Patrick Kelly, a senior at Camden Catholic High School, was awarded a $180,000 scholarship by the U.S. Marine Corps. Only up to 15 Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship are being awarded this year in the state of New Jersey. Patrick is in the 1% of high school seniors in the United State to achieve such a goal and this scholarship was one of six which are being awarded in the first half of this year.
He is pictured with his parents Tricia and Charles, and his sister Nora '28, along with the presenting United States Marines who spoke to Patrick's qualifications: "When I finished interviewing you I wrote down on your packet 'I would want this young man as one of my rifle platoon commanders.'"
Private Michael Moore, a CCHS alumnus class of 2024, was present for the awarding of the scholarship as well.
The purpose of the Marine Option NROTC program is to educate and train highly qualified young men and women for careers as commissioned officers in the U.S. Marine Corps. The Marine option NROTC units are located at selected colleges and universities throughout the country. Upon graduation and successful completion of required courses and training, a midshipman is appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
Each Marine Corps Recruiting District screens and selects applicants for the Marine Option NROTC four‐year Scholarship Program. Selected applicants are awarded the scholarships through a highly competitive selection process and receive full tuition, books, fees and other financial benefits at many of the country’s leading colleges and universities.