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Grateful Vets Say Thanks, Honor Donors

Aiken, SC (10/14/2019) — The University of South Carolina Aiken veteran and military student community expressed its gratitude to donors during its annual Veteran and Military Student Success Scholarship Reception.

Within the community, six organizations or individuals have pledged to provide financial support to service members and their family members. Currently, almost 14 percent of the USC Aiken student body is made up of this student segment.

"It's easy to say 'thank you,' but I wanted to do more. I wanted to prove my sincere gratitude and chose to do that by establishing this scholarship," said Debbie Boggs a donor who set up the Donald L. Lemponen Army Veteran and Military Student Success Scholarship in honor of her father. She spoke on behalf of all donors during the event.

"For me, it's a way to say 'thank you' to the recipients who earned the scholarship and who voluntarily committed to protecting all the freedoms I enjoy," she told the students during the reception.

"While I never served [in the military], I do realize the tremendous sacrifices made, and I understand that our freedom isn't free."

She said that the two words - thank you - simply aren't enough to express her gratitude to those who served, to the university she loves and supports, and to the man who means so much to her.

"This scholarship named for my hero - my dad, Donald Lemponen - is just a very small token of thanks, one that I hope will be a lasting legacy of all you are, your service, and your life - and all you hope and desire for others," Boggs said to her dad who served in the Army and guarded prisoners of war during the Korean Conflict.

To date, thanks to the hard work and generosity of the six donor organizations, almost $27,000 has been awarded to those students who have an affiliation with the military, including veterans and their family members enrolled at USC Aiken.

"We are blessed to have such a generous cadre of donors who help ensure our students obtain their educational goals," said Robert Murphy, director of the VMSS.

"They help make our vision reality, which is to best position veteran and military students to achieve their academic, career and life goals."

The following students received scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year:

Dustin Thomas, U.S. Air Force veteran, received the Leonard D. and Norma C. Toner Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship
Derek Boozer, U.S. Air Force veteran, received the Robert and Vicki Allen Scholarship Endowment Fund
Alvin Iribhogbe, U.S. Army veteran, received the Donald L. Lemponen Army Veteran and Military Student Success Fund and the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship
Anneliese Gordon, military family member, received the Donald M. and Leona G. Kaber Scholarship
Jeremy DuMont, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, received the Donald M. and Leona G. Kaber Scholarship and the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship
Cruiz Emery, U.S. Navy veteran, received the Academy Life Long Learning Scholarship and the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship
Hillary Polander, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, received the Academy Life Long Learning Scholarship and the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship
Jarred Eads, U.S. Air Force veteran, received the Academy Life Long Learning Scholarship and the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship
Chase Day, U.S. Air Force veteran, received the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship
Chelsea Henry, U.S. Army veteran, received the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship
Kyson Weathersbee, U.S. Marine Corps, received the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship
Scotty Noe, U.S. Coast Guard, received the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship
James Petri, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, received the Aiken-Augusta Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic Scholarship

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Grateful Vets Say Thanks, Honor Donors

The University of South Carolina Aiken veteran and military student community expressed its gratitude to donors during its annual Veteran and Military Student Success Scholarship Reception. Within the community, six organizations or individuals have pledged to provide financial support to service members and their family members. Currently, almost 14 percent of the USC Aiken student body is made up of this student segment.

Derek

Boozer