Chief’s Council offers scholarship opportunity for 178th Airmen Published Oct. 10, 2014 By Master Sgt. Seth Skidmore 178th Public Affairs SPRINGFIELD -- The 178th Wing Chief's council is awarding two $250 scholarships to unit member in good standing. The recipients can supplement their Ohio Guard tuition or they can use the money to pay for a single class. The Airmen may attend public or private college, without regard to ethnicity or religious affiliation. These scholarships have been the idea for the council for some time but they only achieved the funding this year. "We finally got the money from a golf scramble this year to fund the scholarships," said Chief Master Sgt. Mike Bowen, a member of the council. The money can be used to help fill in the monetary disparities, according to Bowen. "There is still a need to budget for college and to feed yourself," said Bowen. Airmen can start applying now for the scholarship. They need to be in good standing with the wing, be working on the first undergraduate degree and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5. An application needs to be filled out along with a verification form from a school counselor or registrar. The applicant will also need to provide an essay titled "How I will use my education to benefit the National Guard and enhance my professional development." The application deadline is the December Unit Training Assembly. Once all the applications have been received, the Chief's Council will review the candidates and announce the recipients during the January UTA. The Chief's Council wants the program to become an annual award. "I hope this is the first of many years of awarding it," stated Chief Master Sgt. Michele Francis, also a member of the Chief's council. This could also include family members in future years. Airmen can contact their chief to obtain more information.