JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – The Sergeant Major Joe Houle Sr. Scholarship Fund has awarded its inaugural scholarships to two deserving students, marking the fund’s first recipients.
The $500 scholarship was created in honor of Sgt. Maj. Joe Houle Sr., recognizing his 23 years of military service.
While stationed in Jacksonville, Houle was widely respected as a mentor and advocate for military families and veterans.
“I am very humbled to be able to have the opportunity to give back to young folks that deserve a little step up in their education,” Houle told WITN.
The first recipients of the scholarship, Parker Taylor and Megan Watter, were honored at the Beirut Memorial in Jacksonville.
Taylor recently graduated from New Bern High School, and Watter graduated from Southwest High School.
For Taylor, the scholarship carries deep personal meaning.
“My dad passed away in 2022 after being diagnosed with small-cell cancer,” said Taylor. “He was stationed at Camp Lejeune when it was the water contamination, and it was a very fast death. He died 17 days after he was diagnosed.”
Watter learned about the scholarship through her parents and said she was thrilled when she found out she had been selected.
“I was like ‘oh that’s great!’ I was so excited because I didn’t know I was going to get it,” said Watter.
The scholarship board hopes this is just the beginning and plans to expand the program to support more students in the future.
Taylor plans to attend the University of South Carolina, where she will major in public health. Watter will begin the veterinary technician program at Cape Fear Community College.
The Sgt. Maj. Joe Houle Sr. Scholarship Fund was established in 2024.
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