is a fitting way to honor our commitment to veterans and community,” said Luis Clemente, Chairperson and Co-Founderof the Roberto Clemente Foundation. “It’s exciting to see my father’s vision and dream go out into the world as we continue to develop the Clemente family tradition of giving and caring. The military was an important part of his life and his pride as a Puerto Rican and an American.”
The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and the Roberto Clemente Foundation are proud to announce the inaugural recipient of the scholarship is Daniel Miranda, the son of veteran Sergeant Roger J. Miranda USMC. Currently attending the University of Maryland-College Park, Daniel is pursuing a degree in English with aspirations of becoming a journalist to uplift cultural voices and representation in literature. Actively volunteering in his local community, playing piano at senior homes, helping with Meals on Wheels, and coaching local soccer, Daniel embodies the values of giving back and community engagement.
MCSF’s scholarship recipients are top-tier scholars, representing every state in the country with a 91% graduation rate: well above the national average of just 54%. Further, 48% of recipients are first-generation college students, and 45% pursue STEM degrees. These scholars also hold an average GPA of 3.44, compared to 3.15 nationally. In addition, 67% of MCSF scholarship recipients graduate with little to no debt compared to 33% nationally. All qualified applicants that meet MCSF’s eligibility requirements receive a scholarship to further support their education. This year alone, 30,300 years of combined military service have been honored by MCSF with $10.8M across 2,760 scholarships.
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About The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation:
Established in 1962, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the Nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships for military children. Since its inception, the Scholarship Foundation has provided over 55,000 scholarships valued at more than $200 million to the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen. Recipients are from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in addition to 18 overseas bases and U.S. territories. The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has earned an Accredited Charity rating from the Better Business Bureau, 4/4 stars in accountability and transparency from Charity Navigator, and GuideStar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, please visit www.mcsf.org.
About The Roberto Clemente Foundation:
The Roberto Clemente Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to honor and perpetuate the legacy, legend and courage and character of Roberto and Vera Clemente. The Foundation maintains the values which Roberto embodied on and off the field of hard work, faith, love, service and helping those less fortunate. The Foundation promotes sport and play, particularly through baseball and softball and has conducted numerous clinics with several partners. In addition to hospital and school visits, the Foundation provides college scholarships, has led disaster relief efforts, military and veteran support initiatives, conducts equipment drives and supports the Clemente Cup for NAIA and Division III college baseball teams. For more information visit robertoclementefoundation.com
CONTACTS:
Eric Hammond | Maroon PR | 443-614-9456 | Eric@MaroonPR.com
Emma Hottel | Maroon PR | 410-739-8242 | EmmaH@MaroonPR.com
