It's that time of year again - your chance to make a difference! 2023 marks the twenty-second year of our Scholarship Program, and I am pleased to tell you that the program continues to be very strong, thanks to your consistent and active support. 2022 was another great year for our scholarship program. Bravo Zulu for your outstanding generosity. Over the past twenty-two years, your collective giving has yielded $140,000 in scholarships, helping some 67 students achieve their educational goals. Awards have been presented to some 24 NROTC midshipmen, nine Seaman to Admiral (STA-21) Program Officer Candidates, 19 Marines in the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP), and 15 descendants of association members. In 2022, your generous giving enabled us to award 4 scholarships. If you have children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren in college make them aware of this financial opportunity and encourage them to apply. For more information on descendant scholarship eligibility, see the scholarship section of the Association's website (www.usslittlerock.org.)

It is a privilege and honor to serve with the other members of our scholarship committee. Last year we awarded four scholarships. One to a NROTC Cadet at Southern Florida University in Tampa, FL; to a Marine at the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID; an Officer Candidate at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI and a MIDN 3/C at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. Please refer to the scholarship section of our website to find details on all our scholarship presentations.

Last year your giving was outstanding, your generosity allows our Scholarship Committee to continue making awards to deserving applicants each year. If you wish to make scholarship donations, make your checks out to the "USS Little Rock Association Scholarship Fund. If you wish to donate, please mail your check to: Bill Stowell - Treasurer 1 Elfin Place Middlebury, CT 06762. You may use the enclosed envelope to submit your donation. You can be confident that your donation will make a difference to some very deserving students. I offer this comment received in 2022:

The following is a thank you note from MIDN 2/C Tavekelian from The Southern Florida University:

"It is a great honor to have been selected for the USS Little Rock Scholarship and to earn a membership into the association. When the gentlemen of the USS Little Rock Association sacrificed their time to pay a visit to my NROTC unit in Tampa, Florida, I was deeply impressed and inspired. This epitomizes the passion they have for the association and its members which grew my pride and enthusiasm of being a member. I will strive to adopt this kind of selflessness as I strive to commission as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. I am extremely grateful for your time, consideration, and the positive impact that your association has had on me."

The bottom line is your involvement is critical to our success. Invest now in our future generations. I thank each of you in advance for being a part of this very important outreach which provides vital financial support to the Naval Park and for members of our Navy, Marine Corps, and Little Rock families. Please give generously!

Sincerely,

Donald H. Elliott
President

Click HERE for a printable copy of this letter