Two local high schoolers each received $68,000 in college tuition money from the U.S. Army Thursday at a dinner honoring both the young recruits and school faculty that helps recruiters find them.

Lacey Byrd and Benjamin Rowland, both 18 and both seniors at Vicksburg High School, received their awards at a dinner. Eager to put their skills to work serving in the military while getting a college education, both have family ties to the armed forces.

Lacey’s sister, DaJuan Daniels, served eight years in the Army. A brother, Pfc. DeAndre Daniels, is serving in Afghanistan.

&#8220I also wanted to do something great with my life,” Lacey said.

Lacey plans to be a chemical operations specialist.

Benjamin’s uncle, Sgt. Stephen Lovett, served a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq with the Mississippi Army National Guard. His father, Steven Rowland, left for Baghdad in April with the 412th Engineering Division.

&#8220I can pay for college and serve the country at the same time,” Benjamin said.

He plans to be in logistics at the beginning of his training, then move on to military intelligence.

Both of the teens will graduate from high school on May 25 and ship out to the Army on July 27.

Sgt. Robert Siquerra said a key recruiting point for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command is the ability of recruits to pick their own jobs, depending on their score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery that measures skills from mathematics to mechanical knowledge.

&#8220We can guarantee a particular job unlike other branches of service in the military,” Siquerra said.

The U.S. Army Recruiting Station at Pemberton Square mall recruits in Warren, Issaquena, Sharkey, Claiborne counties and a portion of Hinds County.

In Louisiana, the office recruits in Madison, Tensas, East Carroll and West Carroll parishes, and a portion of Richland Parish.