Arina is a student at the University of Oregon majoring in English, driven by a lifelong love of literature. An avid reader and thoughtful critic of others’ writing, Arina aspires to build a career as a book editor at a major publishing house.

Arina is the daughter of Army Specialist Shane Rose, who sustained severe injuries and permanent brain damage during a mortar attack in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006.
Reflecting on the impact of the scholarship, Arina shared, “My Johnny Mac scholarship has alleviated the need for loans, which is a great relief.”

Alexis graduated summa cum laude from Howard University with a B.S. in Political Science and a minor in Criminology. She is pursuing her goal of attending law school.

Alexis’ twin, Alex, graduated cum laude from Morehouse College with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Accounting. He plans to earn a Master’s in Accounting and build a career that bridges finance and public policy.

When they were five, their father, Staff Sergeant Alex French IV, was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009. His life of service spanned the Navy, work as a sheriff’s deputy, and the Army National Guard during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Ryan is a student at Baylor University majoring in Neuroscience. He aspires to attend medical school and build a career in the medical field.

Ryan’s father, Major James Weis, was an AH-1W helicopter pilot with the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369. He was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010 while providing close air support to a ground unit.