Military Officers Association of America Coronado Chapter Post Office Box 1685 Sierra Vista, Arizona 85636 13 April 2008
SUBJECT: Results of Scholarship Committee Interviews and Selections for 2008
The Scholarship Selection Committee consisting of Bob Abney, Paul Weishaupt, and myself met in the JROTC area, Buena High School, on 8 April 2008 for the purpose of interviewing scholarship applicants and competitors for the MOAA Medal.
The Selection Committee was impressed by the high quality of all the students we interviewed. They were all articulate, of high academic standing, very active in a variety of activities and excellent citizens in their schools and the community. Our only regret was that we were not able to grant scholarships to all the highly qualified applicants.
There were three JROTC Cadets who competed for the MOAA Medal, twelve students that competed for the four non-JROTC scholarships ($1000 each), and four JROTC Cadets who competed for the one scholarship ($1000 each) that was reserved for JROTC students. This year we had students applying from the following high schools: Buena, Patagonia, Benson, Bisbee and Douglas.
The results of the selection process are outlined below.
MOAA Medal: Cadet Natasha Bobke was selected to receive the MOAA Medal. Cadet Bobke’s is currently a Platoon Leader in the JROTC program at Buena High School. She has a 4.3 GPA and a 92.87 JROTC GPA. She is very active in the local community, participating in highway clean ups, assisting with the Fry Fire Department’s Annual Christmas Toy Drive and working as an assistant in a local clinic. Natasha has been very active at Buena High School participating on the varsity tennis and swim teams, the Reading is Fundamental Club, Students Against Genocide, serving as the Treasurer of the National Honor Society, and as the President of the Sister Cities Club. She is very enthusiasm about the JROTC program where she has excelled. She has participated as a member of the Color Guard, and achieved awards for excellence in academics and physical fitness. Cadet Bobke has served in Battalion leadership positions and as the Secretary for the Military Ball, and as the Treasurer of the Unit Fund.
The LTC Hans F. Wege Memorial Scholarship: Cadet Steven Wilson was selected to receive the Hans F. Wege Scholarship. You probably remember Cadet Wilson since he was the recipient of the MOAA Medal last year. He ranks 12th in his class of 569, has a 4.22 GPA and a 93.6 GPA in JROTC. He has been in the Boy Scouts for over 13 years and is an Eagle Scout, with a Gold Palm, and has earned 33 merit badges. He is active in church activities, serving as a Lector, Altar Server and Usher in two local Catholic churches. He is a member of the National Honor Society, and served in many JROTC leadership positions such as Commander of the Honor Guard, and President of the Unit Fund Committee. He has also participated as a member of the Orienteering Team and currently serves as the JROTC Battalion Executive Officer. As a recognized leader in the JROTC program, in addition to being awarded the MOAA Medal, he has been awarded the Warrant Officers Association Medal, the US Army Recruiting Command Medal, and was chosen as the Cadet of the Year. Cadet Wilson has a strong interest in a military career and will be attending Northern Arizona University (NAU) next year. The selection committee found Cadet Wilson very well read, and extremely articulate. This scholarship was made possible by the generous contribution of Mrs. Helen Wege in memory of her husband, LTC Hans F. Wege.
The COL Gary Kosmider Memorial Scholarship: Margaret Rose was selected to receive the Kosmider Scholarship. Maggie has a 3.95 GPA and is ranked 35th in his class of 562. She has been a student athlete during her entire high school career. She has been a member of the Buena High School Varsity Swim Team for four years and served as the captain her senior year. During 2007, she was a member of the People-to-People Sports Ambassador program representing the United States as a member of a 35-person swim team competing against 13 European nations in Vienna, Austria. She has been an active member of the Fort Huachuca Main Post Chapel Youth Group participating in chapel clean-ups and volunteering to help run youth groups for younger children. Maggie also has volunteered by working in a soup kitchen in San Diego and packaging meals for Third World Countries in Seattle. She plans on attending Grand Canyon University next year where she will study education or the social sciences and be a member of the university’s swim team.
The COL Eric R. Osborne Memorial Scholarship: Joshua Buss was selected to receive the Eric Osborne scholarship. Joshua is the Valedictorian of his class at Patagonia Union High School where he has maintained a 4.35 GPA. He has excelled in many ways. Josh is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor, a National Merit Commended Scholar, Vice President of the Student Council, and has won many essay contests. He also excelled in athletics by playing Varsity Soccer where he was the most valuable player in 2007 and is currently the Captain of the Varsity Baseball Team. In addition to academics and sports, Josh plays the jazz trombone. He has received the Woody Herman Jazz Band Award in 2006 and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Band Award in 2007. He also volunteers as a peer tutor, teacher’s assistant, and as an Assistant Coach for the Middle School Soccer Team. In addition to everything else Josh does, he works 20 hours a week at The Gathering Grounds Restaurant as a Sous Chef. He will be attending Claremont McKenna College studying in the fields of science and mathematics. His professional goal is to ultimately attend medical school and serve as a military doctor.
The Coronado Chapter Scholarship: Alexis Blackellar was selected to receive a Coronado Chapter Scholarship. Alexis has a 3.98 GPA and is ranked 28th of 562 in her class at Buena High School. She is the current Secretary of the National Honor Society, has served as the President of the Future Business Leaders of America, and been a Section Leader in the Buena Marching Band. She is also a student athlete. As a member of the Buena Track and Field team she has placed 5th in the state of Arizona in the 100 Meter Dash. Alexis has volunteered as a Teacher’s Aid at the University of Arizona Early Learning Center where she worked with children ages 3-5. In September 2007, the Sierra Vista Noon Rotary Club selected her as the Student of the Month. In addition to everything else, she works as a Hostess at Applebee’s Restaurant. Next fall Alexis will be attending the United States Naval Academy. She plans to pursue a career in the Navy.
The Coronado Chapter Scholarship: Arman Reyes was selected to receive a Coronado Chapter Scholarship. He has a 4.07 GPA and is ranked 21 of 562 in his class at Buena High School. Arman has been very active in high school. Not only has he taken Advanced Placement courses, he has been in the National Honor Society, the Student Council, the Denominators Club, and the Key Club and is the President of the Senior Class. He holds many awards such as the National History Day Regional Winner and the United States Institute of Peace Essay Contest Regional winner. He is an active volunteer in his church and participates in the Reading is Fundamental program. Arman is also a student athlete. He has played basketball and Varsity Volleyball. He will be attending the University of Arizona majoring in Computer Engineering. Arman’s goal is to live his life in a manner summarized by Albert Einstein, “Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value.”
Notifications to students not selected for scholarships were mailed on 10 April 2008. Student selected for scholarships and the MOAA Medal were notified by telephone on 9 and10 April 2008. All students selected for the MOAA Medal and Scholarships and their parents were guests of the Chapter for the 17 April 2008 dinner. Those of you that were able to attend the dinner had the opportunity to meet and get to know our students better.
I wish to thank and recognize the Scholarship Selection Committee of Bob Abney, and Paul Weishaupt for their time and energy throughout the selection process. I also wish to thank Ron Pflipson for his help on the presentation certificates and LTC John Trombley for providing and area to conduct interviews and support throughout the process.
And most importantly, the Scholarship Committee thanks you. Thank you for all your generous contributions to our Scholarship Fund. You have made it possible for the Chapter to put these outstanding young people on a positive track for their future and the future of our country.
John H. Black Chairman, Scholarship Committee
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