Eleanor Crosby, a senior at Rocky, was awarded a distinguished four-year scholarship for $200,000 to attend a top university and enter the US Navy. Eleanor received the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship, part of a highly competitive national program, of which only around 4,000 students are accepted (scholarships.com).
Eleanor plans to attend Point Loma Nazarene University and receive a degree in medical science, though she is not sure what she will specialize in yet. “[T]he end goal for me is becoming a navy physician,” she said. Her first year of university is covered by the scholarship, and after that she will make the decision of whether she wants to stay on track to pursue the opportunity further.
Eleanor explained that it was not just her GPA that got her the scholarship, but rather her experiences outside of school. “I take AP and college [classes] and I get good grades, but I’m not a 4.2 student at all. I’m super heavy in my extracurriculars.” Eleanor has participated in National Honor Society, theater, Sports Medicine classes, volunteering, volleyball coaching, and more. “It may or may not have been for 4 or 5 years, but I went and tried them and wrote about them because I learned stuff from all of those activities.”
“I filled out a pretty lengthy application,” Eleanor said. Her extracurricular experiences boosted her submission into the program. “I did an interview with one of the ROTC coordinators down here locally.” Eleanor said that the interview was a huge win for her, and one of the primary reasons she received the scholarship.
She said the main reason she applied for the scholarship was to be able to graduate university without debt. “I could go through the program but also be in college and have a college experience, so I think I got the best of both worlds in that aspect.” Acceptance in the NROTC program means the opportunity to pursue her dreams without being tied down by finances.
“I could go through the program but also be in college and have a college experience, so I think I got the best of both worlds in that aspect.”
Eleanor also provided advice for others pursuing the scholarship. “Focus on not only learning school things like math, science, and English but also learn how to be a social person. Learn to talk to adults, learn how to have a genuine conversation with someone because it does mean a lot.” When it comes to preparing for an interview, she said, “[W]ork on analytical thinking, critical thinking, and being able to respond well to questions; especially questions on the spot.”
Eleanor’s win is an inspiration for students pursuing careers in science and the military alike. She is a role model and an example for future students.
