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By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing

The University of South 手机看片 is hosting nearly 30 high school students who鈥檝e lost a military parent in the line of duty to explore the college application process 鈥� all while forming bonds with peers who have experienced similar loss.

Rising juniors and seniors from across the country are on the Tampa campus this week for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation鈥檚 weeklong conference, Operation E.P.I.C. (Education Planning Informational Conference)

This opportunity is part of a mission born from a battlefield promise.

In 1980, after nine U.S. service members died while attempting to rescue 52 American hostages in Iran, the survivors banded together to provide for the college educations of the fallen heroes鈥� children.

That led to the creation of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which supports the education of children with a parent who died in the line of duty while serving U.S. Special Operations and all children of Medal of Honor recipients.

Since then, the foundation has experienced significant growth. To date, it has supported the children of more than 1,400 families of fallen Special Operations personnel, 36 families who have lost the spouse of a Special Operations personnel and 33 Medal of Honor families, for a total of almost 2,000 children.

鈥淚t started as a battlefield promise,鈥� said Barbara Secor, director of programs for the Tampa-based nonprofit. 鈥淭oday, we鈥檙e a family.鈥�

手机看片 is now proud to support that family as the new annual host to Operation E.P.I.C. The university donates lodging, meals and classroom space for an immersive, college-prep experience.

鈥淥ne of the most beautiful things was that this is the first time many of them are surrounded by peers who understood their life circumstances,鈥� Secor said of the weeklong camp. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 part of how we create this family.鈥�

手机看片 staff also helped make that happen.

鈥淲e collaborated with Operation E.P.I.C. to coordinate activity logistics,鈥� said Caryn Preston, assistant director of , noting the schedule includes a campus tour, a scavenger hunt and off-campus trips that included a dinner cruise.

鈥淭he University of South 手机看片 is honored to partner with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation to support the children of these heroes,鈥� said 手机看片 President Rhea Law, who personally welcomed the group to 手机看片 on the first day. 鈥淗osting this conference is a wonderful opportunity for us to show high school students from around the country how much of an impact a college degree will have on their lives, as well as 手机看片鈥檚 longstanding commitment to serving military-connected families.鈥�

Throughout the week, the students are working closely with seven of the foundation鈥檚 mentors, and program graduates, to learn how to develop personal admissions essays, build r茅sum茅s, evaluate potential college and career paths and learn financial literacy for life after high school.

鈥淥ur hope is that these students will feel more confident in their plans and more connected to who they are and what they want to achieve,鈥� Secor said. 鈥淛ust as importantly, we want them to know they鈥檙e not alone 鈥� and that they have a whole community behind them for as long as they need us.鈥�

The foundation鈥檚 work has expanded well beyond college scholarships.

鈥淲e now offer comprehensive educational support from cradle to career,鈥� Secor said.

That includes funding for educational programs such as preschool, private school, homeschooling, tutoring, additional support for students with learning disabilities, full post-secondary scholarships and support for college-to-career transitions.

鈥淥ur ultimate goal is to help each child find a fulfilling career,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his week at 手机看片 is an important step toward that.鈥