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SEBRING, Fla.- There are plenty of moms who've aspired to go back to school, but few have a story quite like Alicia Jetton.
In March of last year, Alicia married Private First Class Joshua Jetton. Just three months later, he was killed fighting in Afghanistan. At the time, Alicia was seven months pregnant with twins.
"The reason he joined the Army is he wanted to pay for his school," recalls Alicia. "He wanted to be an English professor of all the things. That's what he wanted to do."
It was Josh's dream for Alicia to continue her education as well.
"It was mandatory. He said as soon as I had the two babies I had to go back to school," says Alicia.
Now, one year later, Alicia has her hands full with her twin son and daughter. And when Sebring's newest nursing school heard this now single mom was contemplating taking classes, it decided to help.
"Our main focus was to find her and ask her to come in," says George Hanak, the president of Azure College's Sebring campus.
Azure College offered Alicia something she never expected: a full ride, up to $10,000 in tuition.
This Memorial Day weekend she was officially named the first recipient of the Private First Class Joshua Jetton Memorial Scholarship. "I think it's a small token of our appreciation, as far as I'm concerned, compared to the sacrifice she has made," says Hanak.
Jetton plans to study physical therapy, but says she'll take her time to decide for sure.
"Knowing I have this scholarship is a big burden off, because school is expensive."
And while the free tuition helps, even more touching is the college's plan to offer the same scholarship every year to future students.
"I want them to know how important education was to him," says Alicia.
She's is excited about presenting next year's scholarship to another deserving student, helping to ensure Josh's memory will live on for years to come.
"It's important for me because I don't forget... keeping [his memory] alive is good. It makes me proud."