For Arianna del Valle, the path to James Madison University's Army ROTC program started long before she ever put on a uniform. Growing up in Newport News, Virginia, and graduating from Menchville High School, Arianna watched her father serve in the Army — and that example, combined with her own draw to the structure and purpose of military life, set her on a path she's now pursuing with full commitment.

As a 2030 Kinesiology major, Arianna has her sights set on becoming a physical therapist and serving in the Army's Medical Corps. It's a deliberate pairing of passions: a career that lets her help others heal and perform at their best, within a service branch that shares her values of discipline and teamwork.

A Scholarship That Changed the Equation

Arianna is the recipient of this year's LTC William MacDonald Scholarship, which covered her full first-year tuition. For her, the impact has been as much about peace of mind as it has been about dollars and cents.

"I don't have to be worried about finances and can focus on college work and activities," Arianna shared. When asked directly whether she'd still be at JMU without the scholarship, her answer was honest: yes — but she'd be struggling with money every step of the way.

That financial breathing room has allowed Arianna to pour her energy into more than just her coursework. She's an active volunteer with Empowerment 3, a Monday program serving underprivileged children through track and field. Through the program, Arianna coaches a 15-year-old athlete with autism — exactly the kind of hands-on, people-first work that reflects why she chose Kinesiology in the first place.

Discipline, One Week at a Time

Balancing ROTC with a full academic course load isn't easy, but Arianna has built a rhythm that works. Her week starts early, with physical training three mornings a week — a routine she credits with getting her day started on the right foot. From there, it's a steady cycle of classes, homework, and meals, with her coursework typically tackled right after PT while her mind is sharp.

Ask her what's hardest about ROTC, and the answer comes quickly: waking up for early morning PT. But the payoff is worth it. "At the end of each lab, I feel confident in the skills they taught us," she said. Currently serving as a squad member, Arianna is looking ahead to a squad leader position with real enthusiasm — anticipating the challenge and the chance to grow as a leader.

While she says her defining leadership moment is still ahead of her, her goals are already clear: she wants to be a good leader and earn the trust of those she leads — a simple but powerful standard that will serve her well both in uniform and in her future career as a physical therapist.

A Message to Our Members

When asked what she'd want to say to the donors and members who made her scholarship possible, Arianna didn't hesitate:

"I appreciate their contribution so much, and it makes my college experience significantly better."

It's a sentiment that speaks to exactly why this scholarship — and the generosity of our membership — matters. Because of your support, Arianna del Valle can focus less on how she'll pay for school and more on who she's becoming: a future Army officer, a physical therapist in training, and a mentor to a young athlete who looks up to her every Monday.

Thank you for making stories like Arianna's possible.