Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany -- The Officer’s Spouses’ Club at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Ga., awarded approximately $10,000 in scholarships and charitable contributions in a ceremony held April 30 at the Base Conference Center.
“It’s always tough to choose the winners because there are so many well qualified students with so much educational background,” said Heather Miner, OSC scholarship chairperson. “We had a really hard time sitting down and going over the applications with a fine-toothed comb. All of these kids are in the top percents of their classes and we had to rank them.”
The OSC was able to provide scholarship money to all applicants, since each one had met the requirements.
OSC fundraising this year exceeded what was raised last year, even in a down economy.
“Fundraising was up this year. We were surprised, because so many people knew there’s a need to reach deeper into their pockets to assist college kids because college is so expensive,” Miner said.
Local scholars who were recognized at the presentation luncheon spoke about the value of their award.
“I was excited because I knew the scholarship was money that wouldn’t have to come out of my parent’s pocket,” said Phillip Kennedy of Lee County High School. “So, it would lighten the burden on them.”
Kennedy plans to study pharmacy at the University of Georgia.
“Today is really important to me. I’m really grateful for the program the club put together. I’m going to school out of state and the fees are high,” said A’ngelique Edwards from Westover High School. “I want to study biology.”
April Bailey, a student at Lee County High School, is still undecided on her college major, but knows where she’ll be going to school.
“I’ll attend Georgia Southern University and study either law or physical therapy. I appreciate this scholarship because it will help me further my education. My parents urged me to apply for this, so I stuck my head out there and went for it,” she said.
“The scholarship means a lot for me because I’ve come a long way to get here and this will help me go to college,” said Kiara Jackson from Terrell County High School, prior to her accepting her scholarship at the luncheon.
“I can lift some of the financial burden off my parent’s shoulders with this scholarship,” said Brandon Scott from Westover High School.
The keynote speaker at the luncheon was Sandra Pinkney Parker, the Career/Technical/Agricultural Education director for Lee County schools and the assistant principal at Lee County High School.
“I’m going to talk to the students about two things: challenge and belief, and how important it is to believe in yourself and accomplish whatever you want to accomplish.”
Representatives from charities which were selected to receive financial contributions and were asked to attend the luncheon for recognition.
These included the Albany Association for Retarded Citizens, American Cancer Society, Albany Symphony, American Red Cross of Albany, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, First Tee of Albany, Girls Incorporated of Albany, Injured Marine Fund, March of Dimes and the Southwest Georgia Council on Aging.