A number of local high school graduates were recently awarded WoodmenLife Focus Forward Scholarships®. The students, who are all WoodmenLife members, submitted applications highlighting their high school grades, activities and volunteerism, as well as an essay on patriotism. One of this year’s $500 WoodmenLife Focus Forward Scholarship recipients is Dakota Strait of the Mississippi School of Math and Science. She is the daughter of Heather Barrett and Jimmy Strait. Dakota lives in the Nanih Waiya community in Winston County. While at MSMS, she was an honor graduate maintaining a 3.6 grade point average. She also was given an Honorable Mention in the Eudora Welty Writing Competition. Dakota plans to continue her education career at Mississippi State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology with the ultimate goal of going to Veterinary School. Congratulations Dakota! “These youth embody all that WoodmenLife stands for,” said WoodmenLife Community Outreach Advisor, Kristy White. “We are honored to provide these scholarships to help our deserving young members further their education and realize their dreams.” The WoodmenLife Focus Forward Scholarship program is just one of the wide range of valuable extras the organization offers its members. A person becomes a member when they purchase a WoodmenLife life insurance or retirement product. Since the organization started the scholarship program in 2017, it has awarded $1.78 million in scholarships to more than 3,000 students who are pursuing their education at trade schools, colleges or universities. This year, WoodmenLife will award 626 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000. About WoodmenLife WoodmenLife was founded in 1890 as a not-for-profit. The organization gives back to its nearly 700,000 members across the U.S., who join together in a commitment to family, community and country. With a legacy of financial stability, WoodmenLife offers quality life insurance and retirement products. To learn more about the organization and the valuable extras its members enjoy, visit WoodmenLife.org.
