Thank You! Double Your Donation. An Anonymous Donor Will Match Your Gift Today PAGE 7

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1 Thank You! $6,600,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS 2,040 STUDENTS READ THEIR STORIES INSIDE Double Your Donation An Anonymous Donor Will Match Your Gift Today PAGE 7

2 On Point Letter from the President One of the best parts of my job is the opportunity to meet our students firsthand. I met so many of our scholarship recipients this summer at our four Scholarship Announcement Ceremonies, including Allison Wilkinson, a recipient of the Chicago Dinner Scholarship Benefiting the Children of Severely Injured Marines. A freshman in college with big dreams and a strong work ethic, Allison is exemplary of so many of our students who overcome obstacles with honor, courage, and commitment. Margaret B. Davis President and CEO Allison Wilkinson accepts her scholarship award at July s Scholarship Announcement Ceremony at Camp Pendleton. She is pictured here with Scholarship Foundation director SgtMaj Carlton Kent USMC (Ret.) and Margaret B. Davis. Allison s father, SgtMaj Patrick Wilkinson USMC (Ret.), served in the Marine Corps for 26 years. In June 2008, while on deployment to Iraq, SgtMaj Wilkinson was injured by a suicide bomb attack that resulted in the eventual amputation of his right leg above the knee. At the time of her father s injury, Allison s mother says, Allison was really amazing for a kid her age. She really did have a strength, and she s always been an optimist. Last month, Allison began her freshman year at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, California, where she is studying history. She has hopes of studying abroad and getting involved with student government, and eventually wants to be an assistant district attorney. We are so proud to honor Allison s father s sacrifice by helping her achieve her dreams and secure a bright future. Without this scholarship, I wouldn t be able to attend college, says Allison. Thank you for the chance to further my education. It is an honor to help students such as Allison achieve an education rooted in the values of courage and commitment. Our students are extraordinary. Learn more about their achievements on page 5, and at In the spirit of Semper Fidelis, Margaret B. Davis President and CEO SgtMaj Wilkinson and his family at Camp Pendleton. 2

3 Student Profile Joshua Gatzke My dad was in the Marine Corps and was on sea duty and was stationed on the USS Iowa BB 61. I joined the Young Marines at age nine and stayed in the Young Marines for nine years. They changed my life and gave me leadership skills, discipline, and integrity. Joshua Gatzke is the son of veteran Corporal Glen Gatzke USMC. Joshua just began his junior year at the University of Idaho, where he studies mechanical engineering and plays in the marching band. He hopes to eventually work as an aerospace engineer. I attend the University of Idaho as a 3rd year Mechanical Engineering student. This year, I will be taking material science, physics, and dynamics classes. Every year, I have to come up with $2,000 that financial aid won t pay, which is not including the $8,000 a year I get in loans; because of your help, I will be able to pay it. My time at the University of Idaho will better prepare me to be an Aerospace Engineer that works on designing craft to mine asteroids. This scholarship will provide me with a better opportunity to complete my education. Thank you again for generously donating to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to help college students like me. Your contribution will be greatly valued, appreciated, and remembered along my college career. Sincerely, Joshua Glen Gatzke 3

