Soldier Credits Gold Star Scholarships for Path to Success

For Illinois Army National Guard 1st Lt. Jacob Harris, a two-time Gold Star Mission scholarship recipient and a member of the Illinois State Police, becoming involved in the organization put him on a path to success.

"During my very first ride, I found myself riding side by side with then Gold Star Mission President David Helfrich," Harris said at the 9th annual Gold Star Mission Scholarship Banquet in Springfield March 21. "He spent miles telling me about the Illinois National Guard, specifically our Army Engineers. Not long after that ride, I enlisted in the Illinois National Guard as a combat engineer."

Since enlisting in 2019, Harris completed his degree, and in 2024 was commissioned as an Engineer officer after graduating from the Illinois Army National Guard's Officer Candidate School. He recently returned home after deploying to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

"The moment I heard about the Gold Star Mission, I knew I wanted to be involved," Harris said. "The ride is incredible and impactful. The miles aren't just miles. They are conversations, stories, moments of healing, and connections that would not happen anywhere else."

Harris thanked the Gold Star families involved with the Gold Star Mission.

"Your presence means more than you know," Harris said. "Through your involvement, we gain a deeper understanding of your loved one. Who they were, what they stood for, and the legacies they left behind. Your courage and your willingness to share your stories enrich every one of us."

In 2018, Harris was awarded a scholarship in memory of fallen Illinois Army National Guard 1st Lt. Jared Southworth, of Oakland, Illinois, who died Feb. 8, 2009 in Helmand, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. Southworth was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Marion.

In 2019, Harris received a scholarship in memory of U.S. Army Pfc. Adam Thomas, Palos Hills, Illinois, who died Aug. 31, 2003, in Afghanistan. Thomas was assigned to 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York.

"Every day I put on the uniform as a Soldier in the U.S. Army, I carry with me the legacies of both of those Soldiers," he said. "I can say I have worn the ranks both of these men wore during their service."

Harris encouraged each of the scholarship recipients to learn the story behind the name of their scholarship.

"You have been entrusted with something meaningful, something rooted in service," Harris said. "Learn their story, carry it with you and let it shape your way forward."

Harris said watching events unfold in the same places he served has given him a deeper appreciation of what 'we have at home.'

"I'm thankful to be home, that we have an opportunity to serve, and thankful to be an American," he said. "The simplest most meaningful way to honor the fallen is living with more gratitude."

Harris also encouraged the scholarship recipients to get involved with the Gold Star Mission.

"We need you. As long as the Gold Star Mission exists, our service members will never die," he said. "May this scholarship and this banquet be the beginning of your journey with Gold Star Mission."

Forty $1,000 scholarships were awarded to recipients in 2026, bringing the total number of scholarships awarded to 357, according to Gold Star Mission President Barry Tobias.

"The scholarships are a living tribute of a life shaped by a hero's legacy," Tobias said.

Tobias also thanked the Gold Star families.

"We see you and we honor you," he said. "Thank you for trusting your stories with the Gold Star Mission."

In addition to the presentation of scholarships, the Gold Star Mission also honored it's Volunteer of the Year with the Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Nuding Award. This year's recipient was Donald Siltman. Siltman retired from the Illinois Army National Guard in 2022 after nearly 40 years of military service.