Scholarship Named for First Female Chief of Naval Operations Extended to 14 CPS Students Pursuing Military Service

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CHICAGO - Fourteen Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students were awarded $10,000 scholarships Thursday in recognition of their JROTC leadership, academic achievement and commitment to continuing ROTC participation in college. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and his wife, Amy Rule, joined Retired Admiral Lisa Franchetti, The Children First Fund, the CPS Foundation, and CPS leadership at Rickover Naval Academy to celebrate the second annual recipients of the Admiral Lisa Franchetti ROTC Scholarship - an award funded through a $120,000 annual gift from Ambassador Emanuel and Amy Rule that supports CPS students based on financial need, academic performance and JROTC achievement.

"Amy and I are proud to continue supporting this scholarship program in its second year and to recognize these outstanding young leaders for their commitment to service, leadership and country," said Ambassador Rahm Emanuel. "These students understand that citizenship comes with both opportunity and responsibility, and they have already demonstrated a willingness to serve something greater than themselves. It is especially meaningful to celebrate them through a scholarship named for my friend and an extraordinary American leader, Admiral Lisa Franchetti."

CPS Executive Director of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising Heidi Truax and Children First Fun Executive Director Rebecca Clarkin, joined Rickover Naval Academy Principal Michael Biela, and Rickover JROTC students, for the ceremony.

"We are deeply grateful to Ambassador Emanuel and Amy Rule for their generosity and commitment to these talented recipients," said Children First Fund Executive Director Rebecca Clarkin. "Supporting investments in students and programs that make a real difference is at the heart of what Children First Fund does."

The scholarship is named in honor of Retired Admiral Lisa Franchetti, who in 2023 became the first woman and first ROTC graduate in history to serve as chief of naval operations - and the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A Northwestern University graduate, she held command positions across the globe, including leadership roles in the Sixth Fleet, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, and Carrier Strike Groups 15 and 9.

"JROTC changed the course of my life, and I'm proud that this program is continuing to open doors for a new generation of young leaders committed to serving something greater than themselves," said Retired Admiral Lisa Franchetti. "Seeing this scholarship enter its second year is incredibly meaningful. These students represent the very best of leadership, discipline and dedication to service."

• Itzel Aguilar, Phoenix Military Academy
• Izeyah Avila, William Howard Taft High School
• Jocelyn Becerra, Bogan High School
• Daisy Beltran, Prosser Career Academy
• Jada Carr, Morgan Park High School
• Ricardo Duran, Hubbard High School
• Jeshua Nathan Marquez Tellez, William Howard Taft High School
• Leiana McLendon, Morgan Park High School
• Germaine Mosquera, Lane Technical High School
• Gabriela Palomar, Bogan High School
• America Sanchez, Phoenix Military Academy
• Janessa Tate, Bogan High School
• Daria Taylor, Morgan Park High School
• Marco Vasquez Dominguez, Bogan High School

To be eligible, CPS students must complete at least three years of a JROTC program at a participating CPS school, enroll in an ROTC program at an Illinois university and continue ROTC participation throughout four years of college.