Brief statements from 19 of our 2014 Scholarship Winners.
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Morgan Mykel Craig
Words cannot begin to express
how grateful I am to have received this prestigious and generous scholarship
on behalf of Colonel Charles L. Schmidt. This scholarship will greatly help
me further my education at the University of Kansas and pave the way for my
future endeavors. I feel incredibly blessed that I was awarded
this scholarship and I would like to thank all of those who have served for
our country and who have given me the opportunities and life that I have
today.
Morgan Craig is the daughter of Michael Craig, F
Troop 70-71,
Recipient of the 2014 Col. Charles Schmidt
Leadership award.
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Melanie Buckmann
It is an honor and blessing to have been selected
to receive one of the 11th Armored Cavalry’s Veterans of Vietnam
and Cambodia scholarship awards. I am excited to be able to be going back to
school to receive a degree in nursing, but as a mother of 3, it is also
quite a challenge. This scholarship will greatly help to relieve some of the
financial burdens of school and allow me to be more focused on my classes. I
want to thank my Dad and all other members of the 11th ACVVC for
giving me the opportunity to receive this scholarship and an even bigger
thank-you to all veterans, past and present, for serving our country.
Melanie Buckmann is the daughter of Ken Moser, M
Company, 67-68.
KIA dedication in honor of: Robert J. Brinkman,
How Battery 1/11, (KIA 4/13/69).
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Lauren M. De Paul
I’d like to express my
gratitude for being honored with this scholarship. It means a lot to me, and
I will proudly display it in memory of Trooper James G. Belinski. This
scholarship is important to me not only because it relieves a little
financial pressure, but because it proves that someone who I don’t even know
has faith in me. I’m willing to work hard to achieve my goals, and lead a
worthwhile life, and I appreciate that a stranger is willing to support
that. War is a terrible thing, but it has been fought by valiant,
courageous, and honorable individuals. I am full of gratitude for those who
have served and protected our country; I am blessed to live in this country,
and attend a university immediately after high school. Thank you to everyone
who has helped protect this country and all the wonderful opportunities she
has afforded me. I’m so grateful for this scholarship, and extremely excited
to begin the next chapter of my life! Thank you.
Lauren Marie DePaul is the
daughter of Richard DePaul Jr. HHT 3/11, 67-68.
KIA dedication in honor of:
James G. Belinski, B Troop, (KIA 7/1/68).
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Shilea S. Drummer
The 11th Cavalry Black Horse
Scholarship is very important to me because it will help me in my future
endeavors in terms of my education. This scholarship will be put to good use
for my education by paying for books, supplies and other materials that I
will need during my program of study for nursing. It means a lot to me that
the 11th Armored Cavalry has established a scholarship to support the
children of Veterans of Vietnam. I sincerely appreciate being chosen for
this scholarship and will forever be grateful.
Shilea Drummer is the daughter
of Frank Drummer, A Troop, 70-71.
KIA dedication in honor of:
Richard E. Weiss, I Troop, (KIA 6/23/69).
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Brendan T. Ford
I would like to thank you for
selecting me as a recipient of the 11th Armored Cavalry's Veterans of
Vietnam & Cambodia scholarship award. This scholarship means very much to me
because, I am prepared to enter to the ROTC program at Stonehill College,
and it is an honor to carry on the legacy of the 11th Armored Cavalry.
Thanks to all who thought highly of me to receive this award, I am truly
grateful.
Brendan Ford is the son of Robert Ford, G troop,
71-72.
KIA dedication in honor of: James W. Ambrose III,
E Troop (KIA 1/31/69).
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Shawna L. German
I was very happy to learn that
I was a recipient of the 11th Armored Cavalry Scholarship. I am
writing to thank you for your generous, financial support towards my higher
education. By awarding me this generous scholarship and lessening the
financial burden, I am able to concentrate on my education. I hope one day I
will be able to help others achieve their goal as you have helped me. I plan
on majoring in Kinesiology at Kansas State University, where I begin my
college career as a freshman this fall. I later plan to pursue a career as a
Physical Therapist. Thank you again for recognizing my worth. It truly is an
honor.
Shawna German is the daughter
of Ronald German, E Troop., 69-72.
KIA dedication in honor of:
Jerry W. Wickam, F Troop, (KIA 1/6/68).
