Freedom Alliance is proud to announce Seth Straw as our 2021 Scholarship Student Ambassador!

Seth graduated in May of 2020 from Auburn University with a degree in Animal Science (a pre-veterinary program). As the Student Ambassador, Seth will represent the organization at various events where he will have the opportunity to sharpen his public speaking skills. He will be communicating on behalf of his fellow scholarship recipients about the importance of education and the need for scholarships to support the children of American heroes—heroes like his father. He will also have a chance to speak with and visit both our generous supporters and our combat-wounded Veterans.

Seth’s father, USMC 1stLt Robert Straw, was tragically killed in a helicopter crash in May of 1997 and buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Mindi, was five months pregnant with Seth at the time, and their oldest child, Molli, was just two years old.

Mindi Straw found out about the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund in 2018, while searching for ways to pay for her children’s college education. Both Seth and Molli have received scholarships to help with their undergraduate degrees and Molli is set to graduate in August of 2021 from an accelerated nursing program at the University of South Alabama. The scholarship helped Seth complete his degree from Auburn University and set him on the path to pursue a doctorate degree at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, FL. He is on track to graduate from the veterinary program in 2024 and plans to work with Pet Care Hospital in Florida post-graduation.

Growing up near the water in Pensacola, Florida, Seth developed hobbies like boating, fishing, wake boarding, running, and especially, scuba diving. His favorite dives so far have been in the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, and the Florida Keys. Seth also loves spending time with his dog, a German Shorthaired Pointer named Bo.

In 2019, Seth attended Freedom Alliance’s Scholarship Retreat and had the opportunity to visit his father’s grave in Arlington. Our annual scholarship retreat is a very special event: it brings together a small group of Gold Star college students who have all lost a parent while serving our country. All the attendees have been through similar struggles and get the chance to spend quality time with their peers, share their burdens, and develop lifelong friendships. Due to the pandemic, we were not able to hold our retreat in 2020, but we are excited to have Seth along with a fantastic group of students coming to D.C. for this year’s long-awaited event.

Freedom Alliance is honored to have Seth with this summer as our ambassador, and we’re excited to see where he goes in life.

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