23 SASEBO, Japan – The Chief Petty Officers Association (CPOA) aboard USS America (LHA 6), the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship, presented a scholarship check to a student at E. J. King High School here, May 11.
America’s Command Master Chief Randy Bell presented a check for $2,000 to Halle-Mari Santiago during an award ceremony at the high school. Santiago, who is the valedictorian for the class of 2021, was selected for the scholarship by a panel of America’s CPOs.
“I am very pleased and proud of the fact that the USS America Chief Petty Officers Association was able to award a well-deserving student a scholarship towards their higher education,” said Bell. “It is my intent that the USS America CPOA Scholarship grow in popularity and size enabling us to award even larger amounts of money in years to come.”