This article appeared in The Temecula Bugle (Temecula, CA) and the Murrieta Bugle
(Murrieta, CA) August 2008
For nearly 50 years, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization,
has helped accomplish what many Marines cannot enabling their children to pursue dreams of
higher education. Academic needs-based scholarships are awarded to upstanding and deserving sons
and daughters of our Marines and Navy Corpsmen. The average combined household income of the
Foundation's scholarship recipients is under $41,000. Temecula resident, Israel Morales (pictured), is
a recipient of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation's Nancy W. Campbell Memorial
Scholarship.
Over the years, Israel Morales grew accustomed to life on the move as his father's career in the
Marine Corps brought his family to Texas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, Japan, and now
California. The Morales family averaged just four years in each location; so military life has included
more than a full share of goodbyes to friends, followed by adjustments to new acquaintances. Israel's
father, Captain Mauro Morales, has served three tours in Iraq since the start of the Global War on
Terror. Captain Morales was overseas during Israel's junior and senior years of high school in
addition to last year, while Israel was a junior at the University of Southern California (USC).
Israel learned early not to dwell on his father’s absence. He worked hard to maintain excellent
grades, participated in many extracurricular activities, and would eventually become the varsity cocaptain of his high school football team. Throughout his father's tours overseas, Israel's family was
able to keep in touch with Captain Morales through emails and pictures via the Internet. Last year,
with his older brother serving in the Air Force and his father in Iraq, Israel always found time in
between classes and activities at USC to visit with his mom at home. The Morales family decided
long ago to maintain their strong sense of family despite the thousands of miles that separate them.
Israel understands that his dad has devoted his life to serving our country as a way to support his
family and in return Israel has worked hard to achieve success in school. Israel explains, "The
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has given me a great opportunity to honor my father's
service. I hope my achievements can repay him for his love and many sacrifices." He added,
"Because of this assistance I was able to take full advantage of numerous opportunities available to
me on campus. I was able to join student organizations, participate in research projects and serve in
leadership positions. I am confident in my resolve to achieve, and the MCSF scholarship helped
build on that confidence by enabling me to stay at the University of Southern California and make
the most of my collegiate experience."
With graduation from the University of Southern California now on the horizon, Israel Morales has
secured numerous opportunities for himself. He has been accepted into the Master's program for
biomedical engineering at USC and at UCLA. He has also been accepted into the Teach for America
program. In addition, he is waiting to hear from Math for America Los Angeles as well as the UCSD
biomedical engineering graduate program.