DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS                      

 807 Maine Ave., SW · Washington, D.C. 20024 · Phone (202) 554-3501 · Fax (202) 863-0233

 

News Release

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                     August 8, 2008

 

 

CONTACT:        David E. Autry

                             DAV National Convention

                             Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino

                             (702) 967-7336

 

JUNIOR VOLUNTEERS AWARDED DAV SCHOLARSHIPS

 

       Las Vegas, Nevada—The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has selected 12 outstanding young volunteers to receive cash awards under the Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program.  The first place scholarship of $15,000 was awarded to Louisiana’s Crystalyn Whitaker, who has contributed more than 1,500 hours of service at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Shreveport.  The second place scholarship of $10,000 went to Meagan Smith of Miami, Fla.  Two third place awards of $7,500 went to Donte Jones of Salem, Va., and Bridget O’Sullivan of Hines, Illinois. Eight others received $5,000 scholarships.

 

       The Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program honors outstanding youth volunteers who participate in the Voluntary Service program.  The scholarships are awarded to deserving young people who have donated their time and compassion to sick and disabled veterans in their communities.

 

       “While recognizing patriotic young people who improve the morale and care of disabled veterans, this scholarship encourages future leaders to build relationships with the veterans who have defended our nation,” said DAV National Commander Robert Reynolds. “Many of the young men and women who receive these scholarships go on to use their education to continue the work they began as volunteers.”

 

The $5,000 scholarship winners are: Jasmine Kuilan, Columbia, S.C.; Lydia Cheng, Salt Lake City, Utah; Parees Vereen; Durham, N.C.; Katrina Baillargeon, Bedford, Ma.; Janelle Fraley, Battle Creek, Mich.; Marwah Ahmed, Washington, D.C.; Nicole Deeming, Fayetteville, Ark.; and Alexander Shinneman, Marion, Ill.

 

The 1.4 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation’s wartime disabled veterans.  It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families.  For more information, visit the organization’s Web site www.dav.org.

 

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