Scholarships, Internships Awarded to River Region Students

In May, the chapter hosted its annual Education Foundation luncheon to recognize and reward nine hard-working students in the Montgomery, Alabama, River Region. The luncheon took place in conjunction with the chapter's annual information technology conference, the Montgomery Information Technology Summit (MITS), at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center in Montgomery. The luncheon drew a full house from industry, government and the military. Charisse Stokes, director of the chapter's Education Foundation, presided over the luncheon with the assistance of Chapter Vice President Master Sgt. Neil Stewart, USAF. The chapter was honored to have Lt. Gen. Robert M. Shea, USMC (Ret.), president and CEO of AFCEA International, not only attend the luncheon, but also assist in handing out awards during the ceremony alongside Robert Shofner, program executive officer for Business and Enterprise Systems, Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex, Alabama. The chapter awarded $10,000 in scholarships as part of its High School Information Technology Summer Internship Program. The following four deserving graduating high school seniors were each awarded a $2,500 scholarship, a new Hewlett-Packard laptop computer and a 10-week summer internship with an information technology company (Array, IndraSoft or Lockheed Martin) valued at $3,500: Cara Borowski, Marvin Royal, Peyton Tucker and John David Watts. The chapter also recognized the following five rising college seniors who received a $5,000 scholarship as part of its Education for Industry Scholarship Program: Ashley Ellis of Alabama State University; Chelsea Roberson of Alabama State University; Qwenshana King of Auburn University at Montgomery; April Turner of Auburn University at Montgomery; and Winston Walker of Troy University. Before the luncheon and preceding MITS, the chapter hosted its annual golf tournament at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club. The event raised a record-setting $160,000-plus in sponsorships and donations from nearly 60 corporate sponsors. The funds directly support the chapter's Education Foundation efforts in providing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related grants, scholarships and other monetary support to local students in financial need. The chapter extends sincere thanks to all corporate sponsors who donated generously in support of the Education Foundation's efforts. The chapter also congratulates the award winners and gives many thanks to Gen. Shea for visiting Montgomery to see the great work of the chapter's Education Foundation on behalf of deserving students and academia in the River Region. The chapter thanks IBM, the Education Foundation annual luncheon corporate sponsor for the third consecutive year. The chapter also is grateful to the many corporate donors who continue to support the Education Foundation's efforts year after year and enable the chapter to have the privilege of providing grants, scholarships and support to hard-working students and local educational institutions.

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