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Kevin Gochenour
I wanted to send you this brief
note in thanks for the scholarship that you and the other veterans of the 11th
Armored Cavalry Veteran’s of Vietnam & Cambodia have bestowed upon me. What
this scholarship means to me in a word is "everything." I cannot express to
you in words how much this scholarship means to my family and me this coming
fall. As you are likely aware the cost of a higher education is higher than
ever, and for folks like me who chose a career path that didn’t include
college at first it’s even harder. My plans for this money are to pay a
large portion of my fall tuition expenses at Northern Arizona University. I
was very proud to accept these funds in memory of PFC Delbert O. Lewis of
Shelby Ohio, who was killed in action on Christmas Day 1967. I plan to honor
him and my father Samuel Gochenour who served as a door gunner with the 11th
ACR from November of 1966 to November of 1967, by attending Medical School
two years from now and making them both proud.
Kevin Gochenour is the son of Samuel Gochenour,
Air Cav Troop, 66-67.
KIA dedication in honor of: Delbert O. Lewis, M
Company, (KIA 12/25/67).
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David J. Hormell
As a first generation college
student, I feel blessed to receive this kind of support from people I don’t
even know who are willing to invest in my dreams. I will be attending
Western Kentucky University in the fall. I will be studying Journalism with
a concentration in professional writing. I recently visited a small,
independent bookstore. I spent hours in there, completely losing myself in
the literature. When I left, I knew that, without a doubt, writing is what I
want do to for the rest of my life. Thank you for selecting me as a
scholarship recipient. This is truly an honor and I know this will help
tremendously.
David Hormell is the son of James Hormell, K
Troop, 67-68.
KIA dedication in honor of: Gary A. McLannan, L
Troop, (KIA 7/21/67).
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Lori K. Kays
I am truly grateful for the generous scholarship I
received from the 11th Armored Cavalry Veterans of Vietnam &
Cambodia. As someone planning to enter the field of social work, a
profession in which one often has to sacrifice personal needs, it seems
fitting that part of my education will be dedicated to Clarence E. Smith, a
trooper who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost his life on March 20, 1969.
I will do my best to honor him, others who died, and veterans like my
father, Danny Kays, through my work with at-risk youth.
Lori Kays is the daughter of Danny Kays, G Troop,
69-70.
KIA dedication in honor of:
Clarence E. Smith, L Troop, (KIA 3/20/69).
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Nino A. D. Lane
Thank you to all who are a part of this wonderful
community of Veterans who believed that I am worth allowing me to have this
scholarship. This scholarship is a large deal to me, seeing that it will
allow me to go on to school and not worry as much on cost but focus on my
education. It allows me to go on and one day be able to give back to my
community in the medical field, thank you.
Nino Lane is the son of Earl L. Lane, Air Cav
Troop, 69-70.
KIA dedication in honor of: Ronald E. Clark, A
Troop, (KIA 5/14/68).
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Danielle Larry
Thank you so much for awarding me this
scholarship! It will help me tremendously with paying for my schooling. I am
taking classes to become an ultrasound technician. I love helping people and
this is the perfect profession to be able to do that! It means a lot to me
to receive a scholarship from a military entity with such standards and
class as the 11th ACVVC. My father is a member and military
service runs very deep in our family. I, myself, am a veteran and I am now
married to a veteran, as well. All the males in my family as far back as I
can trace have served in the military. I pride myself as being the first
female veteran in my family! Again, I thank all military members for their
service and I will make the 11th ACVVC very proud to have awarded
me this great gesture!
Danielle Larry is the daughter of Donald Carey,
Air Cav Troop, 67-68.
KIA dedication in honor of: Richard M. Kulavik, I
Troop, (KIA 2/17/69).
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Christopher Lee Miller
This scholarship award will
allow me to fulfill my degree as a physical education teacher. Thank you so
much for helping me get one step closer to completing college!
Christopher Miller is the son of Gary L. Miller, F
Troop, 67-68.
KIA dedication in honor of: Daniel L. Mullins, K
Troop, (KIA 8/31/67).
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Kerstin Nelson
Thank you for awarding me this
scholarship in the honor of Michael L. Jones. I am very grateful for this
scholarship as it will help me in the journey of becoming a Marriage and
Family Therapist. Specifically, it will help with all kinds of expenses
while I attend school, and work at my internship at a mental health clinic.
It is humbling to receive this award knowing where it is coming from. I'm
very proud of my dad and all the people who served for our country. I
sincerely thank the 11th Armored Cavalry's Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia
for their generosity.
Kerstin Nelson is the daughter
of Lee Nelson, HHT 1/11, 68-69.
KIA dedication in honor of:
Michael L. Jones, E Troop, (KIA 12/27/67).
