VFW Auxiliary Announces 2018 Continuing Education Scholarship Winners
Four $1,000 Scholarships Awarded, one in each of the four Auxiliary Conferences
May 8, 2018 – The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) Auxiliary is pleased to announce the winners of its annual Continuing Education Scholarship contest. Four $1,000 scholarships were awarded, one in each of the four Auxiliary Conferences.
Big Ten Conference
Karissa Roudebush
VFW Auxiliary 3900
Marquette, Michigan
Eastern Conference
Angelica Tomlin
VFW Auxiliary 6708
McAdoo, Pennsylvania
Southern Conference
Shaffon Alexander
Department of Texas
Arlington, Texas
Western Conference
Mariah Fuller
(Daughter of Tanja Fuller)
VFW Auxiliary 1135
Hoquiam, Washington
Karissa Roudebush was named the winner of the Big Ten Conference. Roudebush, a member of Auxiliary 3900 in Calumet, Michigan, is enrolled at University of Michigan-Flint School of Nursing and is studying to become a family nurse practitioner. She said that with a limited income that must support a family of five, this scholarship will help her avoid taking out more student loans.
“Becoming a nurse practitioner in my local rural area has always been part of my plan. After working as a floor nurse on a variety of units for eight years, I applied and was accepted to an excellent program. I am so excited to provide evidence-based care in my community one day.”
“Balancing my time between work, kids and education can be challenging. With financial help from organizations like this, I can worry less about picking up extra shifts and working overtime and instead use those hours to read, study, write papers and spend quality time with my family,” said Roudebush.
Angelica Tomlin was named the winner of the Eastern Conference. Tomlin is a member of Auxiliary 6708 in McAdoo, Pennsylvania, and is enrolled at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.
“I have been accepted and already completed my first year, but I do not have sufficient funds to finish my second (final) year,” she said. “I have been dedicated to becoming an executive chef since I was a kid and I’ve taken every step I can to pursue my dream. In order to finish my first year I was to complete a 15-week externship. During this time, I lost my mother. Soon after, I had to delay my start date back to school due to a much needed hand surgery – your hands are master tools in this field. I have been applying for scholarships and saving every penny I can so I can bring my dream back to life. This scholarship brings me one step closer to doing so.”
Shaffon Alexander was named the winner of the Southern Conference. Alexander, a Life Member from Arlington, Texas, is enrolled at Colorado Technical University to study for her master’s degree in accounting. This scholarship will help ease some of her financial debt with the student loans she had to take out to continue her education.
“Life has its ups and downs,” she said. “My life changed direction when I became a single mom. I felt like I was left in a cold, dark hollow tunnel when my situation of a two-income household turned into one-income household, and more than two-thirds of the (household) income was now gone. I ended up living in hotels and friends’ houses with three kids. I had to reestablish a solid foundation for my family and myself.
“I found myself working multiple jobs to provide for my two sons and daughter. In search of more income and financial stability, I decided to further my education and get my master’s degree in accounting. I explain to my kids how important education is and how hard work and determination will pay off.”
Mariah Fuller was named the winner of the Western Conference. Fuller of Houquiam, Washington, is the daughter of Auxiliary 1135 member Tanja Fuller. Mariah is planning to attend either Saint Martin’s University in Olympia, Washington, or Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, to study elementary education. With four dependents in her household, Mariah said she could not afford college tuition without this scholarship.
“For years I have dreamt about the moment that I am in right now,” she said. “Ever since I began my education, I have been dedicated, responsible and motivated to prepare myself for a successful life. Since the sixth grade, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA, taken every challenging class offered in the Hoquiam School District and have volunteered in my community. At school, I’ve led the Hoquiam High School Band program for three years as their Drum Major and am the honor society president this year. Now that I am preparing to continue on into college, I plan on committing myself to continue what I have done since sixth grade and accomplish my goal to become an elementary teacher.”
Established in 2005, the Continuing Education Scholarship assists Auxiliary members and their immediate family members (spouse, son or daughter) who wish to further their education by pursuing a college degree or career direction at a vocational/technical school. For more information about VFW Auxiliary scholarships, visit www.vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships.
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The VFW Auxiliary is one of the nation’s oldest veterans’ service organizations and our members are the relatives of those who have served in overseas combat. We have nearly a half million members representing all 50 states who volunteer millions of hours and give millions of dollars to support veterans, military service personnel, and their families.
We are a voice for veterans on Capitol Hill and are instrumental in assisting the VFW pass or block legislation that impacts veterans and their families. We are one of the top ten providers of volunteer hours in the VA medical system. Every year, members raise millions of dollars for charitable projects that benefit veterans and their families. We also provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for our nation’s youth. With nearly 4,000 Auxiliaries, there is likely one in your area working to improve the lives of America’s uncommon heroes. Learn more at www.vfwauxiliary.org.