Former U.S. Army Green Beret and current University of South Florida student, Joshua Pericles, 33, was recently awarded a $10,000 Tillman Military Scholarship.
- Joshua Pericles, USF student, wins Tillman Military Scholarship
- Pericles served overseas as a Green Beret
- Tillman Scholars recognized for military service, leadership and academic excellence
“I think it’s a great opportunity to represent the foundation that is showing the world more or less a virtue that Pat Tillman represented,” Pericles said.
The Pat Tillman Foundation recognizes students for “their military service, leadership and academic excellence.”
Pat Tillman left his NFL career after the 9/11 attacks, enlisted in the Army and was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004.
Pericles joined the U.S. Army in 2006 and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course, earning his Green Beret. The St. Petersburg native served for more than eight years with deployments to South America and Afghanistan, before enrolling at USF.
“I declared computer engineering as my major,” said Pericles. “I’m pursuing computer engineering as a major because I like solving problems.”
The veteran student said he plans to continue serving his country by working for NASA when he graduates.
“I’ve just started working for NASA in the co-op program,” he said. “I’ll be working with them until I graduate in 2019 and upon graduation, I’ll be placed for full-time employment, hopefully, within the agency.”
Pericles is one of 61 students nationwide to be named 2017 Tillman Military Scholars.