Commissary recognizes scholar Published Sept. 4, 2008 By Phil Ruiz March ARB Commissary MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- Nicole Matera was presented with a $1,500 Scholarship Certificate as part of the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) March ARB "Scholarships for Military Children Program." Nicole is the daughter of Col. Gene Matera, inspector general, Fourth Air Force. Nicole graduated in June from Vista Murrieta High School where she was a four year, three-sport varsity letterman in cross-country, track, and soccer. She is the only student to have accomplished the feat of lettering in three sports during all four years of high school at Vista Murrieta. During her senior year, she was also selected for the Senior Athlete/Scholar Award, which goes to the athlete with the highest grade point average. Nicole will attend UCLA this spring and plans to try out for the cross-country and track teams. She plans to pursue a career in medicine. The Scholarships for Military Children Program is funded by the vendors and manufacturers who sell groceries every day to commissary patrons. Sponsor support funds at least one $1,500 scholarship to be awarded at each DeCA commissary worldwide. The program is administered by the Fisher House Foundation, which operates a network of comfort houses located near military medical centers, providing a "home away from home" for the families of hospital patients in crisis. The scholarships are open to qualified sons and daughters of U.S. military ID card holders (i.e., active duty, retirees, and guard/reserve members).