Central High School senior Christopher Banks received a $180,000 military stipend.

SAN ANGELO, Texas. There are only six higher military colleges in the USA, and the Citadel in South Carolina is just one of them.

Christopher Banks, a JROTC high school student at San Angelo Central High School, recently received a $180,000 scholarship to visit the Citadel.

Banks has been an active member of JROTC for four years and is one of approximately 500-650 seniors who have received this financial opportunity.

Back in December, Banks learned that he had been selected for the Citadel Scholarship, allowing him to become an official military officer upon graduation.

“At first I didn’t believe it,” he said. “It was a good surprise, a very pleasant surprise.”

Banks first learned of the opportunity from a sergeant who encouraged him to apply. After some thought, the elder decided to go for it.

However, applying for such a rigorous scholarship was not an easy process.

“There are a lot of checks,” said San Angelo’s recruiter, Staff Sgt. Alcantar. “There are many questions related to holding the applicant accountable…”, he added.

Alcantar said seniors must be interviewed by a Marine Corps officer and must also be physically and academically prepared.

This includes being able to do at least 20 push-ups, have excellent grades in school, and score high on standardized tests.

The recruiting team at San Angelo is hoping to get more JROTC members to apply for scholarships, and one way to do that is to spread the word.

As for Banks, he first learned that he had received a scholarship back in early to mid-December, but only after recruiters and his parents found out about it, trying to make it a surprise.

Now he is happy to continue the family legacy.

“[My] dad was in the army… then grandpas on both sides, it’s just family,” Banks said.

Looking ahead, Banks hopes to stay busy serving his country.

“I just want to repay because I feel like the ministry has kind of closed the circle,” he said.

“That if you serve, it will eventually come back to you.”

Banks’ parents had previously decided to move to South Carolina, and now that their son is visiting the Citadel, they have another reason to go.