Naval ROTC scholarships

This national scholarship covers tuition, books, and uniforms. It also provides a stipend of $250 to $400 per month. Combined with the U of I Room and Board Scholarship, the vast majority of your college costs are paid for. Application for this program is normally made during the spring of the junior year or early fall of the student’s senior year of high school. Initial selections for these national four-year scholarships are completed by a Naval Service Training Command-sponsored board and are based on college entrance examination scores (SAT or ACT) and high school academic performance. Applications can be found on the national Navy ROTC website.

Designed for highly motivated and exceptional first-year freshmen who did not receive the Naval ROTC Scholarship or fit the criteria of the NPP, joining the unit as a College Programmer permits you join the unit as a midshipman and train and experience 100% of the opportunities afforded to scholarship midshipmen. The only financial benefit a College Programmer receives in their freshmen year is the $5500 UI room and board scholarship, but this program provides a tremendous opportunity to earn a 3-year Naval ROTC Scholarship with full financial benefits. Currently, the only College Programmers in the battalion are freshmen because 100% of the eligible freshmen earned the 3-year scholarship.

College Program Application (PDF)

U of I NROTC students receiving a national NROTC scholarship or college programmers (non-scholarship students upon entry) are eligible for a $5,500 room and board scholarship from U of I. The scholarship can be renewed for up to four years, as long as you are a full-time degree seeking undergraduate and living in a U of I residence hall. The award can be combined with other scholarships but cannot exceed the cost of attendance established by the Financial Aid Office. The award may be adjusted each year if scholarships or grants exceed the established cost of attendance. Funds cannot be used for tuition or book expenses.

Every year, the junior class selects a fellow junior who shows superior leadership qualities to receive this award, in honor of Lt. Don Campbell. In addition, a sword is awarded to a graduating senior who best demonstrates leadership in the battalion and personifies the leadership traits taught and displayed by Lt. Campbell.

About Capt. Don Campbell

The scholarship was established by the class of 1962, is in remembrance of Lt. Campbell’s time as a U of I NROTC instructor. After this, he attained the rank of captain. Cpapt. Campbell was born on Jan. 10, 1932, in Spokane, Washington and graduated from the U.S.  Naval Academy in 1954 with a degree in naval science. Upon graduation Capt. Campbell served three years on the destroyer USS James E. Keyes (DD-787). Following this tour, Capt. Campbell attended the Submarine School and served on a succession of tours on diesel-electric submarines, ultimately commanding the USS Barbel (SS-580).

Following his submarine tours, Capt. Campbell returned to the surface navy and was the executive officer aboard USS Leahy (DLG-16) and commanded USS Conyngham (DDG-17) and USS Camden (AOE-2). His sea duty tours were interspersed with a variety of shore assignments to include being assistant professor of naval science at U of I.

Capt. Campbell retired from the Navy in 1980 and settled in the Seattle area, where he pursued a variety of civilian occupations. Capt. Campbell married Phyllis Olson in 1955, a marriage lasting 53 years, until his death in 2009. They had three children and four grandchildren.

This scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates exceptional leadership and superb academic achievements worthy of CDR Mayer. The recipient is selected annually by  NROTC staff.

About Cmdr.  Roderick Mayer

Cmdr. Roderick Mayer, USN, graduated from U of I in 1961, with a degree in mathematics. While in the NROTC unit, he served as battalion executive officer and was captain of the rifle team. After completing flight school, he was assigned and served on the USS Independence as an F-4 Phantom pilot.

As a lieutenant commander, Mayer flew a multitude of missions over North Vietnam during his deployment, including 70 combat missions. On Oct. 17, 1965, he launched for a day strike mission on the Thai Nguyen Bridge. During the mission, he and his radar intercept officer, Lt.j.g. David Wheat, were shot down due to anti-aircraft fire about 55 miles from the city of Tai Nguyen. Both Wheat (ROI) and Mayer ejected from their aircraft. Mayer unfortunately could not be located during search and rescue efforts. While the Navy was unsure of his status following his ejection, he was classified as a POW. During this time, he was promoted to the rank of commander.  Cmdr. Mayer was ultimately classified as KIA, where his EGRESS Report states he “died of severe wounds from ejection.”  Today, his flight jacket hangs proudly in the Mayer-Myers Room of Honor at U of I’s Hays Hall, headquarters of University of Idaho/Washington State University NROTC.

