Future Veterans: Seniors Finan Marien-McManus and William Wood both received a Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship

Visiting lunchrooms across the country, the Marine Corps gives students an opportunity to show off their skills on the pull up bar. Many students just do it for the red and blue sticker, but seniors Seniors Finan Marien-McManus and William Wood wanted to designate their future to the Marine Corps.

Marien-McManus and Wood received the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps scholarship which provides an $180,000 scholarship and a future in the military.

“I’ve always wanted to become a military officer,” Marien-McManus said. “I have to serve in the military, but afterwards they pay for college, so the effort it takes is more than worth it.”

For Marien-McManus, military service and the opportunity for a free college education were driving forces behind his decision to pursue the scholarship. His grandfather attended the United States Naval Academy, so military service has been a goal for him since childhood. He applied to the Naval Academy but is currently waiting to see if he’ll be accepted.

The application process for both the academy and the ROTC scholarship is grueling, according to Marien-McManus. He says that both require multiple essays, medical review exams and fitness tests that will leave you looking for the nearest trash can.

“It was a pain in the ass,” Marien-McManus admits with a grin. “But it’s worth it for the chance to serve my country and receive a quality education.”

Marien-McManus hopes to become a Marine Corps officer and attend the University of Notre Dame if he’s unable to attend the Naval academy.

Wood is a part of the Shawnee Mission School Distrisct’s Junior ROTC program. JROTC is a high school course that offers experience in what it would be like to live a life in the military. Students learn discipline, leadership skills, marching exhibition drills and personal training workouts.

The SMSD program is one of the top in the nation with over 40 national titles, and Wood believes that’s due to the discipline that Drill Instructor Dennis Grayless requires. 

“JROTC is easy if you’re in a bad program,” Wood said. “With an actual drill instructor he will  scream at you even if you’re like half an inch out of line.”

Wood earned his ROTC scholarship through daily 5 a.m. personal training sessions, marching in sync with less than millimeters of error and a desire to serve the U.S.

“I like doing things that are hard,” Wood said. “It makes me a better person, gives me discipline.”

Wood’s commitment to ROTC extends beyond the confines of his high school, earning him a scholarship to Texas A&M University, where he plans to continue his journey as a cadet if he doesn’t receive an appointment to the Naval Academy. His unwavering dedication to self-improvement and service exemplifies the core values instilled by the ROTC program – integrity, leadership and selflessness.

As Marien-McManus and Wood prepare to embark on the next chapter of their lives, they carry with them lessons learned through their experiences with ROTC — lessons of resilience, camaraderie and the importance of serving something greater than themselves.