Virginia Tech Graduate Continues Her Father’s Legacy of Service

2020 Scholarship Ambassador Julia MorrisJulia Morris is the daughter of Captain James J. Morris, a dedicated Marine pilot and devoted husband and father who was tragically killed in a flight training accident when she was 2 years-old. Today, at 22 years old, Julia is a graduate of Virginia Tech University with a triple major in Sociology, Criminology and Psychology.

This summer, Julia will be doing something special: serving as a Freedom Alliance Scholarship Ambassador.

Each year one student, chosen from hundreds of scholarship recipients, is selected to serve a semester as a Scholarship Ambassador. Ambassadors help administer the Scholarship Fund, work with fellow recipients, and share their stories with community groups and supporters across the nation.

Julia comes into her role with a legacy of service to others. Her father loved God and his country and would help anyone in need.

A New York native and graduate of SUNY Oneonta, James Morris was commissioned as a Marine 2nd Lieutenant in July 1990. He served two tours in Okinawa, Japan, flying both rotary and fixed wing aircraft. In July 1999 he was re-assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida where he served as a flight instructor. It was twenty-years ago in May that Julia’s father gave his life serving our country.

Julia is grateful for the support provided in honor of her father’s sacrifice, saying,

“I feel very grateful to have been given a Freedom Alliance scholarship. Because it helped me financially, but it has also connected me with a community of people who can relate to me and who have been through a similar experience. I feel like I have a whole new family and support system, not only in the other students I have met, but in the gracious people who work at Freedom Alliance. It also shows me that my father’s sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

Julia worked unbelievably hard and consistently earned her way onto the Dean’s List throughout her college career. She held multiple leadership positions in her sorority, as well as represented their organization at Virginia Tech’s homecoming court, in which she advocated for the aid and assistance for struggling military families and disabled veterans.

Her dream, ultimately, is to carry her father’s legacy of service into a career as a special agent with the FBI, and Freedom Alliance is proud to watch her do it.

The Scholarship Ambassador Program began in 2011. Since then, nine exceptional young men and women have taken up this role.

Like her predecessor, Brandi Anderson, Julia will spend the summer helping Freedom Alliance better serve the nearly 500 students currently on scholarship with us, including her brother James, a theater major at UCLA.

Julia is excited to represent Freedom Alliance and all of our recipients, saying,

“I am so grateful to Freedom Alliance for allowing me to pursue my education at a higher level. Now, being able to represent Freedom Alliance as the 2020 Scholarship Ambassador is an opportunity I am very thankful for. The people at Freedom Alliance have grown to be my family and have given me an incredible support system.”

She will have the opportunity to share her father’s story with Freedom Alliance supporters across the country. She will also fill the pivotal role of welcoming new scholarship recipients to the program and helping them thrive as they begin their higher education.

About her selection as the 2020 Ambassador, Freedom Alliance President Tom Kilgannon remarked,

“I’m pleased to have Julia as our Ambassador. She worked hard and finished strong during one of the most challenging times our country has faced. As our Student Ambassador, Julia will speak to the public about the importance of education and the need for scholarship assistance.”

Her efforts will allow us to fulfill our pledge to award $2 million in scholarships this year to children of fallen or wounded military heroes like herself.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Julia’s time as ambassador will be unique. Many of her meetings will be virtual and, like many of us, she will learn to be effective and efficient as she works from home.

Julia’s work this year will help ensure America does not forget those children left behind by heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation.

Julia is one of an estimated 7,000 children who lost a parent in Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom who may be eligible for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship. Those who believe they are eligible should visit www.fascholarship.com for more information and to apply.

 

 

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