Medal of Honor Recipients Present New Scholarship

Signal, Nov 2006

This autumn, Medal of Honor recipients presented the first Medal of Honor Scholarships co-sponsored by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and the AFCEA Educational Foundation. These scholarships, resulting from an agreement signed by the two foundations in July 2005. award $3,000 to four outstanding ROTC students every year-one each from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.

The primary criteria for the scholarship are candidates' demonstrated leadership performance and potential and a strong commitment to serve in the U.S. armed forces. Additional criteria for the scholarships and details on how to apply are available at www.afcea.org/edu cation/scholarships/rotc/MedalofHonor.asp. The deadline for applications is April 1.

On September 12, Air Force Cadet Christine M. Schudrowitz, was awarded her Medal of Honor Scholarship. Schudrowitz is a senior at Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, studying aerospace engineering. Participating in the event were University President Robert H. Foglesong; Academic Dean Kirk H. Schulz: and Lt. Col. Terry Dickensheet, USAF, Air Force ROTC commanding officer.

Lt. Gen. Nicholas B. Kehoe, USAF (Ret.), president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, and World War II Medal of Honor recipient Jack Lucas presented the award. As a private 1st class in the Marine Corps, Lucas covered two live hand grenades on Iwo Jima to save the lives of fellow Marines, allowing U.S. forces to defeat the Japanese patrol that had attacked them and to continue the U.S. advance.

In addition to a $3,000 check, each Medal of Honor Scholarship winner received a copy of Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty and a Medal of Honor medallion embedded in Lucite. Lucas also presented two signed copies of his co-authored book, Indestructible: The Unforgettable Story of a Marine Hero at the Rattle of Iwo Jima, to Cadet Schudrowitz-a copy for her and one for her brother, who was wounded in combat in Iraq and is recovering.

Later in September. Army Cadet Mickala Henson of Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, received the second Medal of Honor Scholarship. Henson is a senior majoring in aeronautical engineering with a 3.98 grade point average. A four-year member of the Clarkson University women's basketball team, Henson was the 2005 winner of the Educational Foundation's Gen. James M. Rockwell Jr. Memorial Scholarship, which honors a top Army ROTC cadet. In addition to members of Henson's ROTC unit and the basketball team, those in attendance for the Medal of Honor Scholarship presentation included Clarkson University President Tony Collins: Lt. Col. John C. Hinrichs, USA, Clarkson Army ROTC battalion commander; Gen. Kehoe; and Fred Rainbow, AFCEA International vice president of education and executive director of the AFCEA Educational Foundation.

Gary B. Beikirch, a former Army sergeant, delivered powerful remarks during the scholarship presentation. Beikirch received a Medal of Honor for actions in defense of Camp Dak Seang during the Vietnam War involving caring for fallen soldiers while under fire. Although twice wounded seriously himself, he carried his captain from the field and returned to the battlefield to drag a wounded Vietnamese soldier to a medical bunker.

Two scholarship ceremonies look place in October; details and photographs of these events are posted on the Web at www.afcea.org/education/scholarships/winners. These scholarships, also presented by Medal of Honor recipients, were awarded to Navy Midshipman Katie E. Burkhart, University of Pennsylvania, and Midshipman Mary E. Kern, University of Arizona, who will serve in the Marine Corps.

The Medal of Honor Foundation, in conjunction with the Medal of Honor Society comprising the living recipients of the Medal of Honor, reaches out to U.S. citizens to promote an awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and how ordinary Americans can, through courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism, change the course of history. To learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, visit www.cmoh foundation.org.