Palm Springs Military Officers Association Awards Scholarships, Honoring Military

Terrie Heer, Major, U.S.  Army (Retired)

Special to The Desert Sun | USA TODAY NETWORK  June 8, 2025

The Palm Springs Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America held its annual awards ceremony at the Heritage Palms Country Club on May 15 to recognize the top Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from participating high schools in the Coachella Valley.

This year, the chapter awarded five $2,500 scholarships and two leadership awards to cadets selected for their achievement and excellence in high school programs. The scholarships will be used by the recipients to further their education after high school.

Before the awards were given, the audience witnessed a presentation of the colors by the Desert Hot Springs Marine JROTC honor guard and a Missing Man table ceremony by the La Quinta High School Air Force JROTC cadets.

Over the years, the chapter has given out more than $150,000 in scholarships to Coachella Valley JROTC student leaders. Due to increased fundraising efforts of the chapter members, this year the largest amount of money in the history of the organization was awarded.

The $2,500 scholarships and recipients were: Cadet Major Melody Flores-Herrera of Desert Hot Springs High School, who received the Hunter Lopez Scholarship, given by Celeste and John Schleimer in honor of Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, who was killed at the Abbey Gate at the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan in 2021; Cadet Captain Kitzia Gaxiola-Mendoza of La Quinta High School, who was awarded the Celeste and John Schleimer Scholarship; Cadet Captain Eli Salazar of La Quinta High School, who received the CW04 Robert Ramirez Scholarship; Cadet Lieutenant Kayleigh Carstairs of La Quinta High School, who was honored with the Ann Dawson Scholarship; and Cadet Karla Solorzano of Desert Hot Springs High School, who received the Colonel Jack and Doris Samson Scholarship.

Dignitaries attending the ceremony included La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans; Herman Lopez, father of Cpl. Hunter Lopez, who presented his son’s scholarship; and La Quinta High School Principal Greg O’Mara.

The chapter also thanked the two JROTC coordinators who run their respective programs, including MSGT (ret.) Dean Temple, USAF, at La Quinta High School and 1SGT (ret.) Nichelle Webb, USMC, at Desert Hot Springs High School.

The Palm Springs Chapter of MOAA believes in supporting tomorrow’s military leaders through scholarships. Its members worked hard to raise the needed funds to help these young people reach their goals in life, whether it be through education or joining the armed forces. MOAA has a very special relationship with these students and its members are so very proud to be a small part of their successes.

To learn more about the Palm Springs Chapter of the MOAA or to make a donation, visit psc-moaa.com.