SAMSUNG AMERICAN LEGION SCHOLARSHIP

Samsung American Legion Scholarship

Worldwide electronics leader Samsung endowed a scholarship fund of $5 million to be administered by The American Legion in 1996. Meant to show appreciation for U.S. veterans who came to Korea's aid during its struggle against communist forces in the Korean War, the Samsung American Legion Scholarship Program established a series of scholarships derived from interest and other income from the principal amount. In 2010, 10 $20,000 scholarships and 88 $1,000 scholarships were awarded.

Eligibility
Scholarships are restricted to high school juniors who complete either a Boys State or Girls State program and are a direct descendant - i.e. child, grandchild, great grandchild, etc. - or a legally adopted child of a wartime veteran who served on active duty during at least one of the periods of war officially designated as eligibility dates for American Legion membership.
 
Samsung scholarships are for undergraduate study only and may be used for tuition, books, fees, and room and board. Winners are selected according to academic record, involvement in school and community activities, community service and financial need. Applicants who are direct descendants of Korean War veterans will receive special consideration.
 
Deadline
Usually, applications are submitted to program staff upon participants' arrival at Boys State or Girls State.

Nine students to receive $20k Samsung 
American Legion Scholarships

        INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 13, 2011) -- The American Legion National Committee on Education recently selected nine students for the 2011 Samsung American Legion Scholarship. Each student will receive a $20,000 scholarship for undergraduate studies.
 
        The Samsung American Legion Scholarship is available to high school juniors who participate in and complete the Boys State or Girls State programs and are direct descendants (or legally adopted children) of wartime veterans eligible for American Legion membership. Students who qualify for and are interested in the Samsung Scholarship must submit a completed application to program staff upon their arrival to Boys State or Girls State. 

     Recipients of the scholarship must use the funds for undergraduate studies (e.g., room and board, tuition and books), and each applicant is selected according to his or her school and community activities, academic record and financial need.
 
        To date, the scholarship has awarded more than $4 million to nearly 1,500 applicants, making it the largest college scholarship the Legion awards.
 
The 2011 Samsung Scholars are:
 
Alex Jolley – Cedar City, Utah; Cedar High School
 
Jessica Ziniel – Iowa City, Iowa; Regina High School
 
Troy Cunio – Titusville, Fla.; Titusville High School
 
Andrew Lawrence – Ponca City, Okla.; Ponca City High School                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 
John McCallum – Farmerville, La; Cedar Creek High School
 
Marie Goerger – Wyndmere, N.D.; Wyndmere High School
 
Lauren Wheeler – Bridgeport, W. Va.; Notre Dame High School
 
Steven Spellmon – Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.; Waynesville High School
 
Summer Stout – Hurricane, Utah; Hurricane High School

NY Eagle Scout of Year

Department Commander V. James Troiola, Eagle Scout of the Year Jason D. Maybach and Carl L. Griffith, Eagle Scout Chairman are shown above. The award was presented at Department Convention on Thursday, July 14th.

 Jason pictured with his family and friends and Department Commander Troiola.



Legion posts sponsor more than 2,500 Scouting units across the country. This is natural for Legionnaires, who bring their service-learned skills and experiences as veterans to help build character and positive traits in our country's youth. Few other post activities generate more goodwill from the community. The Legion annually honors the Eagle Scout of the Year at the national convention. The winner of the competition receives a $10,000 scholarship, and the three runners-up are each awarded $2,500 scholarships.

BOYS/GIRLS STATE 2011

The Annual Boys/Girls State Dinner and Orientation will be held on Sunday, May 15th at Prior-Stock Post 1552 in Hannibal, NY. 

 2009 Boys State Attendees w/ Co. Cmdr. Richard Palmer

and Boys State Chairman James Ellis (May 2010)

Each year this event is held at a different Oswego County post to introduce the year's candidates and to give them a brief orientation on what to expect at their respective session.

Last year's boys and girls will be present to give their impressions of the program as well as to advise the new candidates as to what to take with them.

 Co. Auxiliary President Elaine Johnson, Girls State candidate,

Betty Rowlee, Girls State Chairman for Oswego County (May 2010)

2010 candidates from last year were:
Girls State - Samantha Chestnut, Mexico HS, sponsor was Oswego Unit 268;
Kelsey Darou, Sandy Creek HS, sponsor Pulaski Unit 358;
Margaret Williams, Pulaski HS, sponsor Parish Unit 601.

