Three University of Phoenix students recently earned full-tuition scholarships from the institution and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States’ (EANGUS) charitable branch, We Care for America Foundation.

Allen Alfred, Chloe Gunderson and James Howard will have a head start on obtaining their bachelor’s or master’s degrees, according to a press release. Alfred, from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, plans to pursue a bachelor’s in criminal justice; Gunderson, who teaches middle-school math in Fargo, North Dakota, will seek a master’s in education curriculum and instruction; and Howard, a husband and father who hails from Cabot, Arkansas, will pursue a master’s in business administration as he transitions from the military to civilian life. Howard is also a cancer survivor.

To qualify, applicants had to submit essays about their educational goals, successful community activities and perspective on how their experiences informed their career choices.

 The University of Phoenix, which supports U.S. National Guard service members in their pursuit of higher education, has collaborated with EANGUS since 2011 to provide assistance and has awarded 26 scholarships thus far.

“Servicemen and women from all branches of the U.S. military are the backbone of our nation and they should be rewarded with the opportunity to further their education and enhance their careers,” Adam Such, University of Phoenix vice president of military and veterans affairs and a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, said in the release. “This is especially true with the National Guard, whose members also hold full-time civilian jobs.”

EANGUS president John Harris, U.S. Air Force CMSgt. (Ret.) said that his organization’s values align with those of the University of Phoenix.

“We are pleased to partner with an organization that is dedicated to enhancing the lives of our members,” Harris said.