Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne announced that again this year one student in his district will have the opportunity for a scholarship to attend Valley Forge Military College, made possible by a partnership between Valley Forge Military College and the state legislature.

The student selected will receive a guaranteed acceptance at Valley Forge Military College and a minimum $12,000 scholarship from Valley Forge Military College.

"Valley Forge Military College provides a quality education in a military-structured environment that will help students succeed," State Sen. Browne said. "No matter where a student goes from there – a four-year college or university or a service academy, Valley Forge Military College will have helped prepare them for the future. Furthermore, it gives students who are interested in serving their country an opportunity to learn more about a military career."

All applications must be returned to Browne's District Office, located at 702 Hamilton St., Suite 101, Allentown, PA 18101, no later than close of business Feb. 13.

Applicants must have a minimum SAT score of 1,000 or 20 on the ACT and an overall high school grade-point average of 2.5.

Strong consideration is given to candidates who exhibit involvement in sports or other extracurricular activities, demonstrate leadership potential and are community service-oriented.

Browne has set up a committee to review all applications and the committee will select the one student from the 16th Senatorial District to attend Valley Forge Military College.

If interested, the student will also have the opportunity to be nominated to the Early Commissioning Program at Valley Forge, where if the nominee is accepted, he or she can receive an essentially cost-free college education.

Upon completion of the ECP program, students can earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in just two years instead of four.

In you live in the 16th Senatorial District and are interested in obtaining an application or more information, contact Loretta DeWalt at Browne's Allentown District Office at 610-821-8468.

Information and applications were also distributed to guidance counselors at each school district in the 16th District and posted on Browne's website at www.senatorbrowne.com.

More information on the scholarship program is available on Valley Forge Military College's website at www.vfmac.edu.