Boys State:
Eric T. Bzdick, sponsor Parish Post 601;
Benjamin Brooklins, Cleveland Post 858;
Garrett P. Claffey, Central Square Post 915;
Tyler J. Darby, Oswego Post 268/Altmar Post 1435;
Gregory D. Gelsi, Hannibal Post 1552;
Dylan M. Gilman, Pulaski Post 358;
 Jacob E. Halsey, Pulaski Post 358;
Alan P. Harvey, Parish Post 601;
Jake E. Hilton, Central Square Post 915;
Carl M. Hurd, Pulaski Post 358;
Jacob Martin, Cleveland Post 858;
Zach A. Matthie, Williamstown Post 1128;
Kirkland P. Nagy, Pulaski Post 358;
Anthony J. Nappa, Hannibal Post 1552;
Tyler T. St. Onge, Hannibal Post 1552;
Talor J. Sheldon, Pulaski Post 358;
Jacob C. Steckel, Central Square Post 915;
Jacob D. Sullivan, Mexico/New Haven Posts 384/1532;
James F. Wright, Hannibal Post 1552.

2011 CANDIDATES:


GIRLS STATE:
Brooke Benedetto, APW HS, Pulaski Unit 358;
Allison Miller, Sandy Creek HS; Cleveland Unit 858;
Erika Markel, Central Square HS; Central Square Unit 915.

BOYS STATE:
Mitchell Jones, Central Square Post 915; 
Jacob Fortune, Central Square Post 915; 
John Cymbryla, Central Square Post 915; 
Nicholas Baker, Central Square Post 915; 
Dillan Purdy, Central Square Post 915; 
Darryl Rupert, Hannibal Post 1552;  
Michael LaClair, Hannibal Post 1552;   
Alex Whitcomb, Hannibal Post 1552;   
Justin Schmidt, Hannibal Post 1552;   
Taylor Scranton, Pulaski Post 358;  
Jonathan Pastuf, Pulaski Post 358;   
Joseph Cambareri, Pulaski Post 358;   
Ryan King, Pulaski Post 358;   
Devin Borland, Pulaski Post 358;   
Douglas Hilpot, Phoenix Auxiliary Unit 418;
Kyle Gelnett, Cleveland Post 858;
Gregory Hale, Williamstown Post 1128; 
Zachery Britton, Parish Post 601;
Cooper Sheldon, New Haven Post 1532.

 There will be a social hour and picture taking at 5:00 PM followed by dinner at 6:00 PM, prepared by the Prior-Stock Auxiliary Unit 1552 of Hannibal. 

Following dinner will be a brief program introducing the candidates and their parents. All Legionnaires and Auxiliary members, Sons of the American Legion are welcome and urged to attend this annual function of our county.    

EAGLE SCOUT OF YEAR

Eagle Scout of the Year from Minnesota

The American Legion - May 6, 2011

 

 

The American Legion National Americanism Commission announced Wednesday that 17-year-old Robert B. Rasmussen from Hutchinson, Minn., is The American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year for 2011. An Eagle Scout since 2006, Rasmussen will receive a $10,000 college scholarship.

The honorable award recognizes Rasmussen’s practical citizenship at school, scouting and his commitment to community service. His project included planning, building and establishing 32 Purple Martin (the largest North American bird) habitats throughout his community. Rasmussen first worked closely alongside the community’s parks department to identify suitable locations for the 32 bird homes, then he contacted local businesses for material donations to build each one. Once each Purple Martin home was completed, Rasmussen teamed up with conservation-area personnel to hang them in area parks.

Rasmussen’s passion and commitment to community service continued with another project involving war veterans. With the help of donations from a local cement company, Rasmussen spent two summers making more than 700 8-by-12 concrete markers that featured a star-shaped bronze marker and an insert to hold a U.S. flag. The concrete markers were placed at unmarked veteran graves in a local cemetery, where he too alphabetically updated the list of veterans buried there. Rasmussen also listed the veterans by the war they served in and created a walking tour of the cemetery to help visitors find their loved ones.

Rasmussen, an honor roll student, has been on the math team since seventh grade, and he too currently participates in student council, Key Club, Link Crew and the National Honor Society. Rasmussen is active in band and choir, plays varsity football as a quarterback and is a five-year varsity wrestling and tennis player. Additionally, Rasmussen was honored this past February as one of 24 Minnesota high school juniors to be nominated for the Minnesota State High School League’s ExCEL Award, which recognizes students for their excellence in community, education and leadership. Upon graduation, the Hutchinson High School junior hopes to pursue a psychology or law degree at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. 

 The American Legion also awarded a $2,500 scholarship to John William “Reeves” Caldwell of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; Bradley William Garr of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Baylor Mackenzie Dickerson of Ashland, Va. But as the official American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year, Rasmussen will join other Legion youth champions during the 93rd Annual National Convention in Minneapolis, Minn., August 26-30.