JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - Thirty-three lucky family members were the recipients of Fort Lewis Family Member Scholarships, which is almost twice as many as the 18 awarded last year. They were recognized May 21 at the Family Resource Center during the annual awards ceremony.
Colonel Tommy Brittain, garrison commander of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was on hand to recognize the recipients in attendance. He praised the awardees and expressed his gratitude to the donors.
"I am honored to recognize the efforts and success of the program, the contributions of the members, contributors and volunteers of the Fort Lewis Family Member Scholarship Fund," Brittain said.
"These scholarships aid our future leaders and measurably reduce the cost of their higher education," he said.
The Scholarship Committee has provided scholarships to Army spouses and family members since 1998. The value of scholarships that the committee has awarded has steadily increased. Four years ago, the committee provided 15 grants totaling $20,500. For 2009-2010, the committee was able to award 33 scholarships. totaling $31,000.
The winners received grants ranging from $750 to $1750. Fifteen children and 18 spouses were anonymously chosen from 73 applicants. Of note, 75 percent of the scholarship grants were given to family members of enlisted sponsors.
Jordan Love and Courtney Boyd were the top two winners. Both girls, seniors at Lakes High School, received awards of $1,750.
Love will graduate from Lakes next month. She plans to major in exercise physiology at Gonzaga University and hopes to earn a post-graduate degree in physical therapy
"I'm really appreciative of all that the Scholarship Board and contributing donors have done to support military students," Love said.
Boyd also will graduate from Lakes next month. She also plans to attend Gonzaga University in the fall.
"I am pursuing a course of study in mathematics. My ultimate goal is to go to medical school and become a missionary doctor," she said.
Another scholarship winner, Victoria Bourg, is currently taking a full course load at Tacoma Community College, where she is pursuing a degree in accounting. Victoria and her husband, Spc. Kenney Bourg Jr. are from New Orleans. Joint Base Lewis-McChord is their first duty station.
"I was very grateful to receive this scholarship because our family has a lot of extra expenses right now. This money will be very helpful in defraying the high cost of tuition," she said.
Anne Tucker, committee chairperson, explained that as a direct result of the hard work of an all-volunteer committee and the generosity of the donors, the fund had its best year ever, even in a tough economy.
"This year, the committee was thrilled to receive more than $30,000 in charitable donations," Tucker said. "It is such a pleasure to see the overwhelming generosity of the (base) community. We were just delighted to have received so much money this year. It was our biggest year in the fund's history.
"I also want to thank the volunteer panel of judges who spent many hours of their time meticulously reading 73 applications, essays and accompanying documents. Without the judges, we would not be able to award these funds," she said.
The bulk of the funds, 81 percent, was provided by donations from private organizations within Joint Base Lewis-McChord and by military retirees living in the surrounding area.
The largest donor was the Fort Lewis Thrift Shop.
"The Thrift Shop's goal is to support the community, and scholarships are an important way to do that," said Linda Walker, who manages the Thrift Shop.
"We work miracles by recycling unwanted household items and turning the profits from the sale of those items into scholarships," she said.
"A Soldier or family member can donate or consign an unwanted or unneeded item and the Thrift Shop donates all profits back to the community. Thirty-three active volunteers volunteer more than 1,000 hours monthly. Without them, our donation would not be possible," Walker said.
The Scholarship Fund also receives donations from the Fort Lewis Officers' Spouses' Club and Enlisted Spouses' Club.
(Jennifer Lear is an Army family member and contributor to Joint Base Lewis-McChord's weekly newspaper, the Northwest Guardian)
High school seniors
Francisco Blanco, Courtney Boyd, Chelsea Brown, Samantha Courts, DaShawna Harmon, Sheniqia Haynes, Elisabeth Jackson, Matthew Jurgensmeier, Jordan Love, Victoria Niusulu, Tristan Pickett, Erich Schmitz, Ashley Taylor, Jaron Williams, Monica Woo
Continuing education
Chase Fette. Meghan McNabb, Aixa Mercado, Gerianne Perkins,
Spouses
Misty Bauer, Lanaye Bergren, Victoria Bourg, Kathleen Burdo, Christina Bush, Amy Copeland, Bobbi Ewen, Vanessa Hanson, DeAnna Lopez, Andrea Nelson, Teodora Pascu, Karen Rivera, Monique Romans, Allison Senkarik
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