“Being chosen for this scholarship means there is someone that believes in my success”
For many first-generation college students, earning a degree represents more than a personal achievement—it's an opportunity to create new possibilities for themselves, their families, and their communities. With support from Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society's Education Assistance program, Emma Rogers is pursuing that opportunity while carrying forward the values of service she learned growing up in a military family.
The daughter of a retired Naval officer, Rogers is working toward a Bachelor of Science degree at Northwestern Oklahoma State University with the help of an NMCRS scholarship.
“My father served 16 years in the United States Navy until he retired in February 1996,” Rogers began. “During this time, he was devoted to his career and his country, waiting until after separation to marry and start a family. In 1998 my parents were married and my sister was born in 2001 and myself in 2004. My dad proudly tells stories of his years in uniform. He shares memories of his times overseas, so much that my sister chose the Philippines for her honeymoon from listening to his tales. Family vacations have been taken so that dad could attend Veterans parades in Branson, visit the USS Midway museum and where he started his career at bootcamp in San Diego. Growing up we would regularly visit McConnell AFB and seeing the service members in their uniforms and the respect they had for each other and their community sticks in my mind. My dad built many lifelong friendships during his active-duty years —it’s always enjoyable when he reconnects with them,” she reflected.
The values Rogers learned from her father's military service continue to influence her goals today. Inspired by a desire to serve others in her own way, she has focused her studies on supporting agricultural communities and conserving natural resources.
“While working on a local ranch in my hometown I made a commitment to earning a degree and finding employment that will serve the agricultural community. This desire to become a valuable asset in the Ag world intensified last summer during my internship with National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), where I increased my knowledge and understanding of the importance of conservation and rangeland management practices. As a first-generation college student in my family, it is extremely important for me to fulfil this dream and continue working to serve and assist local farmers and ranchers increase their educational skills supporting the mission of conservation and rangeland management practices that regenerate natural resources and promote economic growth of our rural area.
As Rogers works toward her degree, financial support from Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has allowed her to stay focused on her education and career goals without taking on additional financial strain. “Receiving this scholarship will impact my schooling by allowing me to decrease my student loan amount and costly repayment terms while I continue with a full class schedule that keeps me on course to graduate,” Rogers said. “The scholarship will also allow me to prioritize studying, college activities and my career with NRCS as my main focus instead of stressing about a financial situation and juggling extra employment around a class schedule.”
Like many students pursuing ambitious goals, Rogers has faced obstacles along the way. Rather than allowing those challenges to define her, she has used them as motivation to continue moving forward.
“I knew when I started my journey into higher education that it would be a challenge,” Rogers acknowledges. “However, after successfully overcoming previous challenges in my life (being bullied, hearing loss, speech impediment and anxiety) I know that working hard, believing in yourself and having a good support system make anything possible. Being chosen for this Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society scholarship means there is someone that believes in my success. Because of someone trusting me with this financial aid, I will work even harder and feel accountable to honor them with my results and successes, giving back to society in any way that I can.”
In 2025, NMCRS awarded 447 grants and interest-free loans supporting undergraduate and graduate education. To learn more about Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society's Education Assistance program, including eligibility requirements and application timelines, visit our Education Assistance page.