San Quentin’s Vietnam veterans group presented $6,000 in scholarships to four young students at its annual banquet.
Emma Irving, Julia Cratty, Steven Sigley Jr. and Elise Kerner were honored June 12 at the Vietnam Veterans Group of San Quentin (V.V.G.S.Q.) 24th Annual Scholarship Banquet.
Presiding were executive body members John Blair and David Leavitt.
Presentation boxes were provided to sponsors and supporters of the group. Money for the scholarships came from fund-raising activities by the V.V.G.S.Q. This year, additionally, there were two $1,000 scholarships made available for presentation from the Salvation Army and the local Episcopal Diocese.
Theme of the essays was “What effect has my parent’s military service had on my life?”
Emma Irving, a 2010 graduate of Tomales High School, plans to use her $2,500 award toward expenses at California State University, Sonoma. In her essay, she noted that her dad served in Korea. “My dad has always been the one person in my life who has kept me motivated towards my goals,” she wrote.
The Mary Manley Inspirational $1,500 award was presented to Julia Cratty of Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, who highlights her learning disability, became a true scholar/athlete through strong and rigorous academic achievement.
While being a standout varsity basketball player and coach to junior hopefuls. She also became a Gold Award Girl Scout, a level earned by less than one percent of all young women in scouting. Further, Julia created a basketball clinic for elementary school girls to aid them in preparing for Junior High tryouts.
She plans to attend California Lutheran University in the fall with a goal of becoming a sports psychologist.
In her essay, Julia wrote, “My dad has taught me that a person has to face their struggles with a positive attitude in order to come out with a positive outcome.”
Steven Sigley Jr. of Vanden High in Fairfield won a $1,000 award. He completed a U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Last year he designed and built robots that play soccer. He plans to study engineering at the University of California at Davis.
Steven’s essay noted being in a military family meant moving frequently. “I have a better appreciation for my family since they’re not always there … That loss of a family member, while temporary, leads you to appreciate them more when they are around.”
Another $1,000 winner, Elise Kerner, was unable to attend because her graduation was scheduled simultaneously with the banquet. She graduated from Vacaville High school, where she was a standout in academics, band, and gymnastics, as well as certificates of high accomplishment in the study of French.
Elise plans to use her scholarship to attend Cornell University in Tompkins, N.Y. Her goal is to achieve her doctorate and serve as a surgeon or physical therapist.
Elise wrote in her essay, “As a military child I was brought up on many traditions; some simple like the monthly commissary trip, others more complicated. These traditions strengthened our family, because whether my dad was deployed or at home with us, these traditions remained the same.”