Student earns $128,000 for college Published June 6, 2003 By Senior Airman Harold Barnes III 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFPN) -- An Osan American High School student here won a $128,000 scholarship for college and a guaranteed job with the Defense Intelligence Agency.Jason Pederson, an 18-year-old senior, applied for the scholarship at the prodding of his junior ROTC sergeant and will now receive an $18,000-a-year stipend.A student here for the past six years, Pederson said his fluent English and Korean language skills, extracurricular activities and academic standing helped him surpass his peers to capture the full-ride scholarship. His mother is Korean, and he has spoken Korean and English since childhood.“It’s a huge load off my mind,” said Pederson. “I don’t have to worry about paying for college or even working while I’m going to college.”His achievement stirred pride in his loved ones and the instructor who spurred him to apply.“He can bring something to the table as opposed to someone who went to college and studied Korean (Hangul),” said retired Senior Master Sgt. Lee Hill, aerospace science and junior ROTC instructor. Hill said Pederson’s knowledge of the culture and people, as well as the language, made him a prime choice for the program that seeks minority students.He plans to attend the University of South Florida in the fall, and said the tuition cap for the year will more than cover the university’s tuition. “It’s close to home … where a lot of my friends and family are,” said Pederson about his pending move to the Sunshine State.Though he expressed excitement about his jump from high school to college, he is already busy in preparation for his new role as an undergraduate.“It’s pretty hectic,” said the graduating senior. He said the thorough background checks and preparation for the move back to the states are keeping him busy.The DIA’s Undergraduate Training Assistance Program requires Pederson to not only attend and pass courses in his pre-selected major, but also work a six-week internship at the DIA. Once he graduates with a bachelor of political science, he is required to fulfill a time-and-a-half commitment to the DIA. He hopes to graduate in four years, which will give him a six-year contract with the agency.Pederson said his dependent status made him stand out in the selection process and gave him a working knowledge of the environment for his future job. The time he has spent in South Korea was another plus, he said.Staying active and well-rounded also showed his ability to balance school with other activities. Pederson’s senior year extracurricular activities included playing soccer and football, junior ROTC staff and drill team, and senior class president.