Three Recipients Selected for Fifth Year of University of Phoenix Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States Scholarships

Scholarship program allows enlisted National Guard personnel, employees, and their family members, the opportunity to pursue bachelor’s or master’s degrees at University of Phoenix

PHOENIX, Sep. 26, 2016 — University of Phoenix and The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) We Care for America Foundation, the charitable arm of EANGUS, have awarded full scholarships to two National Guard personnel and one family member. Scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to complete either a bachelor’s or master’s degree program at University of Phoenix.

University of Phoenix EANGUS Scholarship recipients are:

• Julio Romero III, the son of an EANGUS member from Casa Grande, Ariz., will pursue a bachelor’s of science in criminal justice administration. Romero is dedicated to community service and helping others, and spent the majority of his high school years volunteering to do security for community events and at the St. Mary’s Food Bank. He hopes to begin a career as a victim’s advocate for the FBI.
• James Summers of Fort Belvoir, Va., has served in the U.S. National Guard and military for more than 25 years in various capacities and will pursue a master’s in business administration. Summers has two legally blind daughters, one with cerebral palsy, and hopes to use his MBA to start a family-run business to help disabled children and veterans as well as provide career resources for his own daughters.
• Dennis Ward of Pottsville, Pa., is a lifetime member of EANGUS who has served as an emergency management trainer for the U.S. Air Force and as part of the Department of Defense civilian mobile training team. He plans to pursue a master of arts in education and hopes to teach adult learners after graduation.

“The Enlisted Association of National Guard of the United States and University of Phoenix share the common values of dedication to improving our Nation’s communities and providing educational resources to servicemen and women,” said EANGUS president John Harris, U.S. Air Force CMSgt. (Ret.). “Through these scholarships we are able to recognize EANGUS members and allow them to pursue their dreams of obtaining higher education. We are pleased to partner with a university that is dedicated to advancing the lives of our members.”

EANGUS has teamed up with University of Phoenix since 2011, awarding 23 scholarships to date, including full and partial-tuition, to either current members or immediate family members of EANGUS. To be eligible for an EANGUS Scholarship at University of Phoenix, applicants must be actively affiliated with EANGUS through a membership or relative. Applicants submit three essays – one on how a University of Phoenix degree will help advance long-term educational goals, another on community service achievements and the third is a personal reflection of how an experience influenced professional development. Recipients are selected by a committee that reviews their essays.

“Servicemen and women from all branches of the U.S. military are the backbone of our nation and they should be rewarded with the opportunity to further their education and enhance their careers. This is especially true with the National Guard, whose members also hold full-time civilian jobs,” said Adam Such, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) and University of Phoenix vice president of Military and Veterans Affairs. “As a University, we are pleased to partner with EANGUS to provide scholarships as a way to recognize the dedication and sacrifices made by its members every day.”

According to a 2014 military demographics report¹, the highest level of education for 83 percent of enlisted U.S. Reserve and National Guard members is a high school diploma or some college. More than half of officers have a bachelor’s degree and 33 percent have an advanced degree. University of Phoenix and EANGUS understand the need to educate U.S. National Guard members to help them enhance their military and civilian careers and distinguish themselves in today’s competitive employment landscape.

For more information about each of these programs, including on-time completion rates, the median debt incurred by students who completed the program and other important information, please visit: phoenix.edu/programs/gainful-employment.

For more information about University of Phoenix, please visit www.phoenix.edu.

About EANGUS

The Enlisted Association of the National Guard Association of the United States (EANGUS) is the largest enlisted reserve component association, with over 48,000 members.  Founded in 1970, EANGUS’ mission is to give a voice to enlisted National Guard men and women, their families, and retirees on Capitol Hill.  EANGUS is headquartered in Alexandria, Va. with state associations or chapters in every state and territory.  EANGUS WCFA is a 501(c)(3) organization and the charitable arm of EANGUS.  Its emergency relief fund has approved more than 400 grants to enlisted personnel since 2005.For more information, visit http://www.eangus.org/.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of  Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.

¹ Source: Military OneSource “2014 Demographics: Profile of the Military Community,” 2014, http://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Reports/2014-Demographics-Report.pdf