Fresno Unified student receives scholarship that will make her Air Force dreams a reality

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Duncan Polytechnical High School student Angela Xiong leads an ROTC drill as part of her daily training in hopes of joining the Air Force. Recently she took a big step forward in achieving that goal after receiving a scholarship worth more than $20,000.

"That's the first time getting a scholarship, and I also applied for it for the first time too-- so it is a big thing to actually get a scholarship for the first time."

The award came from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and Xiong was one of only five students who got it.

"Whenever there is an opportunity, take it-- because you never know if you're going to get it."

Through the scholarship Xiong will visit a college campus and get the necessary training for a pilot license, helping her get into the Air Force. Something she's wanted to do for a while now.

"I realized that when I came to Duncan into the ROTC program freshman year."

Apart from helping her enlist this opportunity will also help Xiong achieve her dream.

"My main goal in the future is to actually help the country."

But before Xiong can save the world, she'll need to complete her flight physical and figure out what university she'll do her program at. Her first choice is Auburn University in Alabama.