A former Army Staff Sergeant that is currently attending Minnesota State University-Mankato has been named the National Football League’s first Pat Tillman Military Scholar. The announcement just came down from the NFL’s offices.
↵Patrick Nelson of Dawson, Minn., was named the recipient of the award. Nelson is a former paratrooper that accumulated 39 months of combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan while serving seven years of active duty in the United States Army.
↵The aim of the Tillman Military Scholarship is as follows:
↵↵↵This summer the NFL and Pat Tillman Foundation created the NFL-Tillman Military Scholarship to honor each year an individual who exemplifies Pat Tillman’s enduring legacy of service. The scholarship is part of the Tillman Military Scholars program established by the Pat Tillman Foundation, which is available to veteran and active service members from all branches of the U.S. military who wish to start, finish, or further their education and to dependents and survivors of service members. The scholarship covers not only direct studyâ€related expenses such as tuition, fees, and books, but also other needs such as room and board and child care.
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Nelson will also serve as an honorary captain for the Vikings for this weekend’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
↵A huge congratulations to SSgt Nelson on this honor. Truly one that is well-deserved.