WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 12, 2026--
The nonprofit Corvias Foundation today announced the launch of its Purple Tassel Vocational Achievement Scholarship, creating a new scholarship opportunity for military-connected students pursuing skilled trades, technical training, certifications, apprenticeships, and other vocational careers. The scholarship will award up to $10,000 to eligible high school seniors from active-duty military families stationed at a Corvias-managed installation.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261012192857/en/
"Success after high school looks different for every student," said Julie Allen, executive director of Corvias Foundation. "We want young people to realize the full spectrum of opportunities ahead of them. Our role is to help the children of our employees and military-connected students explore those options, connect with resources, and pursue the pathway that's right for them."
The scholarships address a growing national demand for skilled workers. The construction industry alone needs an estimated 349,000 additional workers in 2026 to meet workforce demand.
To be eligible, students must be the child of an active-duty service member stationed at one of the following U.S. military installations:
Corvias Foundation scholarships offer flexibility. Eligible students may use funds for the cost of attendance, including direct costs (such as tuition and housing) and indirect costs (such as books, supplies, transportation, or personal computers).
Applications are open through December 31, 2026. To apply, please visit: https://corviasfoundation.org/scholarships
Corvias Foundation Family Trade and Technical Scholarship
Today, Corvias Foundation also announced Chase Perkins as the recipient of a $2,000 inaugural Corvias Foundation Family Trade and Technical Scholarship. This award is for children of Corvias employees pursuing trade, technical or vocational education.
A 2026 graduate of Junction City High School in Junction City, Kansas, Chase is a multidimensional athlete who participated in many school sports and demonstrated leadership skills on and off the field. He rose to the role of track team captain, where he led his team to new school records and championship wins. Looking forward, Chase plans to use the scholarship at Manhattan Area Technical College, where he will pursue certification in HVAC. Chase is the son of Josh Perkins, director of facilities at Fort Riley.
Corvias Foundation’s Julie Allen noted, “I’m impressed with Chase’s mature leadership capacity and his approach to constantly improving his skills. His commitment to including others and investing in their potential alongside his own aligns with the Corvias culture. We are proud to have him join our distinguished group of scholarship recipients.”
The scholarships are part of Corvias Foundation’s broader purpose to connect military families with educational opportunities, career exploration tools, personalized guidance and community resources. Through initiatives including Opportunity Hubs, College Connection, and the Purple Tassel program, the Foundation helps students identify their strengths, explore occupations, and make informed decisions about education and life after high school.
For two decades, Corvias Foundation has invested more than $20 million in education opportunities for military-connected families, supporting more than 500 military-connected families. Through free events, scholarships, and online resources, the Corvias Foundation remains committed to helping military families thrive.
About Corvias Foundation
Corvias Foundation empowers military families to achieve their educational and career goals. With its flagship program, Opportunity Hubs, the Foundation is connecting its community members with partners. The goal is to support educational achievements, create transformative connections, and prepare military-connected students for their life-enriching college and career decisions. Please visit CorviasFoundation.org to learn more.
Chase Perkins of Junction City, KS is the recipient of the Corvias Family Trade and Technical Scholarship.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Una sola cosa. Just one thing. That's all Victor Martinez wanted from listeners of his Spanish-language radio station — tell him one positive thing about President Donald Trump.
The calls started rolling in. Someone mentioned the $5,000 payout that Trump promised if Republicans keep control of Congress, which Martinez thought was so hilarious that he played a laugh track.
Then a trucker shared a silver lining from high diesel prices — he was expecting to take an unplanned vacation because he could no longer afford to fill up his rig.
Martinez has been hosting his show for nearly a decade in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, where Latinos have gone from a fifth to nearly a quarter of the population over the same time period. He added an hour of politics to his morning talk show at the end of Trump's first term, and listeners flooded his phone with their worries about the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, their unhappiness with inflation and their concern over Joe Biden's age.
Now, at the halfway mark of Trump's second term, Martinez said people are just as frustrated as they were then. They're angry about higher prices for fuel and groceries, and Republicans could face the consequences in the midterm elections.
