Arlington, VA, April 2, 2007--The Air Force Association announced today the establishment of a new scholarship program for dependent children.

The Lt. Col. (Ret.) Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship program is for minor dependents of enlisted Air Force active duty, reserve or guard personnel. The endowment was established through a bequest of the late Lt. Col. Ferretti and a personal gift from Mrs. Ferretti. Four scholarships of $2,500 will be granted annually with priority given to graduating high school seniors who have committed to the study areas of science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). A combination of merit versus need will be used to select the recipients.

The late Lt. Col. Ferretti and his surviving wife have been long time supporters of AFA and advocates of education. The Bourne, Mass., native, Lt. Col. Ferretti served in the Air Force for more than 23 years, beginning in World War II with the Army Air Corps where he volunteered for flight training. He went on to fly the P-61 Black Widow night-fighter and on Easter Sunday, 1945, he was shot down over enemy territory, but he was able to safely parachute and evade capture. After retirement in 1966, he became a stockbroker and financial planner.

Mrs. Ferretti was a secondary and high school teacher and retired after 30 years of teaching. While she and her husband were stationed at MacDill AFB, Fla., she taught Airmen from the base their General Education Degree program requirements as well as other courses. She said the catalyst behind the scholarships for children was her husband. He didn’t have enough money to go to college and wanted to see more children have that opportunity. Originally from Opelika, Ala., Mrs. Ferretti and her late husband have called Tampa, Fla., their home.

"AFA is thrilled to have initiatives to further STEM education," said Boyd Anderson, Vice Chairman for Aerospace Education. "STEM skills are national core competencies crucial to the nation’s security and its worldwide industrial competitiveness."

Application procedures and deadlines for these scholarships will be released at a later date.

For more information on how to support these programs and other AFA initiatives, go to http://afa.planalegacy.org/ or http://www.afa.org/aef/cntrbtns/.

The Air Force Association (AFA) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA disseminates information through AIR FORCE MAGAZINE, AIR FORCE MAGAZINE ONLINE, the EAKER INSTITUTE, public outreach and national conferences and symposia.

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