The three recipients have also demonstrated leadership in their local communities. The scholarships are part of Raytheon's support of Student Veterans of America (SVA), which provides veterans with resources, support and advocacy to succeed in higher education and the workforce.

"The STEM fields are an increasingly important sector of our economy," said Michael Dakduk, SVA's executive director. "Raytheon's generous support will empower three well-deserving student veterans to achieve their academic goals and continue to make valuable contributions to the nation."

Raytheon and SVA joined forces in November 2012 on the shared mission to empower veterans with the resources, support and advocacy needed to achieve their higher education goals. Such empowerment helps the nation's warfighters achieve success as civilians, developing a generation of professionals who already understand the importance of leadership, discipline and perseverance. The multi-year partnership is expected to include additional scholarship grants.

Recipients of the 2013 Raytheon-SVA Scholarship are...

• Adailin Lebron Bengochea—Pursuing a bachelor's degree in marine biology at the University of Texas at Austin, Adailin served in the U.S. Coast Guard
• Gwen Linde—Pursuing a degree in geology at the University of Nevada, Reno, Gwen served in the U.S. Air Force
• Ryan Wilson—Pursuing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Irvine, Ryan served in the U.S. Navy Seabees and in the Navy Reserves

To be eligible for a Raytheon-SVA scholarship, applicants must be military veterans pursuing a bachelor's or graduate degree in science, technology, engineering, and/or math at an accredited four-year university, while also displaying leadership and engagement within the community. Learn more about Raytheon's commitment to empowering military veterans through education on the company's Armed Services website.

SVA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit coalition of more than 850 student veteran organizations on college campuses globally. Founded in 2008, the SVA's mission is to provide military veterans with the resources, support and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and following graduation. The peer-support provided by each SVA chapter has been linked to an easier transition to campus and greater academic success for student veterans.