Before making his way to Tucson, Arizona, Ely Esparza served four years in the Air Force.
“I joined because of my family’s long military history and because it was a great opportunity for me to serve my country,” he said.
Following active duty, Esparza searched online for academic resources and found the VFW “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship.” He was thrilled when he was awarded assistance.
“Thank you for this great opportunity,” he said. “This scholarship has helped me achieve my goals and taken away so much financial stress, so I can focus solely on my schoolwork.”
Esparza has hopes of becoming a college professor or working in some other role in higher education.
“I love the idea of learning, and I also love helping students and teaching,” he said.
He is nearly finished earning his Ph.D. in educational psychology at the University of Arizona. In addition to financial assistance, Esparza benefited mentally from the support as he worked toward his degree. He believes others could too.
“It provided such a psychological boost to keep going,” he said. “If you’re considering pursuing a higher education, just do it! There are so many resources on college campuses across the country — you’ll never feel left out or on your own.”
Learn more about the VFW "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship."