Gold Star Daughter Fulfills her Father's Dreams

Penn State senior Taylor Baum knows what it is to serve and sacrifice. When she was just 8 years old, her father was killed in Iraq while trying to protect his unit during heavy combat.

Fisher House Foundation also understands what it is to serve and sacrifice. It’s one of the reasons the Foundation started the Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship program, an undergraduate college scholarship for children of service members who have died or become 100% disabled through active military service.

Last year, Taylor was one of 432 recipients of the Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship. Her scholarship was used to pursue her undergraduate degrees: a double-major in biology and electrical engineering.

“The ambition to go to college has always been there,” said Taylor. “However, going to college was never a sure thing because of the cost. The only reason I’m able to go to college is because of scholarships like Fisher House Foundation’s Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship. It made such a big difference.”

This school year, the program awarded over 500 scholarships to these deserving students.

“Military families make sacrifices that most people in this country are just not aware of,” said Dave Coker, president of Fisher House Foundation. “This scholarship allows us, years later, to come back into Gold Star families’ lives

and tell them once again how important their loved one’s service is to this country. By helping them get an education, it’s going to make a difference in their future.”

Taylor agrees and added that education allowed her to continue her father’s legacy. “I believe that my dad would be extremely proud of where I am. I have not only studied incredible subjects, but I’m doing things that my parents hoped I would do and that they believed I could do.”

“I plan on graduating and pursuing my Ph.D. in neuroscience. My life goal is to protect people, serve people and have an impact on others just like my father did,” Taylor added. “Fisher House is helping me do just that.”

To learn more about both the Heroes’ Legacy Program and the Scholarships for Military Families, visit www.militaryscholar.org.