Congratulations to our most recent winner of the Robert Mayes Memorial Scholarship, Master Sgt. Jennifer Faulkner of the Indiana National Guard!
The CSU criminal justice administration graduate won the award after an exhaustive review of select candidates who applied. The criteria for eligibility include being a graduate of CSU with a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 or higher, an essay, and an interview with the selection committee.
The Robert G. Mayes Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of CSU founder, Robert G. Mayes. This $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a CSU alumnus who wants to further his/her education by obtaining an online master’s degree with CSU.
Faulkner, who now resides in South Florida, plans to seek a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resource management to help her career and family.
“I hope that my master’s degree will provide the skills and level of education that I need to be competitive in today’s workforce,” said Faulkner. “I aspire to round out my educational background to match my work experience. I hope to garner a position in the civilian world that will enable me to support not only myself, but also pay for my mother’s medical bills.”
While serving in the Air Force, she came to CSU in 2011 for an online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration because “I needed to find somewhere that supported the military student. I discovered CSU through the AU-ABC program through the Air Force. I researched the university further and deemed it to be a perfect fit, as I needed to finish my bachelor’s degree quickly through a quality-driven, service-oriented institution. I graduated from CSU in June 2013 magna cum laude, not without the unparalleled instruction from knowledgeable, dedicated professors.”
Faulkner served in the Air Force for three years, as a police officer for about four years and with the National Guard for past 11½ years. She explained that her degree “has made me eligible to apply for commission opportunities in the military, which has been a goal of mine from the start.”
Outside of her military work, Faulkner enjoys cooking, exercise and reading. She has volunteered with several organizations including in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, March of Dimes, Walk for Autism, Junior Police Academy, Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity.
As she resumes her studies for another degree, Faulkner offered this advice to new students: “If you adhere to scheduling specific times to do your homework and make it a priority rather than an afterthought, you will succeed! The professors and tutors at CSU will bend over backward to help you with all the rest.”
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