Fort Bliss Monitor

Bliss daughter earns DeCA scholarship

Spc. Steve Baack
Monitor Staff

COURTESY PHOTO

Rachel D. Decatur, who was awarded a $1,500 scholarship last month, stands with Store Director Donald Fleck.

How has the world changed since 9/11? When Rachel D. Decatur answered that question, she received scholarship funds toward the school of her choice.

Through Scholarships for Military Children operated by the Defense Commissary Agency, Decatur was awarded $1,500 during a formal presentation at the Fort Bliss Commissary July 12.

“I’m honored and grateful that they offer this to children, because college is expensive and everything helps,” said Decatur.

Decatur, who was the among the top five in her class, plans to study biochemistry at the University of Texas at El Paso starting this fall. She is the daughter of a local retired Soldier, and has a sister in the Air Force.

“I wrote that I have a great appreciation for what [servicemembers] do as far as helping the country and other countries,” said Decatur. “I am also appreciative for the rights that I have – freedom of speech and voter rights.”
Decatur first discovered she had been awarded the scholarship on the Internet, but she received an official letter in June.

“I was really excited when I found out,” said Decatur. “I think my mom was a little more excited for me because I put in for a lot of scholarships and this is the one I got.”

“I’m so thankful that the commissary gave her a scholarship because there were so many people applying for one,” said Valerie Decatur, her mother. “Apparently her essay is one of the best.

“She carried herself, and when I see her counselors, they say, ‘this girl, she’s on it,’” Valerie continued. “All her teachers told me she was very encouraging, and I’m very proud of her.”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	August 11, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Bliss daughter earns DeCA scholarship Spc. Steve Baack Monitor Staff COURTESY PHOTO Rachel D. Decatur, who was awarded a $1,500 scholarship last month, stands with Store Director Donald Fleck. How has the world changed since 9/11? When Rachel D. Decatur answered that question, she received scholarship funds toward the school of her choice. Through Scholarships for Military Children operated by the Defense Commissary Agency, Decatur was awarded $1,500 during a formal presentation at the Fort Bliss Commissary July 12. “I’m honored and grateful that they offer this to children, because college is expensive and everything helps,” said Decatur. Decatur, who was the among the top five in her class, plans to study biochemistry at the University of Texas at El Paso starting this fall. She is the daughter of a local retired Soldier, and has a sister in the Air Force. “I wrote that I have a great appreciation for what [servicemembers] do as far as helping the country and other countries,” said Decatur. “I am also appreciative for the rights that I have – freedom of speech and voter rights.” Decatur first discovered she had been awarded the scholarship on the Internet, but she received an official letter in June. “I was really excited when I found out,” said Decatur. “I think my mom was a little more excited for me because I put in for a lot of scholarships and this is the one I got.” “I’m so thankful that the commissary gave her a scholarship because there were so many people applying for one,” said Valerie Decatur, her mother. “Apparently her essay is one of the best. “She carried herself, and when I see her counselors, they say, ‘this girl, she’s on it,’” Valerie continued. “All her teachers told me she was very encouraging, and I’m very proud of her.”