Five Detroit students have won unique $2,500 scholarships thanks to a partnership between Detroit Chapter #9 of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA9) and the Detroit Public Schools Foundation.
The VVA9, in service in the Detroit area for four decades, donated $12,500 to the foundation to provide the scholarships. The awards and the winners are:
The JROTC Scholarship assists an outstanding graduating ROTC cadet in furthering his or her education. Two winners hail from Renaissance High School: Asia Bryant and Jala Purofoy; they will be attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Michigan State University, respectively. Winner Aniyah Pouncy, a graduate of Cass Technical High School, will be attending Spelman College.
The Unsung Graduate Scholarship recognizes individuals who have confronted their own challenges and helps them pursue additional education. This year’s winners are Evelyn Ramsey, a graduate of Mumford High School who will be attending Michigan State University, and Donnasia Whitley, a Renaissance High School graduate who will be attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
“We are proud to partner with the Detroit Public Schools Foundation to help students further their education,” said Paul Palazzolo, president of VVA9.
THE JROTC winners were presented with medals by Palazzolo and VVA member Richard White at an Aug. 2 ceremony.
Noted Pamela Moore of the DPS Foundation: “There is no shortage of young, bright, hardworking DPSCD students who deserve financial support to pursue their education goals. We are grateful to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 9, for these generous and much-needed scholarships.”
Michigan has more than 200,000 Vietnam-era veterans, according to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics and the U.S. Census, making it the largest veterans group in Michigan.
