Two Fontana High School (FOHI) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) cadets are preparing to take the next step in their academic and military journeys after earning highly competitive naval scholarships, a milestone capping off a year of success for FOHI’s MCJROTC program.
Cadet Stephanie Mendoza has been awarded a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship, valued at approximately $180,000, which will cover the cost of her undergraduate education and would lead to a commission as an officer in the United States Navy. Cadet Yamileth Velasco has been accepted into the Naval Preparatory Program (NPP) at Norwich University, a pathway that covers a full year of preparatory study before transitioning into a four-year NROTC scholarship, bringing the total value to an estimated $370,000.
“These opportunities don’t happen by chance,” MCJROTC Senior Marine Instructor Lt. Col. Denny Meelarp said. “We set the bar high, and our cadets consistently rise to meet it. They’ve put in the work, and now they’re seeing what’s possible because of it.”…