Sam Stoy "Captain America" Scholarship
Samuel "Sam" Stoy was a driven young man. Family, friends, shipmates, classmates, and acquaintances have all spoken highly of Sam’s character, determination, and humor. Remarkably, Sam managed to accomplish an incredible number of childhood dreams and professional experiences in such a short time.
As a youth Sam was involved in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, the church youth group and contemporary worship band at Shepard of the Lakes Church in Grayslake, IL. He took up SCUBA diving at the age of 13 and achieved advanced certification when he was 15. It was Sam’s dream to become a commercial diver. In 2015, he was selected for the People-to-People student ambassador program and traveled to Australia where he had the amazing opportunity to dive on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
As a young man, with a desire to achieve his dreams and defend his country, Sam joined the Navy in 2019. Sam completed his last active-duty assignment as an Information Systems Technician Second Class (IT2) in Washington, D.C. at Joint Base Andrews. Following active duty, he affiliated with the Navy Reserve in 2023, and attended Tidewater Tech in Norfolk, VA. At Tidewater Tech, Sam attained his welding certification and completed his graduation requirements shortly before his death.
Sam was a fitness enthusiast. He had been a Command Fitness Leader at Joint Base Andrews in Washington D.C. and competed regularly in CrossFit events. He passionately encouraged others to challenge themselves to reach their goals and was regularly heard to say, “One more!” His smile and positive attitude were always present. Because of Sam’s physical fitness and larger than life personality, his peers in his graduating class often referred to him as “Captain America.”
Although Sam was unable to complete his life's ambition, he felt strongly that providing help for others is a worthy commitment.
This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Sam Stoy by supporting students who demonstrate leadership and are enthusiastic about making a difference for fellow students.
Any undergraduate student pursuing the combination welding or maritime combination welding program at "Tidewater Tech-Trades" in Virginia may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they have at least a 3.0 GPA and a great attendance record.
To apply, write a short essay telling us about your decision to pursue a welding program and what your hopes are for the future.
Please explain in 250 words or less why you have chosen to enroll in a welding program, including your path leading up to the decision to enroll. Tell us what you hope your future will look like.
Winners and Finalists
January 2026
Winning Application
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FAQ
The application deadline is Dec 7, 2025. Winners will be announced on Jan 7, 2026.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Jan 7, 2026. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
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Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.