MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. -- Traits and virtues are passed from parents to children. Mentalities and attitudes are constructed. Many things make up a person. Courage, honor, and the commitment to ensure tasks are completed are some of the characteristics of Marines. It is only natural for children who are brought up in such an environment to learn these ideas and encompass them.
Chauncey Denise Davis of Albany, Ga., was the winner of the MCLB Albany Commissary's Scholarship for Military Children. She is the daughter of Federa, club and catering manager at the Enlisted, Staff NCO and Officers' clubs here, and Ira Jr., a retired Marine gunnery sergeant.
"It [the scholarship] is pretty big and I was very excited," said Chauncey. "It is very helpful [for college]."
"We have been part of the Albany community for about seven and a half years," said Federa. "We lived on base for about three years, and then moved out to town. It [Albany] is a good community, and we found it to be friendly and warm. So we decided to make it our home."
"Being a military child has helped me to be culturally open and has helped to keep my mind open," said Chauncey.
"Growing up as a military child has helped make me who I am," said Chauncey. She reported that her military background helped her to be recognized by the Defense Commissary Agency/Fisher House Foundation. The program awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors or college-enrolled students at commissaries.
Chauncey was required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average, participate in community and leadership activities, and write an essay on 'What Being a Military Dependent Means.'
"Boundaries [while growing up] were set and helped me know right from wrong. My father always strived to be great, so naturally I did, as well," said Chauncey, who will graduate with a 3.9375 g.p.a. and is the salutatorian of the 2001 graduating class at Dougherty Comprehensive High School.
Chauncey participated in band, cheerleading, track, belonged to the Beta Club and the National Honor Society, and worked on the yearbook and the school's newspaper. She also does volunteer work with the Flint River Habitat for Humanity, a program that helps build homes for low-income people or for those who cannot buy homes by conventional means.
"We said when they were young, go to school, keep your grades up and we will support you in anything you do," said Federa. "Chauncey has dibbled her hand in everything and has made an honest effort to be involved in everything."
"Chauncey was very dedicated to working on any and all tasks. She was my right and left hand," said Sharlotte Y. Battle, Chauncey's journalism teacher. The scholarship winner was motivated and focused on tasks such as meeting yearbook deadlines in her journalism class.
"She is an overachiever and a perfectionist," said Federa, who attributes many of Chauncey's character traits to her father.
"I was very excited about the scholarship," said Chauncey, who feels that it's exciting anytime someone is recognized for personal achievement.
Chauncey graduated from DCHS Saturday during the school commencement ceremony held at the Albany Civic Center. The salutatorian gave a speech entitled 'To-Do Things of Life' that addressed reaching ultimate goals.
"If she can find something to do in this world that she can give back to her community, and something she wants to do is my hope," said Federa.
Chauncey accepted a Presidential Foundation Scholarship that will send her to Tennessee State University for four years, where she will major in pre-med, followed by Maharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., where she hopes to earn a degree in medicine.
"She wants to be a pediatrician, and I am aware that it is a long road," said Federa. "It wasn't going to be a financial strain, but any help we can get to reach that goal is readily accepted."
"If I can help in any way, whether it may be saving a life or helping a life, I will be doing my job and a service to humanity," said Chauncey.
Chauncey acknowledged the road to the future can be a long one, but believes hard work and perseverance makes the realization of dreams. She will continue to work as she has in the past and believes that, in time, her dreams will come true.