Betan son is USAF med scholar
by Carl Zabat
It is with extreme pride and pleasure that my wife, Merci, and I share the good
news that our son and only child, Richard, was selected and accepted for the US
Air Force's Health Professions Scholarship Program, which will completely fund
his medical schooling for 4 years starting this July. Not only did he need to
have a stellar academic record to qualify but he also had to pass a rigorous
background and medical screening, as Uncle Sam wanted to ensure a return on
their $300K investment! Under this program, Richard will be commissioned a 2nd
Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserves while in med school and receive a monthly
stipend to assist with his expenses. In return, he will be promoted to Captain
upon his graduation and be required to serve 7 years as an Air Force doctor.
Richard will be attending the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic
Medicine in the Metro Denver area.
He was also accepted for the incoming Medical Class of 2029 at the prestigious
Uniformed Services University, which is the "West Point of US Medical Schools"
and operated by the US Military / Government. Had he accepted their offer, he
would be an active duty 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force, receiving active duty
pay, while attending med school. He was also accepted by 2 other schools in Iowa
and Missouri but declined them all in favor of staying in Colorado. Richard is
licensed EMT. He is a 2023 graduate of the University of Colorado in Boulder,
where he completed an honors thesis and graduated with a major in Integrative
Physiology and Minor in Japanese, Summa Cum Laude, with Distinction. Prior to
that, he graduated valedictorian of his 700+ senior high school class.
*Note: click to read
Richard Zabat's
Colorado HS 2019 graduation as valedictorian.