Supporting Military Families: The Inspiring Journey of a Support Our Troops Scholarship Recipient Discover the impact of scholarships and the importance of supporting military family members on their extraordinary path. In an age where educational opportunities play a vital role in shaping young minds, scholarships often make a significant difference. Meet Callum Derry, a young man pursuing a career in aerospace engineering at the University of Toronto. Callum embodies the essence of determination, service, and the power of support from the CAF community. Callum’s connection to the Canadian Armed Forces runs deep, with a father who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) throughout their childhood. Callum's father undertook diverse roles within the RCAF, including piloting CH-146 Griffin helicopters and holding various commanding positions. This dedication led to two deployments to Afghanistan during his sons early years. Callum spent the first 14 years of his life moving across North America, adapting to different postings and challenges. Callum’s father passed away in 2016 while serving as the Deputy Command Centre Director at NORAD in Colorado Springs, with plans to take over as the 1 Wing Commander in Kingston. His legacy served as a profound source of inspiration for his son. The Support Our Troops National Scholarship Program, a beacon of financial assistance for military family members, became a pivotal opportunity for Callum. It provided a lifeline in his third year of university, when many traditional scholarships were no longer applicable. The news of being a successful applicant brought happiness, relief, and motivation to excel in his academic journey. Callum expressed his gratitude, stating, "While any scholarship would be impactful to me in helping with my personal finances and reducing any monetary stresses, this scholarship particularly has come at an excellent time." Callum acknowledged the influential role that military family members have played in his journey. While his father had a significant impact, the broader CAF community left a lasting impression, exposing him to a wide range of individuals within the field. When asked his opinion on the importance of programs like the National Scholarship Program existing for military families, Callum stated, “Growing up in a military family poses unique challenges that many other students don’t face (and many universities don’t recognize in their scholarship programs). One point that quickly became apparent to me is the difficulty of building local connections and experience when constantly moving to new postings. It’s amazing that programs like this exist, offering support that recognizes the unique situation military students are placed in and allowing them to succeed.” Callum further elaborated, “Military life often isn’t easy, whether through deployment, lots of time away from home or any other stresses, I’ve seen time and time again that members of the CAF grow strong connections with each other to make these often-strenuous conditions more enjoyable. Wherever we’ve lived during my childhood, we always had friends in the CAF to spend time with, and these connections often last a lifetime. In short, the CAF community is a great group of people, caring with each other to offer support whenever and wherever needed.” We wish to congratulate Callum, and all 2023 recipients of the Support Our Troops National Scholarship Program. For information on this program, eligibility requirements and application dates, please visit: https://www.supportourtroops.ca/Get-Support/Education/Scholarships