Even while attending high school, W.F. West High School student Baylee Kambich has served her community.
Now, she is going to serve her country.
The W.F. West soccer player and wrestler recently received a full scholarship from the U.S. Marine Corp to attend Oregon State University and its Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program.
Kambich, who is interested in engineering, got high scores on the military placement exam and was contacted by a military recruiter.
“She feels like everything is working out,” parent Jamie Kambich said. “She gets to go to the college she wants to get the degree she wants to go after. She is super excited to receive a full tuition scholarship that also covers books and fees, along with a monthly stipend so she doesn’t have to worry about working.”
Kambich, who is currently enrolled in Running Start at Centralia College, chose Oregon State as her top choice of school. Along with another $15,000 scholarship from OSU, the Marine Corps scholarship will cover her tuition at the university, which is $36,000 a year.
With a major in engineering, she will minor in military science. While staying in the ROTC dorm, she will attend ROTC classes every morning from 6 to 8 a.m., which can range from physical fitness to military studies.
She will also attend weekend ROTC competitions and, this summer, she will attend a mini boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois, to better prepare for the college program. Each summer, she will have to do four- to six-week training and one-week missions, which include being on a submarine, surface ship, and command center.
After graduation, Baylee will enter the Marine Corps and will serve at least four years active duty as an officer following completion of Officer Candidates School.
“We’ve taken her down to Oregon State twice, met the lieutenant with the ROTC program and some of the other students,” Jamie Kambich said. “We got to see the dorms as well. She is very excited, nervous, and honored to do this.”
Along with attending W.F. West and Running Start, Baylee also has held down summer jobs, along with volunteering and coaching in local sports programs. She will be taking her next step in life this summer and it’s sure to make the community proud.
Baylee Kambich will be honored at a school assembly next month.
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