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My Coast Guard
Commentary | Nov. 11, 2021

BZ: Coast Guard Partnership in Education, Coast Guard Exchange Systems Scholarship Program 

By Nicole Bertrand, MyCG Staff

Way to Go Coast Guard Partnership in Education (PIE) volunteers! PIE volunteers of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, and Intelligence Service Center (C5ISC)-Kearneysville recently led fifth grade flag training at North Jefferson Elementary School in Kearneysville, West Virginia. Chief Petty Officer Jeston Whitacre and Petty Officer 1st Class Krystofer Murray discussed with the young students the history of our nation’s flag and importance of the traditional colors ceremony. Flag training was a hit, and C5ISC’s PIE volunteers have been asked to offer the training at other local elementary schools. They plan to attend one colors ceremony per month at each participating PIE school so students have at least one active duty service member present to help them along with the process. The PIE program allows volunteers to provide support to hundreds of partner schools and work directly with students on a range of activities. To get involved with the Coast Guard’s PIE program and serve as role models and mentors to students, please contact Juan Torres

Solicitation: Applicants for the Coast Guard Exchange Systems Scholarship program. This program provides scholarships to students who are dependents of Coast Guard active duty, reserve, retired Coast Guard military members, current civilians (non-appropriated or appropriated fund), and current Coast Guard Auxiliarists who meet eligibility requirements. Two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to the most outstanding applicants based upon academic achievement, accomplishments, interests, participation, and demonstrated leadership in both school-oriented and community/volunteer activities. The scholarships are awarded on a one-time basis. Forms may be obtained online here or here. Completed applications must be submitted and postmarked no later than Feb. 28, 2022. The scholarship winners will be notified no later than May 31, 2022 by mail. Checks will be made payable to the colleges and sent to the financial department of the college to be credited towards the students account. “The scholarship program is important to helping high school students of our Coast Guard members to ensure they feel supported and to assist financially in their beginning journey of continued education,” said Hannah Spring, human resource manager, Coast Guard Community Services Command. “It is a competitive program and demonstrates the quality of the dependents that stems from our Coast Guard families. It is one small way the Coast Guard Exchange (CGX) is able to give back to the Coast Guard families.” For additional information, email Spring or call (757) 842-4957. You can read more in Coast Guard Exchange System (CGX) Scholarship Program ALCGPSC (CAC required for link) 116/21. 

Petty Officer 1st Class Krystofer Murray (left) and Chief Petty Officer Jeston Whitacre, along with students of North Jefferson Elementary School in Kearneysville, West Virginia, stand by the school’s flagpole during flag training on Oct. 21. Murray and Whiteacre taught students the history of our nation’s flag and the importance of the traditional colors ceremony. Photo taken by Amy Dinges, North Jefferson Elementary School teacher