Texas A&M Establishes Maj. Gen. Raymond L. Murray ’35 Corps Of Cadets Scholarship
Out-of-state students in Texas A&M University’s Corps of Cadets are now eligible for a new scholarship that will cover the amount of out-of-state tuition and fees.
By removing significant financial barriers, the Maj. Gen. Raymond L. Murray ’35 Corps of Scholarship will help the Corps recruit and retain more members as part of a goal to grow its current enrollment to 3,000 cadets. The scholarship, which will begin in the 2022-23 academic year, will be awarded to all eligible new and continuing students in the Corps of Cadets.
“Texas A&M has a long history of educating leaders of character committed to serving the greater good, and this will allow us to enable more of those promising students to become Aggies,” said Texas A&M President M. Katherine Banks.
Officials estimate approximately 150 students will immediately benefit from more than $4 million in scholarships through the new program, which is to be managed by the Corps of Cadets and Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid.
The new scholarship will be available to students who receive a Corps of Cadets scholarship valued at $1,200 or greater and are not receiving a non-resident tuition waiver such as the Competitive Scholarship Waiver or Military in Texas Waiver. The scholarship will be awarded in an amount equal to the additional tuition and fees charged to non-residents, thereby reducing total tuition and fees to be equivalent to those paid by Texas residents.
Students are eligible to receive the scholarship for multiple semesters as long as they continue to meet the requirements of their Corps of Cadets scholarship. Officials note in some cases Texas residents may also receive the scholarship if they are required to pay additional tuition charges associated with excess credit hours.
The scholarship is named for the late Raymond L. Murray ’35, who received a bachelor’s degree in English from Texas A&M. During his 33 years as a Marine Corps officer, Murray served in three wars in numerous combat positions, including the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 and World War II, in which he led the Marines in the Pacific campaigns at Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan. In Korea, he led the 5th Marines in the landings at Pusan and Inchon and in the Chosin Reservoir campaign. Murray was also deputy commander for all Marine forces in Vietnam.
The highly-decorated combat leader retired from active duty in 1968. His personal bravery and leadership earned him two Navy Crosses, four Silver Star Medals for valor and a Purple Heart for two wounds sustained in combat.
“I can’t think of anything more important right now than growing the Corps,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “Congratulations to President Banks for this initiative and others to ensure the vibrancy of the Corps.”
