Foundation Awards $50K Scholarship To Injured Veteran's Son

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Minnesota military family is being honored for their sacrifice.

A foundation called NewDay USA Thursday awarded a $50,000 scholarship to St. Thomas Academy 8th grader Eric Johnson. His father served four years in the United States Marine Corps.

The boy's father suffered a traumatic brain injury while he was deployed in Operation Desert Storm, leaving him unable to work for the rest of his life. Johnson says the scholarship is a blessing.

"It means so much to us as parents to have this opportunity and it just wouldn't be possible without St. Thomas' help," Eric Johnson, young Eric's father, said. "And then NewDay stepping in, again, it's a gift beyond words. I just can't explain it."

NewDay USA has awarded more than $1 Million in scholarships to students whose parents were killed or severely hurt while serving their country.