The Mount Vernon Chapter - MOAA
- Scholarship Program
Beginning in the 1995-1996 timeframe, the
Board of Directors of the Mount Vernon Chapter gave increasing thought
to establishing a program for awarding grant money to deserving local
area high school graduates of the Junior ROTC program. They formed a
Scholarship Committee which proceeded to identify and resolve the
organizational and legal matters necessary to establish a charitable
fund supported by tax-deductible contributions. As the
program took shape, an incorporation charter and bylaws were developed.
They authorized the solicitation of funds and outlined the procedures
for nominating applicants and for designating awards to graduating
cadets who would attend accredited colleges, universities or other
technical institutions and a college-level ROTC program. This program
allows for the awarding of scholarships to deserving applicants who need
not be military dependents to enter the competition, thereby extending
the program to unconnected but potential future members of MOAA. The bylaws of the Scholarship
Fund, which contain provisions for a Board of Directors and staff of
officers - a President, a secretary, and a Treasurer - were approved by
the Chapter Board of Directors. The President is the Fund’s point of
contact and Board and staff positions are filled by volunteer Chapter
members. The members of the Board of Directors function as
the Selection Committee, under the guidance and governance of a
Chairman who is not a Director. The bylaws contain a provision whereby a
woman can supplement the Selection Committee as a subject area
specialist for addressing matters of particular interest to female
applicants.
Part of the challenge in developing such a program was in
identifying the potential beneficiaries. It was decided to announce the
scholarship competition in the fall of each year in connection with, but
apart from the Chapter’s MOAA medals awards program at ten local high
schools. The school officials and JROTC unit administrators at these
institutions fully endorsed the Chapter’s objectives and generosity in
supporting award recipients in their pursuit of commissioned military
service and their potential eventual beneficial membership in MOAA.
The Chapter
received its first member contributions in January 2002. The
first Selection Committee was convened, and the first award of $500 was
made in the spring of the same year. The initial implementation of the
program was considered an unqualified success by the members of the
Selection Committee and the Chapter members. The program matured as an
increasing number of Chapter members came to believe in the objectives
of the program and backed their beliefs with monetary contributions.
Thus, in 2003, three cadets were provided grants totaling $1,750; in
2004, four cadets received awards amounting to $2,250; and in 2005,
three cadets were awarded a total of $2,500.
As the Scholarship Fund
increased, it received more and more publicity about the program within
the Chapter and at the local high schools, Chapter members developed
more interest in the purpose and intent of the program, and
contributions increased to the point where $3,500 was awarded in 2006 to
two outstanding women cadets. JROTC Senior Military Instructors at
Hayfield Secondary School, and Thomas Edison, Quantico, Mount Vernon,
and West Potomac High Schools nominated five more cadets who were
honored for their achievements during the 2006-2007 Academic Year, and
the total amount awarded to them reached $7,000.
The continued success of
this important Chapter program was highlighted on May 21, 2008, when
six deserving cadets were presented with checks totaling $8,500 at the
Chapter’s regular monthly dinner meeting. Parents, Senior Military
Instructors, and Chapter members were on hand to share in the rewarding
experiences of the outstanding young men and women.
In the seven years of its existence, richly supported by
Chapter members and friends, the Mount Vernon Chapter
Scholarship Fund has provided monetary grants in the amount of $25,500
to 23 cadets. It fully expects the program to continue behind the
enthusiastic support of the Board of Directors and Chapter members and
friends.
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