Katiemarie Owen, Miss Carolina Foothills 2020

Katiemarie Owen and her parents.

The following article, by Simran Sethi, appeared in Legacy Newsletter.

Katiemarie Owen, otherwise known as Miss Carolina Foothills 2020, is on a mission to support children of disabled veterans, much like herself.

“My platform is advocacy and adoration for children of disabled veterans. Not only does it bring awareness to troops but it also brings awareness to the families of disabled veterans because it’s the entire family that’s affected,” Katiemarie says about her pageant mission. “It’s a great feeling when people come up to me and say, ‘thank you for talking about this because we’re in the same situation.’”

Katiemarie’s father, Chief Petty Officer Stephen Owen, was in the Navy for 23 years before he retired and has a close relationship with his daughter, who says she is definitely “Daddy’s little girl.”

“We just want to live life to the fullest every day as best as we can and that’s something that my dad really does strive for; being happy and taking one day at a time,” Katiemarie says. 

Katiemarie has found a passion in helping families just like hers, and with the support of Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society’s Education Program, she believes she is well on her way to making an even greater impact on children of disabled veterans. The Education Program started in 1904 with giving aid to military orphans to attend school, and is now giving out approximately $240,000 annually in education interest-free loans and scholarships and interest-free loans to spouses and children of active duty, retired, and deceased service members. The funding is for undergraduate education and, starting in 2020, master’s programs as well. 

Katiemarie’s father is unable to work due to his disability and her mother is now his full-time caretaker, so the financial support from NMCRS for the past three years has kept Katiemarie’s education alive and helped make it possible for her to attend her dream school, Furman University in South Carolina. 

“The Navy pays so much for disabled veterans but when you see your mom have to quit her job to be a full-time caretaker, it makes me feel really blessed for everything NMCRS does for me. It allows me to study and do the activities I want,” says Katiemarie, a rising junior studying communications and art. 

One of her latest art projects is sewing masks for local veterans during the pandemic. She even personalized a few for the Education Program office, led by Beverly Langdon. Langdon, who started out as a volunteer, has been with NMCRS for 13 years now and is currently the Education Program Director. 

There is an immense amount of financial opportunities for students to take advantage of in the program, Beverly says, but as of right now, many students are not applying or may not know of the program so she encourages any qualifying student to apply (see eligibility requirements on NMCRS.org/education). She says the most rewarding part of her job is being able to help service members see their children attend college and be a part of driven students academic experiences, like Katiemarie Owens, who sent Beverly the picture of herself in her sash and crown. 

“It’s one of the most expensive four years that they have to put their children through which makes it more crucial for us to be there to support them financially,” says Beverly.

The NMCRS Education Program has allowed Katiemarie to pay it forward to her community, and her advice to other students is to apply to the program that has supported her educational goals. 

For more information on the Education Program or application deadline, visit NMCRS.org/education or contact education@nmcrs.org. Application opened January 1. 

Katiemarie is the granddaughter of Joella Edwards, Rock Port.

Who Is Eligible?

NMCRS Education assistance is available for: 

• Children and spouses of active duty or retired sailors and Marines (including retired reservists drawing military retirement pay)

• Children of deceased sailors and Marines who died on active duty or after retirement 

• MECEP or MECP students (or selectees)