Meghan Velotas

My college experience so far has been an absolute blast. Thanks to the generosity of the VAW/VRC Merit Scholarship Program, I will be able to continue this exciting endeavor of growing, learning, and having new experiences that will help me contribute to the world of foreign service and diplomacy. My degree in international relations and my aspiring career in the United States foreign service are my way of serving my country, and more specifically, creating my own life path while still following the service driven footsteps of my father. His numerous stories of his time as a naval flight officer have inspired me and the value of hard work, character, diligence, and that life in the military taught him were instilled in me throughout my childhood. His experiences have shaped how I was raised and the person I am today and will continue to influence the person I want to be in the future. This scholarship will help to change my life through my own formative experiences I have yet to enjoy, the connections I will make, the skills I will learn and foster, and how I will grow to be a more global citizen during my time at William & Mary. This would not be possible without this scholarship and the work of the VAW/VRC Merit Scholarship program, and I will never forget the help that this has provided me.