ThanksUSA Capitol Hill Reception

March 7, 2017Rayburn House Office Building

Agenda

Welcome Remarks

Bob Okun, Chairman & CEO, ThanksUSA

Pathways for Patriots Overview

Kevin Schmiegel, President, ThanksUSA

Remarks by Members of Congress

Supporting the Pathway to STEM

Larry Duncan, VP Government Relations, Lockheed Martin

ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipients

Charlotte Orren

Natalie Ebreo

David Jeselson

Andrea Barreiro

Military Spouses & Children: A Talent Pipeline for America

Mrs. Sheila Casey, ThanksUSA Advisory Council

Thanking America’s Troops and Their Families with the Gift of Education and Pathways to Meaningful Employment

#PathwaysForPatriots #ThanksUSAonCapitolHill

www.ThanksUSA.org

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Local Army spouse, Andrea Barreiro, was awarded a full-tuition Kaplan/ThanksUSA scholarship to study Psychology in Applied Behavioral Analysis. She has just completed her first term with Kaplan University, holding an impressive 4.0 GPA. She wishes to open a business with her husband to promote local outreach and new employment growth within their community. This busy mother of three, who also raises her niece, attends school full-time and is an Army Arlington Lady. Andrea was also named the 2016 Armed Forces Insurance Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Military Spouse of the Year.

Navy dependent Natalie Ebreo has received consecutive ThanksUSA scholarships totaling $6,000 for undergrad-uate studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Virginia Beach native majors in Mechanical Engineering and explains, “I would like to learn how to design, develop, and maintain transportation systems and infrastructure that supports the military.”

Coast Guard dependent Kristine Goffos was born in Alaska but grew up in Iowa. Kristine received $12,000 in ThanksUSA scholarships for undergraduate studies at Iowa State University. She graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with minors in Journalism and Mass Communication. After graduating, Kristine worked as deputy press secretary for Senator Chuck Grassley. She now works as a digital strategy associate at The Heritage Foundation.

Air Force dependent Ashtin Jeney received $12,000 in ThanksUSA scholarships to pursue a Biology degree at Carroll College in Montana. She then served as Health and Oversight Intern with the Senate Finance Committee and advocated for Tribal Governments as a Programs and Policy Fellow with the National Indian Health Board. In 2014, Ashtin was accepted to George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences as an MD Candidate and will complete her medical training in 2018.

In preparation for a challenging Electrical-Computer Engineering major, Air Force dependent David Jeselson completed 15 college credits while still in high school. He was awarded a $3,000 ThanksUSA scholarship to begin advanced math and physics courses at the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute in Utica. After com-pleting his undergraduate studies, David plans to earn an advanced degree and pursue a career in energy research and development.

Navy dependent Charlotte Orren received ThanksUSA scholarships totaling $9,000 for her undergraduate studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. Charlotte graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering with a Systems Engineering minor. In 2015, she began a career with Lockheed Martin as a Flight Test Engineer with the F35 program.

Army dependent Cedric Pulliam received a $3,000 ThanksUSA scholarship for undergraduate studies at Elon College. He has earned a BA in Political Science, BA in International Studies, MA in International Relations & European Studies, MA in German & European Studies, and certificates in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and Refugee and Humanitarian Emergencies. In 2015, Cedric began his career at the U.S. Department of State where he is currently a Multilateral Diplomacy Officer for Partnerships, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. He is also a PhD candidate studying Psychology with a concentration on Gender and Diversity Studies at Northcentral University.

ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipients

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Pathways for PatriotsIn an effort to significantly increase the scope and reach of ThanksUSA’s military family scholarship program over the next ten years, ThanksUSA announced the $100 Million Strong campaign along with the formation of a Corporate Council and launch of a new initiative called Pathways for Patriots.

The Pathways program will engage corporations from specific industries (i.e., Tech/STEM, Public Service, Healthcare, Hospitality, Financial Services, Manufacturing, and Energy) to create pipelines of military spouses and children inter-ested in pursuing post-secondary degrees, certifications, and ultimately careers in occupations that companies are struggling to fill. The initiative will help our scholars establish careers in hard-to-fill occupations through mentoring, internships, and employee engagement.

“Most of our active-duty troops support their families — 700,000 spouses and more than 1.1 million children — with only one income,” said ThanksUSA President and retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel, who devised the initiative. “With ThanksUSA scholar-ships and these Pathways, we can help fulfill career dreams and provide financial stability for military families who sacrifice so much in service to our nation.”

As participants of the Pathways program, we are asking our corporate partners to commit to the following:

• Granting scholarships in locations where they have a large presence and in academic disciplines that match specific needs or skills gaps in the industries they represent;

• Engaging their employee resource groups to provide mentoring and networking opportunities for scholarship recipients;

• Providing internship and work-study programs that allow scholars to apply what they are learning at school in the workplace; and

• Offering, where practical, full-time employment for scholars who successfully graduate and who have proven themselves as valued employees during internships and work-study opportunities.

Please join us for a chance to provide direct assistance to military dependents with specialized skills in your industry.

CONTACT: Kevin Schmiegel | 540-419-7263 | KevinSchmiegel@ThanksUSA.org

Pathways for Patriots Sponsors

Scholarships Awarded By State Since 2006

31 AK

103 AL

39 AR

61 AZ

199 CA

88 CO

22 CT

4 DC

11 DE

252 FL

168 GA

8 GU

65 HI

24 IA

26 ID

74 IL

25 IN

78 KS

92 KY

46 LA

38 MA

119 MD

13 ME

33 MI

45 MN

79 MO

56 MS

26 MT

277 NC

23 ND

42 NE

6 NH

34 NJ

26 NM

17 NV

113 NY

104 OH

85 OK

24 OR

57 PA

1 PR

14 RI

99 SC

35 SD

97 TN

313 TX

46 UT

327 VA

3 VT

150 WA

42 WI

12 WV

12 WY

109 OCONUS

ThanksUSA LeadershipBoard of Directors

Hon. B. Robert Okun, Chairman & CEO Carolyn Ferek, Secretary

Patricia St. George, Treasurer Stephen E. Baskin

Lily BeckerRhett Butler

GEN George W. Casey, Jr., USA (Ret)Maj Gen Jack Catton, USAF (Ret)

CAPT John P. “Sean” Coffey, USN (Ret)Andrew Don

GEN Ann E. Dunwoody, USA (Ret)Alex Ehrlich

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.Timothy H. Gillis

Gen James L. Jones, USMC (Ret)Gary M. KittaySuzie Kovner

Lt Gen Normand Lezy, USAF (Ret) Laura A. Odell

Deanna Tanner OkunKelsi Okun

Rachel Okun Russ Owen

MG Hawthorne L. Proctor, USA (Ret)Win Sheridan

Peter L. ThorenHon. Zach Wamp

Emeritus DirectorHon. Rod Paige

Advisory CouncilMrs. Bonnie Amos

RADM Richard A. Buchanan, USN (Ret)Mrs. Sheila Casey

Mrs. Eva-Marie ChandlerSharon Chase

Mrs. Beth ChiarelliMartin Coster

Ronald Drach, USA (Ret)CPT Dawn Halfaker, USA (Ret)

SgtMaj Alford McMichael, USMC (Ret)Lt Gen Kenneth Minihan, USAF (Ret)LTG John W. Morgan III, USA (Ret)

Mrs. Deborah MullenLt Gen Tad Oelstrom, USAF (Ret)

Caroline Suplizio

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www.ThanksUSA.org

ThanksUSA has awarded nearly 4,000 scholarships for a total

value of $12 million to recipients representing all military branches.