---
title: Top Air Force Officer Introduces ‘Lifesaver’ Scholarship on UMD Campus
date: 2023-01-27T17:00:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/top-air-force-officer-introduces-lifesaver-scholarship-on-umd-campus"
section: Articles
---
# Top Air Force Officer Introduces ‘Lifesaver’ Scholarship on UMD Campus

*January 27, 2023* — by [Laura Cech](/author/laura-cech)


> National AFROTC Award to Boost College Affordability for More Diverse Cadet Population

*AFROTC Award Ceremony 01272023 JC 6013 1920x10801 — Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. announces a new Air Force ROTC scholarship in remarks at UMD on Friday. Below, he greets Darryl Baker Jr., a Maryland cadet who attended the event.*

The U.S. Air Force’s senior officer came to the University of Maryland today to introduce a new nationwide scholarship for Air Force ROTC cadets, including some UMD students who will begin benefiting immediately.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. announced that the scholarship will be named for Brig. Gen. Charles McGee, a highly decorated fighter pilot and member of the Tuskegee Airmen who died last year at the age of 102. The pioneering group of African American fliers staked a bold claim for equality in the U.S. military, and Air Force officials said the award will help close a funding gap and make college more affordable to a more diverse student population.

“This scholarship opens doors to cadets who have proven their talent, and their desire to serve. Today we honor General McGee and his legacy by providing scholarships to the next generation,” said Brown, the first Black service chief in U.S. military history. “General McGee and the Tuskegee Airman believed in hard work and preparation. No matter your circumstances, if you believe, you can achieve.”

The award will help students like William B. Fraher ‘24, an electrical engineering major at UMD planning to serve in the U.S. Space Force, who was grappling with the idea of taking out costly loans to finish college.

“To those of us who were struggling financially, it’s truly a lifesaver,” said Fraher. “When you're a cadet, you spend years working nonstop, very hard, and (until now, you) had no guarantee of financial support, so this scholarship is incredible news for cadets and their families.”



*Air Force general shakes hands with a cadet*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [ROTC](https://today.umd.edu/topic/rotc), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience), [Multicultural Community](https://today.umd.edu/topic/multicultural-community)


**Units:** [Division of Student Affairs](https://today.umd.edu/topic/division-student-affairs)