CSU recently awarded a Hero Behind the Hero Scholarship to Andrea Skillings of Oro Valley, Ariz., which will allow her to complete her online degree at CSU.
CSU’s Hero Behind the Hero Scholarship honors the spouses and children of active-duty public safety personnel (firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs and dispatchers) and National Guard and military men and women, and covers tuition for up to 24 months for one specific online degree program with CSU. The scholarship is awarded six times a year.
Skillings, whose husband Gunnery Sgt. Michael Skillings of the Marine Corps., is excited about using the scholarship toward her online bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resource management.
“My ideal job would be to work within the Marine Corps Family Team Building as a family readiness officer helping families within the unit with any type of issues that arise, including deployments, medical, financial assistance and so much more,” explained Skillings, who is a stay-at-mom of three who volunteers within the Marine Corps Family.
Skillings’ enthusiasm about going back to school spread to her husband who decided to attend and complete his associate degree with CSU. Her sons have also shown an interest in her return to school.
“They ask me why I going back to school now, and why I didn’t go right after high school. I tell them, ‘Mommy made a mistake, but mistakes are easily corrected if you put in the time and effort,’” said Skillings.
To learn more about the Hero Behind the Hero Scholarship, please call 888-785-3006 or send an email to hero@columbiasouthern.edu.