This scholarship is awarded to a standout future Marine officer from the unit. Those nominated must show exceptional leadership and academic acumen. Additionally, the nominees should share a love of the outdoors and America’s great natural resources, in keeping with 1st Lt. Wetherbee’s legacy.

About 1st Lt. Alex Wetherbee

1st Lt. Alexander E. Wetherbee was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program (Marine Option) after he graduated from U of I.

Assigned to the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California, 1st Lt. Wetherbee served in combat during the drive from Kuwait to Baghdad in March and April 2003. He was with his unit on a second deployment in Iraq when he was killed in action Sept. 12, 2004, while serving in Anbar province in Iraq. He was a platoon commander leading a unit from the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, near Fallujah.

First Lt. Wetherbee was an active outdoorsman. He enjoyed rock and ice climbing, kayaking, backpacking and other backcountry activities. When not in military training during summers at college, he worked as an Outward Bound instructor.

This annual scholarship affords the opportunity for a standout midshipman to follow in Cmdr. Murphy-Sweet’s footsteps and pursue their dreams of becoming a true leader in the naval service. Established to pay tribute to Cmdr. Murphy-Sweet’s memory, this scholarship supports to our unit’s heritage and the great leaders it has produced.

About Cmdr. Philip Murphy-Sweet

Cmdr. Murphy-Sweet was a 19-year veteran who began his Navy career as a hospital corpsman. He earned his commission through the U of I NROTC program and graduated with a degree in communications. He as a naval supply officer.

Cmdr. Murphy-Sweet served in the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He worked as a contracting officer supporting front-line coalition troops to ensure they had the supplies they needed to complete their mission. He was killed as a result of injuries received by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Russafa District of Baghdad, Iraq on April 7, 2007. He was strong in faith and family leaving behind a wife and three children. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

This annual scholarship is awarded to a student and future aviator who demonstrates outstanding balance between academics and military responsibilities.

About Ensign Craig Gmur

Ensign Craig Gmur was originally from Seattle, Washington and was commissioned through the U of I/WSU Naval Reserve Officer Training Program. He graduated from WSU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in social science.

Ensign Gmur received his wings on Aug. 31, 2007, and was selected to pilot the Sh-60S “Seahawk” out of NAS North Island, San Diego. Two months later, he was killed in a car crash on Nov. 3, 2007, at the age of 24.

This endowed scholarship is available to full-time undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree at U of I and are participating in the Navy ROTC program. The recipient must meet minimum cumulative grade point average. Additional criteria include, but are not limited to diversity, financial need and involvement and/or leadership in the Navy ROTC program, as well as in other community activities. It was created to recognize the Wilhite's association with U of I and the impact that higher education, as well as Navy ROTC, had on their lives.  

Why the Claud and Diana Wilhite Scholarship Endowment was started

My wife, Diana, and I are blessed to be in a position to assist deserving students of the Navy ROTC at U of I. Because the Navy ROTC played a very important role in our lives, it is very rewarding to be able to help young men and women to succeed in achieving their educational goals as well as insuring that our country will have outstanding naval leaders. As we can attest, education plays a key role in an individual's future and military training provides a solid foundation for the values that make our country great. 

The scholarship is available to residents of Idaho who are full-time students at U of I, participate in the NROTC program and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additional criteria include involvement and leadership within the NROTC unit and community. This endowment was created in honor and memory of Larry Baxter’s father, Lawrence, and in honor and memory of Baxter’s friend and high school classmate, 1st Lt. Kay Kimura, USMC.

About Larry and Lisette Baxter

Larry Baxter graduated from U of I in 1966, with a degree in political science and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. After serving 14 months in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division, Baxter began helicopter training. He completed 26 months in Vietnam, piloting helicopters with the 1st Air Cavalry and 120th Assault Helicopter Company. He also flew fixed wing aircraft with the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion. In 1972, he left active duty service and joined the Idaho, then Vermont Army National Guard, where he continued to fly. In civilian life, he worked as a commercial banker until his retirement.

Lisette Baxter graduated from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a degree in nursing. She was an RN in an intensive care unit before moving to Vermont. In Burlington, Vermont, she worked 35 years as a hospice nurse. While working as a nurse, she received a master’s degree in divinity from Montreal Diocesan Theological College and was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church. She retired from the church as a rector after 27 years of service.