4 Celebrating Record Numbers I am one of 2,000 Marine Corps Scholarship recipients who are achieving their dreams because of your generosity. We are committed to standing strong in character, academics, and leadership to reflect positively on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. These are the words of Kristen Trout, the recipient of the First Lieutenant Robert Kelly USMC Memorial Scholarship, who spoke on behalf of all scholarship recipients at the Scholarship Announcement Ceremony in Chicago in July. Kristen, the daughter of veteran Sergeant Mark Trout USMC, is a history major at Gettysburg College. At the Ceremonies, investors, directors, Marines, and scholarship recipients celebrated a record year for the Scholarship Foundation. Heartfelt words like Kristen s were heard around the country this summer as the Scholarship Foundation celebrated its upcoming class of students and invited them to address the community of investors who have made their education possible. A Record Year The ceremonies marked the beginning of a banner year for the Scholarship Foundation: For the academic year, President and CEO Margaret B. Davis announced, the Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $6,600,000 in scholarships to a record 2,040 students across the country. The Scholarship Announcement Ceremonies held in Washington, DC; Camp Lejeune, NC; Chicago, IL; and Camp Pendleton, CA provided the opportunity for these students and their families to connect with the Scholarship Foundation s investors and volunteers, and meet each other. Before each event, students attended workshops on networking and career development, giving them the chance to connect with fellow scholarship recipients. The Tools for Success The afternoon before each ceremony, students were invited to participate in an enrichment activity, which taught them about networking skills and connected them to potential mentors. We can see how much you truly want us to succeed, and that alone is enough to keep pushing us forward, said Travis Brewer, the son of two Marines and a finance major at 4 Many students were able to attend with their Marine parents and families, including scholarship recipient Justin White and his father, Major Christopher White USMC. The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has made it possible for me to succeed as a first-generation college student. Because of the Scholarship Foundation, I am on track to graduate from college completely debt-free. Catalina Cotis, daughter of GySgt Kevin Cotis USMC

5 Heroes Tribute: Royce Easley I grew up with a father who was missing both legs and an arm from being in the [Vietnam] war. The Marine Corps has been a part of all my 19 years of life. I have no words to say how this scholarship is going to improve my experience in school. It will definitely allow me more time to dedicate to my studies, as I will not be worrying about my family as much. I d like to personally thank the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, my father, my mother, my brother, and all the veterans, wounded, deceased, and still active, serving our grateful country and you, for making this scholarship available to me and my family. Royce Easley is the son of Sergeant Robert D. Easley USMC (Ret.), who lost both of his legs and use of his right hand when he stepped on a land mine in Vietnam. Today, Royce is a sophomore at Allan Hancock College, where he is working towards a bachelor s degree in physical education and sports medicine. the University of South Florida. I don t know of any other scholarship foundations that are striving to stay connected and help their recipients, even after they finish their degree. Travis, along with many other students and their families, was able to attend the ceremonies in part due to a generous donation by American Airlines, whose donated miles allowed faraway students to fly in for the ceremonies and, in some cases, meet the investor who made their scholarship possible. Another highlight of the ceremonies was the surprise giveaway of Slate 7 Tablets, generously donated by Hewlett-Packard. Congratulations to our recipients, and thank you to the investors making their education possible! See all of the photos of our Scholarship Announcement Ceremonies at A generous donation from Hewlett-Packard meant many scholarship recipients are starting the new school year with HP s Slate 7 Tablet. Our Scholarship Recipients: Who Are They? They re career-minded. 45% are studying in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines. They re forging a new path. 52% are first-generation college students. They grew up with Marine Corps values. Many of them attribute their motivation to an upbringing rooted in honor, courage, and commitment. They re focused, and they succeed. 86% graduate from the degree program of their choice, compared to the national average of 40%. They need financial support. The average family income of our students is just over $52,000 per year. Their parents enlisted. 87% are children of enlisted Marines and Navy Corpsmen. 5