“It’s the economy, stupid. That’s what it is. I mean, things have gotten so bad,” Martinez said. “People didn’t think Biden did a good job. Everything was expensive and now it’s worse.”
Martinez broadcasts from a fourth floor studio with hardwood floors and a view of an old church in downtown Allentown. He operates the show's control board like an orchestra conductor and sits in front of a poster with campaign signs for Democrats and Republicans.
The studio is located in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, where freshman incumbent Ryan Mackenzie faces Democratic challenger Bob Brooks, a retired firefighter and union official, in one of the most closely watched races in the country.
Latinos are about a quarter of the district's population, and they were a key part of Trump's winning coalition two years ago.
Both candidates have organized Latino outreach efforts.
Brooks calls himself “Bombero Bob” — Spanish for firefighter — and recently stopped by a Mexican restaurant and a barber shop with a Dominican flag hanging inside. Mackenzie's campaign has promoted support from Latino voters and officials, and the congressman opened a district office in downtown Allentown with Spanish-speaking staff.
Martinez is a longtime critic of the president, and this year is backing Brooks. But he said his political roots are in the Republican Party. He supported candidates like Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush, and he opposed Biden's decision to seek reelection because he was too old.
Martinez said he uses his show to keep people engaged with politics when some have despaired about the prospect of things getting better.
“I got a call yesterday from a guy that said that he was just not going to vote,” Martinez said. “I understand that feeling of frustration, but not doing nothing is not the answer.”
Republicans know Martinez's show is an avenue to reach voters, and they're buying advertising time on it.
Jackie Rivera, vice chair of Lehigh County Republicans, said the party wants to hold on to the support from Latino voters that Trump won over two years ago, and that means connecting with them on issues like “faith and family.”
Although Trump often brags about the economy under his leadership, she said her party wasn't making the same mistake as Democrats did before.
“We’re not pretending everything is great right now,” she said. “You have to be honest with them so that they can believe in you and actually trust in what you’re stating to them.”
Matt Tuerk, Allentown’s Democratic mayor, said this year’s election has the “same vibes” as two years ago, when Biden was trying to convince people that the economy was strong.
“People on the street were like, ‘Yeah, but my monthly childcare bill is higher and then my monthly mortgage, the price of groceries is ridiculously high,’” he said. “That’s the same story that you hear right now. There’s been no improvement.”
Claudia Parrales-DeLeon, a Democratic listener from Allentown, said Martinez’s show helps people feel connected as they pay more for gas and groceries and face Trump’s immigration crackdown.
“I don’t know if it makes people less afraid, as much as it makes people more informed,” she said.
She recalled listening one day when a particular caller's story brought tears to her eyes.
“This one gentleman who shared how he just lost his job, he can’t find work, doesn’t even know where he’s going to get his next meal for him and his children," she said.
Alberto Pena isn’t a regular listener to Martinez, but his concerns are similar. For nearly two decades, Pena and his wife have run a Dominican restaurant in Allentown, where the aroma of crispy pastelillos and savory rice fills the dining room.
He voted for Trump hoping he’d turn things around after high inflation under Biden. But they're still “living day by day,” and he's leaning toward Brooks this year.
“This is not what we expected,” he said. “The economy is completely on the ground."
Victor Martinez, who runs La Mega 101.7, a Spanish-language radio station in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, hosts a politics talk show from his studio in Allentown, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Victor Martinez, who runs La Mega 101.7, a Spanish-language radio station in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, speaks during an interview after hosting a politics talk show from his studio in Allentown, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Victor Martinez, who runs La Mega 101.7, a Spanish-language radio station in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, hosts a politics talk show from his studio in Allentown, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Alberto Pena who operates Las Palmas Restaurant that serves Dominican food, speaks as his son Miguel, looks on in Allentown, Pa., on Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Alberto Pena who operates Las Palmas Restaurant that serves Dominican food, puts on his apron at the business he operates in Allentown, Pa., on Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Alberto Pena who operates Las Palmas Restaurant that serves Dominican food, speaks during an interview in Allentown, Pa., on Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Victor Martinez, who runs La Mega 101.7, a Spanish-language radio station in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, hosts a politics talk show from his studio in Allentown, Pa., on Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
