Scholar Highlight: Elissa Beery

Children of Fallen Patriots scholar Elissa B. is the daughter of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Brock B., who passed away in 2006. When asked how friends and family would describe her father, Elissa says, “I would describe my dad as someone I 100% trusted in everything. Whenever I was afraid to try something new he would be right there holding my hand and reassuring me that I could do it.”

When asked about the time she spent with her dad, Elissa says, “My favorite memory is that my dad and I would build forts out of the kitchen table and a bunch of blankets. Once the fort was all put together we would bring the laptop inside and watch Snow White, which has always been one of my favorite movies.”

Elissa graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2022 where she studied Graphic Design and Architecture. Elissa had the opportunity to attend the Gray Career Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky last year where she networked with architecture and design professionals at Gray. After the symposium, Gray hired Elissa to be part of their staff full-time. We are so proud of her!

There are approximately 25,000 children who have lost an active-duty parent in the military over the last 35 years. The vision of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation is to ensure that every such child receives all necessary college funding.