CMP Awards over $150,000 in Youth Scholarships

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has presented the 2013-2014 CMP Youth Scholarships to many qualified applicants across the country. Recipients hailed from JROTC schools, 4-H groups and shooting clubs and exhibited continuing excellence in marksmanship during their shooting careers.

Malia Carson of Vilseck High School in Germany was one of the recipients of the 2013-2014 CMP Youth Scholarships.

The scholarship selection meeting was held on March 28, 2013. Eligible applicants were graduating seniors who participated in marksmanship programs and JROTC Service Championships, who also excelled academically.

This year, one applicant received a perfect score from the CMP Scholarship Selection Committee – the first time ever in the scholarship’s existence.

Malia Carson of Vilseck High School in Apo, AE, stationed in Germany, earned the honor after she impressed the committee with her 4.09 GPA, high ACT and SAT scores, participation in AP classes and her involvement in varsity soccer and cross country (where she is captain for both teams), JROTC, student council executive board president and Cadet Company First Sergeant – just to name a few of her many accomplishments. She has also helped her fellow man by logging more than 100 volunteer hours.

In her application, Carson described what marksmanship has done to shape her attitude when it comes to managing her many involvements by saying, “All of these activities stack up responsibilities and carry with them a high level of stress. Fortunately for me, marksmanship has taught me how to channel this stress and keep a level head.”

With marksmanship, her successes include Conference Top Shooter and Conference High Kneeling and Prone in 2011, Conference Top Score, VHS “Master Blaster” for Highest Average Score for the season and an individual Top 10 finish at the JROTC Service Championships at Camp Perry in 2012 and Top 20 finish in 2013.

Outside of her own triumphs, Carson has also displayed skills that have benefitted her peers as well. Her teacher Richard Ritter described her ability to lift others towards success, saying, “If there is one particular leadership trait that Malia exhibits constantly . . . it is her strong interpersonal skills. I have witnessed her reach out to all sorts of students at our school . . . to make sure that they feel included . . . “

Brian Wyss Jr received his CMP Youth Scholarship Award from his 4-H Coach and CMP Staff Member Michelle Woods. Woods has coached Brian for the last 8 years in the Ottawa County 4-H Shooting Stars program.

Growing up on a military base overseas, Carson has had to endure challenges unlike those in the average childhood. Experiences with cultural differences and language barriers have helped mold her into the person she has become.

Her Army instructor, SFC Mitchell Pollock, explained the sort of impact her upbringing has made on the strength of her character by saying, “She has made a commitment to not only surviving, but to thriving in this foreign environment.”

Though she has accomplished a multitude of feats already, she’s far from being done. She has confessed to having “dreams and goals that are so massive, they make my head hurt some nights,” such as running a triathlon, qualifying for the Marksmanship Junior Olympics and becoming a biathlon shooter, video journalist, ER nurse and Child Life Specialist.

When it comes to success, so far, Carson has hit the bullseye. As for her highest dreams for the future, she’d like to “travel the world, watch my efforts change someone’s life and live without regrets,” she said.

Scholarship winners are chosen based on marksmanship participation, grade point average and merit, to be used towards a pursuit of higher education. A full list of scholarship winners can be found on the CMP website at http://www.thecmp.org/Competitions/Scholarships.htm.

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