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Cassie M. Nybo
I was elated to hear from you
regarding the scholarship award from the 11th ACVVC and also
somewhat sobered by the reminder that so many died including Robert
Henderson, Jr. on June 6, 1970. My Dad has told me some about his experience
in Viet Nam with the 11th ACR. He remembers the skirmish during
which Mr. Henderson lost his life. I am honored
and thankful and appreciate all the troopers who served and who still carry
on to preserve the memory of their brothers, especially those who gave
"all".
Cassie Nybo is the daughter of Marc Nybo, HHT
2/11, 69-70.
KIA dedication in honor of: Robert K. Henderson, A
Troop, (KIA 6/19/70).
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Matthew G. Rusteberg
I would first like to thank the
11th Armored Cavalry’s Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia for the
scholarship that has been awarded to me in memory of a fallen hero. I am
also very proud that my dad served in Vietnam. With this scholarship and my
internship with the US Army Corp of Engineers, I will be able to attend
college without it being a financial burden. With my Wildlife Habitat
Management and Conservation degree, I will have the ability to help preserve
and conserve wildlife habitats for future generations to enjoy.
Matt Rusteberg is the son of
Homer Rusteberg, How Battery, 3/11, 70-71.
KIA dedication in honor of:
John Ortiz, H Company, (KIA: 1/17/68).
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Laura E. Santos
I was at a loss for words when
I received this scholarship. The first person I called was my dad, Tomas
Santos. He was so thrilled. He and all of the soldiers who served in Vietnam
and Cambodia are the reason I was able to receive such an honor. Being a
single mother, I've made some sacrifices in order to resign from my job to
continue my education. My sacrifices do not compare to those who have served
and to those who continue to serve in the Armed Forces. I've been truly
blessed and can't thank you enough for this. With the money I receive from
this scholarship (in memory of Robert L. Mingle who was killed in action on
06/18/1969) I will be able apply it to my tuition and books at the
University of Texas at El Paso. I am working on my Bachelor's of Science in
Kinesiology in order to work in the Cardiac Rehabilitation field. You will
be helping me help others who are in need of care. Thank you Dad, and the 11th
ACVVC from the bottom of my heart. I will make you proud.
Laura E. Santos is the daughter
of Tomas Santos, HHT, Regiment, 69-70.
KIA dedication in honor of:
Robert L. Mingle, Air Cav Troop, (KIA 6/18/69).
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Sarah J. Seebold
I am honored to receive the 2014 11th
Armored Cavalry’s Veterans of Vietnam & Cambodia scholarship award. I cannot
express into words how appreciative and thankful I am for your assistance
with my college education. I am a mother of three so college tuition is not
easy to afford. With your generous scholarship I am now able to finish out
my degree in Elementary Education and pursue my goal in becoming a teacher.
This award is dedicated to the memory of Ralph O. Hill who was killed in
action serving as a trooper in G Troop of the 11th Armored
Cavalry Regiment in Southeast Asia.
Sarah Seebold is the daughter of Barry Sutherland,
I Troop, 68-69.
KIA dedication in honor of: Ralph O. Hill, G
Troop, (KIA 4/25/70).
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Brittany Le Anna Smith
I feel incredibly grateful to be selected for this
prestigious scholarship award in honor of 11th ACR Trooper Bobby
A. Semore. Even since grade school I planned on going on to college and by
the time I completed high school, and now the first year of college, the
reality of the high costs of attending college began to sink in. In
receiving the financial boost that this scholarship represents means that I
am even closer to reaching my goal of earning a Bachelor’s Degree in
Accounting and starting my career. My plan is to complete my degree at Texas
A&M, College Station, Texas and now that appears to be closer to reality. I
want to sincerely thank all the members of the 11th Armored
Cavalry Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia and the scholarship committee for
this award and I fully intend to perform to the best of my ability and make
the organization and my family proud.
Brittany L. Smith is the daughter of Robert Clark,
HHT 3/11, 69-70.
KIA dedication in honor of: Bobby A. Semore, B
Troop, (KIA 5/9/67).
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Lauren N. Victor
I was honored to learn I was a recipient of 11th
Armored Cavalry’s Veterans of Vietnam & Cambodia Scholarship. I would like
to thank the association for your generous, financial support towards
college. I am a Biomedical Engineer major at Northeastern University in
Boston. In the fall, I will be doing my first semester in Greece in hopes to
become a global citizen and gain new perspective of other cultures. After
graduating, I plan to seek my master’s degree or begin my career in
Biotechnology. Thank you for your generosity that has allowed me to pursue
my education.
Lauren Victor is the daughter of James Victor, L
Troop, 69-70.
KIA dedication in honor of: Lanny J. Norman, F
Troop (KIA 11/11/68).
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