Author Archives: John Black

Coronado Chapter Scholarship Results for 2012

The results of the 2012 Scholarship Selection Process are Available.

Scholarship Selection Committee consisting of Ron Pflipsen, Bob Abney, and myself decided on the best qualified students for 2012, on 5 March 2012. The Committee found the quality of students to be excellent. They possessed above average to very high academic standings, were active in a number of school activities and were outstanding citizens in their communities. Seven applications were selected being worthy of a Coronado Chapter Scholarship. As with last year’s experience, the Selection Committee was impressed by the high quality of all the students who applied for scholarships. The results of the selection process are outlined below.

Aleiha Nelson: Aleiha Nelson is unquestionably a scholar/athlete. She is graduating in the top 30% of her class at Buena High School while being involved in sports. She has played soccer and is a brown belt in karate. Her commitment to the Girl’s Basketball Team earned her the “Most Valuable Player” distinction. Although a latecomer to Varsity Cross Country, Aleiha showed strong drive, dedication and leadership. She has worked her way up to being the number one runner on the team, has received the Most Outstanding Runner Award and is one of the team captains. Last month she participated as a team member in the Ragnar Del Sol 200 mile run from Wickenburg to Tempe. Her team completed the run in 25 hours, 17 minutes and 32 seconds. The team was 1st in the High School Division and was 10th out of 415 teams. Aleiha’s goal is to attend the University of Arizona, graduating with a Doctor of Pharmacy

Joseph Perez: Joseph Perez will be graduating from Patagonia High School this year. He is also a student/athlete, graduating in the top third of his class, while participating in many extracurricular activities. During his high school career, he has participated in and served as the team captain in the following varsity sports: football, basketball and baseball. Joseph is also serving on the Student Council and serves the community as a Volunteer Fire Fighter. During high school, Joe has worked various part time jobs such as a lifeguard and bus boy. Currently, Joseph is in the Arizona Air National Guard. He plans to stay active in the Air Guard while attending either the University of Arizona or Northern Arizona University. He is planning on majoring in Sports Medicine and wants to eventually serve in the Air Force on active duty.

Kaitlynn Peterson: Cadet Captain Kaitlynn Peterson has been involved in the Buena High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program for 4 consecutive high school years. She served in command and staff positions of increasing responsibility each year, ending up as a Company Commander. As a Company Commander, she has been responsible for the health, welfare, training and mentoring of 28 JROTC Cadets. She has supported the community by participating in highway clean-ups, working in concession stands at sporting events, serving as a Sunday School Teacher, and working in the local Habitat for Humanity store. During high school, Kaitlynn has worked at numerous part time jobs, while maintaining grades that place her in the top 20% of her class. She has applied to a number of prestigious schools where she plans on majoring in Psychology.

AuShalayia Givens: Aushalayia Givens will be graduating in the top 12% of her Buena High School graduating class. While achieving high academic standing, she has been able to participate in numerous extracurricular activities. She is the Secretary of the Senior Class, a member of the Kiwanis Key Club, the Rotary Interact Club, the Denominator’s Club, the Reading is Fundamental Club, and the National Honor Society. Additionally, she is an outstanding varsity Track and Field athlete competing for three years as a sprinter and hurdler. For the past two years she has also been a member of the Buena Colt’s varsity Cheerleading Team. In her spare time she has worked as a Child Care Provider and Sunday School Teacher. In college, Ms. Givens plans to pursue a degree in Genetics or Biochemistry. Medicine is her career goal. She hopes to work with children, either as a pediatrician or as an obstetrician.

Lara Hilliard: Lara Hilliard will graduate this year from Buena High School with a 3.9 grade point average and is ranked in the top 7% of her class. She has taken a number of advanced placement and honors classes, earning high grades in all of them. Lara has been an active member of the Key Club, Reading is Fundamental Club, Angels for Autism, the Rotary Interact Club and attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly. She has been active in the community by volunteering at the Huachuca Mountain Elementary School, participating in Graffiti Clean-up activities, and assisted with children’s games in support of the Bisbee’s Boys & Girls Club. She is planning on attending the University of Arizona, majoring in Biology. Her ultimate goal is to be one of those dedicated scientists that finds ways to improve our earth’s sustainability and conserve its limited resources.

Francesca Huber: Francesca Huber will be graduating in the top 3% of her Buena graduating class with a 4.1 grade point average. In addition to excelling in her academics, she has been very active in a wide variety of pursuits in high school. She has participated in Cross Country, Robotics, Speech and Debate, Theater, the Denominators Club, has been in the National Honor Society for three years and was one of the founding members of the Creative Writing Club. In the community, Francesca has been involved in the Cochise County Youth Orchestra, the Girl Scouts for 13 years, and in her church both as an assistant Sunday School teacher, and singing in the choir. She is an accomplished equestrian; winning many awards in United States Pony Club Championships and serving as a Volunteer Riding Instructor for the Thunder Mountain Pony Club and for B Troop, 4th United States Cavalry. Francesca is planning on majoring in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or Physics. She also plans on attending a Service Academy or entering ROTC and becoming either an Army or Air Force officer.

Greg DePaul: Greg DePaul, with a 4.36 grade point average, is ranked 5th out of his class of 556 students at Buena High School. Although Greg has distinguished himself academically, he also has excelled in extra curricular activities. He has been in the well-published Buena Robotics Club for three years, active in the Skills USA/STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) organization which promotes a STEM education, the Denominators Club, the Math Club and the Advanced Placement Club. Greg has also been an officer in the Sister Cities Club and was able to travel to Germany this school year. It was impressive to read the following comment one of his teachers stated, “Compared to the other top students that I have had in the past 29 years I would rate Greg as being in the top three…..I sincerely believe that Greg has the potential and strong work ethic to be a Nobel Prize winner someday.” Greg will be attending the University of Illinois with a double major in Mathematics and Computer Engineering.
Ultimately, he plans on working for Apple Computer Corporation after graduation. He also plans on lecturing part-time at a local college or university.

I wish to thank and recognize the Coronado Chapter’s Scholarship Committee of Bob Abney, and Ron Pflipsen for their dedication and interest in the entire Scholarship process, from start to finish. I also want to thank Ron Pflipsen for his help on the presentation certificates and photography support. Special thanks to the Sierra Vista Library staff for providing a facility for us to conduct our business in a professional environment.

Respectively Submitted,

John H. Black
COL, USA
Retired
Chairman, Scholarship Committee