Heart of Texas Chapter
Military Officers Association of America
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Educational Scholarship Program

The Heart of Texas Chapter (HOT) of MOAA annually awards educational scholarships to deserving students who are pursuing or plan to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies at an accredited institution of higher education.

Over the last 15 years, HOT MOAA has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to deserving applicants. Scholarships are awarded in two categories, “Freedom Is Not Free” and in the honor and memory of “General Harry A. Goodall”. 

The number of scholarships awarded and the amounts of each scholarship are dependent on the number and quality of applications received and available Chapter funding.  For 2024, the minimum amount for any scholarship awarded will be $1,000. Awarded scholarship funds are paid directly to the accredited school of higher education on behalf of the recipient.

Applicants must meet one of the following: (1) be a dependent or surviving spouse of a uniformed service member who died while on active duty; (2) be an honorably discharged US military veteran or a dependent whose parent(s)/grandparent(s) were honorably discharged; (3) be currently serving in the Active or Reserve components of the US military and their immediate family members; and (4) be enrolled in or intend to enroll in a program leading to being commissioned as an officer in any branch of the US military, the US Public Health Service, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Applicants need to review and complete as thoroughly as possible the scholarship application.  Applicants also must submit, with the completed application, the necessary additional documents cited in the application.  The 2024 Application is available to download and must be sent no later than April 5, 2024 to the address cited on the application.   All applications must be typed.

Scholarship applicants will be evaluated on the student’s planned academic program and high school or college GPA; financial need; involvement in extracurricular activities associated with their school, local community, and faith community; their anticipated future goals; and a short essay on “What America Means to Me”. Finalists will be interviewed and results of the written application, application submission and interview evaluations will be  combined to determine the number and amounts of scholarships awarded.

The Heart of Texas Chapter (HOT) of the Military Officers Association
 of America (MOAA) Recently Awarded Six Educational Scholarships
Totaling $15,000 and over $7000 in Grants and Donations in 2023

2023 was the 24th year of awards for the chapter’s educational
scholarship and monetary support programs.

Proceeds from the Chapter fund raising efforts were used to award educational scholarships to deserving students attending or planning to attend accredited schools of higher education, to Baylor University Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets, to cadets in Junior ROTC (JROTC) units at five local area high schools, to the Heart of Texas Civil Patrol (CAP), and to multiple veterans’ programs in Central Texas. Funds for these programs were derived from the “Freedom Is Not Free” Golf Tournament held on June 10, 2023 at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course.

Five of the scholarships were awarded during the chapter’s July 20th luncheon meeting at the Baylor Club.

Hannah Vicars, a graduate of West High School, was awarded a “General Harry A. Goodall” scholarship” in the amount of $4,000. Hannah is attending Baylor University this fall.

Pictured on the right from left to right are Alaxandra Dworaczyk Fuentes, Eden Marie Sauley, Kaylee Smith-McGuire, Kaylee Jade Blackledge, and Hannah Vicars.

Alexandra Dworaczyk Fuentes was awarded a “Freedom Is Not Free” scholarship in the amount of $2,000 and is attending Texas A&M this fall.

Kaylee Smith-McGuire is a senior at Baylor University and received a “Freedom Is Not Free” $2,000 scholarship.

Kaylee Jade Blackledge from Camp Verde, TX, a graduate of Center Point High School, received a $2,000 “Freedom Is Not Free” scholarship and is attending Texas Tech University this Fall.

Eden Marie Sauley, a senior at Baylor University, received a $3,000 “Freedom Is Not Free” scholarship.

The sixth scholarship was awarded at the Chapter’s September 21st dinner meeting at the Media Room, McLean Stadium.

Madison Kirkwood, a senior at Baylor University, was awarded a $2,000 “Freedom Is Not Free” scholarship.

She is pictured receiving her award certificate from Harold Rafuse, the Heart of Texas Chapter scholarship program chairman.

In addition to scholarships, the Chapter donated $1,000 each to The Baylor VETS Program, the Veteran’s One Stop, the Waco Chapter of the Disabled Veterans of America, $500 to the Stan Parker Foundation and $150 to the Special Forces Association (SFA) Chapter 93. To support future leaders, Chapter also provided $3,500 in grants to Waco area ROTC/JROTC and CAP programs. To sustain its scholarship, grant and donation programs, the Chapter needs and looks forward to continued community support. The Heart of Texas Chapter, MOAA, is currently planning its next major 2024 fundraising event, the “Freedom Is Not Free” Golf Tournament, for Jun 8, 2024 at Waco’s Cottonwood Creek Golf Course.

The Heart of Texas Chapter of MOAA provides Scholarships and Financial Support to:

Exceptional Students Throughout Central Texas
Baylor University Air Force and Army ROTC Cadets
Junior ROTC Cadets at Five Waco Area High Schools
Various Waco Area Veteran Activities, Including the Veterans One Stop