Spouses club awards scholarships

By Adrienne AndersonMay 13, 2014

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BENNING, Ga., (May 14, 2014) -- Fourteen high school students and 18 continuing education students were awarded $30,750 worth of scholarships May 7 at Riverside.

Awards included Community Spouses Club scholarships, the Mozelle Dunn Award and the Association of the United States Army high school and continuing education awards.

Military children and spouses are eligible to receive the scholarships. Katie McMaster, wife of Maj. Gen. H. R. McMaster, Fort Benning's commanding general, and Brig. Gen. Leopoldo Quintas, Armor commandant, presented certificates to the students.

"It was not an easy competition," Quintas said. "And it speaks so well of you, what you have done in your academic careers - both as a student, as a leader, as a volunteer and as an athlete - to be that total person and to really commit yourself to excellence in education."

Darby High, the recipient of the Mozelle Award, said she wants to volunteer around the world. She is going to Columbus State University to major in computer science. The award was named after Mozelle Dunn, a member of the CSC who passed away in 2009.

Candy Wojdakowski, a friend of Dunn, and the wife of retired Maj. Gen. Walter Wojdakowski, presented the award. Darby was like Dunn in her dedication to volunteering, she said.

"I'm very honored because when I do my community service with the special needs children, I don't feel like I have to be there - I want to be there and I want to help the children," High said. "I want to help them have a great summer and have a great weekend, help them do all of the things that they want to do as much as I do. It's really great."

Money for scholarships from the CSC is raised through fundraising and community outreach - the thrift store, the Benning Bazaar and the spring auction.

CSC raised $55,000 over the year and $24,000 went to community grants for organizations. The rest went to scholarships.

"It brings hopes, it brings encouragement," said Danesha Little, CSC scholarship chairperson. "When you have someone saying you are doing a good job - keep going - and you are doing it in the form of helping them pay for that, it gives them encouragement."

2014 CSC Scholarship Winners

High School recipients

Mozelle Dunn Award

•Darby High

Will be attending: Columbus State University

AUSA Award

•Morgan Merritt

Will be attending: George Mason University

CSC Scholarships

•Jacob Harvey

Will be attending: Mercer University

•Michelle Moore

Will be attending: University of Georgia

•Michelle Northcut

Will be attending: Columbus State University

•Ashley Irving

Will be attending: Columbus State University

•Courtney Purgerson

Will be attending: Brenan University

•Wyatt Peterson

Will be attending: Berry College

•Jessica Browder

Will be attending: University of Georgia

•McKenzie Siter

Will be attending: Kennesaw State University

•Kaitlin Mereand

Will be attending: Oglethorpe University

•Ryanne Cotterell

Will be attending: University of Georgia

•Emily Fairchild

Will be attending: Columbus State University

•Matthew Murphy

Will be attending: Columbus State University

Continuing education recipients

AUSA Award

•Joan Swanson

Attending: Emory University

CSC Scholarships

•Lindsey Sellers

Attending: University of Georgia

•Kennedy Salters

Attending: Brenau University

•Brianna Mosby

Attending: Mercer University

•Danielle Snodgrass

Attending: Florida Southern College

•Lacie Hester

Attending: Kennesaw State University

•Nashia Baker

Attending: University of Kansas

•Malika Baker

Attending: University of Kansas

•Stephanie Whiting

Attending: University of Maryland University College

•Erin Blankenship

Attending: Gonzaga University

•Crystal Labbe-Hasty

Attending: University of Alabama Birmingham

•Logan Rasmusson

Attending: Troy University

•Ian Rodriguez

Attending: Belmont University

•Yuna Fitzpatrick

Attending: Columbus State University

•Anrick Smith

Attending: Liberty University

•Mickell Parnell

Attending: Columbus State University

•Andre Irizarry

Attending: Georgia Institute of Technology

•Natasha Jenkins

Attending: Columbus State University