Scholarship Support for Marine Families Changes Entire Communities

by Scholarship Foundation alumna, Shakeelah J. Sutton

I was so honored to speak at the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s 2018 Washington, D.C. Celebratory Gala and share how scholarship support impacted my life.

With the Scholarship Foundation’s generous support, I became the first person in my family to attend college. I earned my bachelor’s degree, with a double major in exercise and sports science and psychology, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My studies there ignited my passion for public health – and I knew that I wanted to help people use physical activity to manage chronic disease.

That’s what led me to one of the most meaningful experiences of my career: serving as lead exercise physiologist for the Lifestyle Intervention for Veterans program at the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C. I grew up inspired by my father, Staff Sergeant Kevin Sutton, and it was an honor to support brave veterans like him each and every day.

I never would have been able to pursue these opportunities without generous help from the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Even more important, that scholarship support has empowered me to give back to my community. By enabling me to pursue higher education, the Scholarship Foundation has helped me serve veterans, children, seniors, and other groups in need.

Thank you so much for supporting this incredible mission, as the Scholarship Foundation transforms the lives of Marine families and communities around the country. When we Honor Marines by Educating Their Children, the possibilities are truly limitless.