The Scholarship Selection Committee, under the able leadership of LTC Rock Wheeler, USA-Ret, met on 28 and 29 April at the Heritage Presbyterian Church to interview and select winners in the 2007 Mount Vernon Chapter scholarship competition.
Chairman of the Scholarship Fund Board of Directors, CDR Doug Borden, USN-Ret, first briefed the Committee on the procedures for interviewing the JROTC cadets nominated for the scholarships and deciding on the awards. He stressed the need to determine the selected cadets truly deserve the grants, are accepted at accredited institutions of higher learning, and will affiliate with ROTC programs leading to commissioning in one of the US Armed Services.
LTC Wheeler advised the Committee the JROTC Senior Military Instructors at local high schools had nominated cadets for the awards. After distributing letters of nomination to the Selection Committee, he introduced each candidate to the Committee, which interviewed them. Each nominee was presented with a certificate of appreciation at the conclusion of the interview.
After reviewing the Scholarship Fund bylaws, cadets' records, and interviews, the Committee selected the following cadets as recipients of the Chapter Scholarship awards:
Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Adam Becker, Hayfield Secondary School, $2000, will attend the Virginia Military Institute
Cadet Major Chaz Roberts, Quantico High School, $2000, will attend New Mexico Military Institute and the United States Merchant Marine Academy
Cadet Lieutenant Claudia Siles, West Potomac High School, $1000, will attend Virginia Tech
Cadet Captain Christopher Lutz, Mount Vernon High School, $1000, will attend The Citadel
Cadet 1st Lieutenant Lucille Stratton, Thomas Edison High School, $1000, will attend the Virginia Military Institute
CDR Borden recognized the five winning cadets, their parents, and their Senior Military Instructors at the May16 Chapter dinner and presented the cadets with their checks.
In furtherance of this important program, the Scholarship Committee acknowledges, with thanks, recent contributions of members Deborah Johnston, and Dick and Eve McIntosh. Additionally, members and guests attending the Chapter's Fashion Show on 26 April generously supported the 50/50, which resulted in a substantial contribution to the Fund. It is
through the generosity of members and guests that your Chapter can proudly support the young people who will dedicate a portion of their lives to the service of our country. May they succeed and make us all a part of their success stories!
Donor Appreciation Program
Many members have been extremely generous in making tax free donations to the Scholarship Fund and that generosity is greatly appreciated. Starting with February 2004, the Scholarship Fund Board of Directors began recognizing those special individuals who have been most generous in their donations. We presented Donor Appreciation Program awards to those who have made cumulative donations of $1,000 and $500 to the Scholarship Fund on our way to achieving our $25,000 goal. The cost of these awards are being borne by an anonymous benefactor and not by the Scholarship Fund or the Chapter.
The following individuals have received Donor Appreciation Awards:
Chuck and Susie Davis
Helen Maulsby
Clarence Moore
Ranald and Jeannette Adams
George and Maria Randolph
Dick and Eve McIntosh
Paul and Mary Ellen Mehler
Gus and Margaret Braun
Elias and Kathryn Covington
Arnold and Dorothy Porter
Roger and Suzanne Shafer
Jim Froid
Jack Leffler
Larry and Charlotte Dickerson
Roch and Paula Wheeler
Clarence Moore
Donor contributions to our Chapter Scholarship Fund reached new highs in 2006. Your generosity proved that we care about tomorrow’s military leaders. When we started the Scholarship Fund we stated that about $25,000 was needed to sustain meaningful scholarships. At the conclusion of 2006 we had $32,000 in the bank! We have already awarded $10,000 in scholarships to outstanding students the past five years, and, thanks to your support, we can continue this valuable program.
2006 Scholarship Winners
Thanks to your generosity, the Mount Vernon Chapter Scholarship Fund Board of Directors, under the leadership of Jess Hernandez, has selected the following JROTC cadets as scholarship recipients for the 2005-2006 school year:
Cadet Captain Elizabeth Harrington, Quantico High School, $2000
Cadet Captain Katie Ellis, West Potomac High School, $1500
The Scholarship Selection Committee, consisting of Rock and Paula Wheeler, Otto Pribram, Annette Brown, Chuck Davis, and Doug Borden, presented the awards at the May Dinner Meeting. To view photos and for additional details, see the June issue of the Despatch.
Congratulations and best wishes to our future military leaders!
Previous Scholarship Winner Excels
Cadet Brandon Harrington, a second classman at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) was recently selected to compete against his peers from 19 countries at the NATO Military Skills Competition in Belgium.
Cadet Harrington was one of the top performers at the 2005 U.S. Joint Forces Leader Development and Advanced Military Skills Training Course, resulting in his selection to the U.S. Joint Forces Military Competitions Team.
Congratulations to Cadet Harrington and his family! We are proud of you!
The Mount Vernon Chapter Scholarship Fund is duly registered as a charitable organization.
The ultimate goal is to increase the principal of the Fund so that annual interest will pay the cash scholarship that will be awarded to a deserving JROTC student each year. The scholarship amount is currently set at $500. At current low interest rate levels, the Fund must increase substantially before it can pay the interest that will cover the $500 scholarship.To join other Members in rewarding outstanding JROTC students, please send your tax-deductible contributions to: MVC/MOAA, P. O. Box 97, Mount Vernon, VA 22121-0097.
Checks should be made payable to: Mount Vernon Chapter Scholarship Fund
