OSU Student receives scholarship from Folds of Honor

Friday, November 13, 2015

2010 is a year Teague Crotty will never forget.

Crotty’s father was in the Army National Guard, which meant the freshman mechanical engineering student at Oklahoma State University moved around his whole life.

Originally from Norman, he has lived in Washington D.C., San Antonio and now Stillwater, a place he calls his “second home.” His family was living in San Antonio when his father’s leukemia came back.

He said the last few years have been interesting. Being the only boy, he had to assume the role of the man of the house.

“With my dad being sick, I already had to grow more independent and put childish things aside,” Crotty said. “When he actually passed away I had to grow up really quick.”

“It’s definitely made me a stronger man,” he said.
Crotty was just entering high school when his father died.

His father was still on active duty when he died after contracting pneumonia.

“The questions hadn’t really come up a whole lot about how we were going to pay for college,” Crotty said. “One of my sisters used the G.I. Bill and the other used a softball scholarship.”

That’s when Folds of Honor stepped in — awarding Crotty a $5,000 per school year scholarship.

Folds of Honor provides scholarships to the spouse or dependents of service members who have been killed or disabled, lost a limb, died while service-connected disability was in existence, currently classified as a Prisoner of War or Missing in Action, captured by hostile force, forcibly detained in the line of duty by a foreign government or power, or received a Purple Heart.

“Teague’s story of courage and bravery will shed light on the mission of Folds of Honor and the hundreds of military families who need our support,” said Major Dan Rooney, CEO and founder of the Folds of Honor Foundation. “We are honored to support Teague and help him achieve his dream of an education at Oklahoma State University.”

Crotty said his experience with the organization has been great so far. Thanks to his Folds of Honor scholarship and Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, he was able to get in-state status and no longer has to worry about the cost of tuition.

“It’s allowed me to be able to focus more on my studies,” Crotty said.

Stephanie Crotty, Teague’s mother, said that she’s grateful for the generosity Folds of Honor has shown their family.

“For Teague, receiving the Folds of Honor scholarship provides him with the opportunity to pursue his dream of attaining a college education,” she said.

Crotty will formally receive his scholarship during halftime of the Bedlam football game Nov. 28 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.

Story by Katie Rosebrook