6 Partnerships Partnerships American Airlines Donates 6,000,000 miles to the Scholarship Foundation, Invites Donors to Join Them American Airlines recently donated 6,000,000 miles to the Scholarship Foundation for student and family travel. These miles enable the Scholarship Foundation to connect students and their families with each other, introduce them to our investors, and welcome them at our events across the country particularly the Chicago Dinner for the Severely Injured, which each year brings many wounded Marines and their families together in Chicago, thanks to American Airlines donated miles. This investment also allows many students to attend Scholarship Announcement Ceremonies across the country each July. American Airlines generous donation of 11,000,000 airline miles over the past two years has allowed students and their families to travel to events, meet Scholarship Foundation investors, and connect with our community. The donation allowed many wounded Marines and their families to travel to the Chicago Dinner for the Severely Injured for the past two years. By flying American Airlines, you can join this important effort by donating your miles to us. Simply sign up for the AA Advantage program and donate your frequent flyer miles to the Scholarship Foundation. Visit to learn more. Remembering Beirut, 30 Years Later October 23 marks the 30th anniversary of the bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 American service members 220 of them Marines. In response to this tragedy, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation took swift action, providing 109 treasury note certificates, worth $10,000 each, to the children of every service member who lost their life in the bombing, no matter their branch of service. Thirty years later, we remain semper fidelis to the children of the Beirut fallen. We have heard some of your stories, and are so proud to hear the ways you used this investment to create a better future for yourselves and your families. If you are the child of a service member who was killed in Beirut, and you received a bond from us, we want to hear from you. Please visit to share your story and connect with us. 6

7 Featured Event Chicago Golf Tournament The Chicago Golf Tournament celebrated its 25th Anniversary this past July in Lake-in-the-Hills, IL. One of the Scholarship Foundation s most successful and longest-running golf tournaments, it has raised more than $2,500,000 to date, and is led by volunteers Col Douglas R. Raupp USMC (Ret.) and Col George F. Braun USMC (Ret.), along with an esteemed team of dedicated volunteers. The Chicago committee takes great pride in their continuous efforts on behalf of the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen. Katlyn Withner, the daughter of veteran Marine Corporal Lanasu E. Withner, spoke at the event. Katlyn is in the pre-medicine program at Coastal Carolina University. Supporters at the Chicago Golf Tournament, which has raised more than $2,500,000 to educate the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen since its inception 25 years ago. For the past 20 years, the tournament has supported the Major Timothy J. Heidkamp USMCR Memorial Scholarship, which has had a lasting and far-reaching impact over the last two decades. The scholarship, which has funded several students throughout their college careers, has helped many students reach their post-high school education goals many of them for multiple years. The Scholarship Foundation salutes the Chicago Golf Committee and the Heidkamp family for their devoted and longstanding support of our Nation s Marine families. Anonymous Challenge Grant Means You Can Double Your Impact Thanks to the investment of a veteran Marine who believes in the power of education, donations made online now are being doubled meaning your gift is worth twice as much if you give today. This is an excellent opportunity for donors at every level to double their impact, said Ken Ashworth, Director of the American Patriots Campaign. This challenge means there s never been a better time to give to the Scholarship Foundation. Making a gift is a one-stop process. Simply visit and enter the code NEWMATCH. Visit and enter code NEWMATCH today to double the value of your gift! 7

8 CORPS CHAMPIONS MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION NATIONAL OFFICE 909 North Washington Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA Phone: (703) Web: Upcoming Events Carolina Classic Golf Tournament October Camp Lejeune, NC Dallas/Fort Worth Golf Tournament October 21 Grapevine, TX Long Island Golf Tournament October 24 Glen Cove, NY West Coast Ball October 26 Dana Point, CA Marine Corps Marathon October 27 Washington, DC Parris Island Golf Tournament October 28 Parris Island, SC Houston Awards Dinner November 4 Houston, TX Event information is subject to change. Please visit our website for the most current event information. Visit us at to register for our events online. CFC #11284 Cover photos, from top left: Sibling scholarship recipients LCpl Michael Meyers USMCR and Erin Meyers, pictured at the Chicago ceremony with MajGen Vincent R. Stewart USMC; Karina Gomes, a recipient of the Stater Brothers Markets Scholarship, pictured with her mother, Josie, at the Camp Pendleton ceremony; Breana Huff, the daughter of MSgt Willie Huff USMC, accepts her award at the Camp Lejeune Scholarship Announcement Ceremony; scholarship recipient Jacob Monssen, pictured with Margaret B. Davis and SgtMaj Grant Van Ostrom at the Camp Lejeune Scholarship Announcement Ceremony. Like us on Follow us on Follow the latest news from the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation on Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.