This is our Chapter’s 20th year of offering scholarships to deserving JrROTC students. These scholarships provide the high school JrROTC instructors with an additional tool to recruit students and also reward high preforming students with an incentive to attend a college ROTC program. We have provided scholarships to over 60 deserving students many of which have gone on to serve in the military as officers. We thank our members for their continued support of this well deserving program. In addition to our Chapter scholarship program, an annual award is made to a deserving area high school student in our Chapter’s name. This award was funded by the generosity of Chapter members dating back to the 1970s

Our scholarship winners for the 2020-2021 school year are Blake Coyner from Blue Springs High School, who was awarded $1500, and Austin Allen from Lee’s Summit West High School who was awarded $1000.

Blake ranked number 192 out of a class of 555 with a weighted 3.66 grade point average. He is attending the University of Central Missouri and is taking pre-Computer Security classes. His many high school activities included JrROTC leadership roles, where he was the Deputy Cadet Commander, and participation in several sports.

Austin is also attending the University of Central Missouri where he will be pursuing a pilot’s license. He was the JrROTC Cadet Drill Commander and a member of the color guard. He participated in several JrROTC competitions. He is also attending the University of Central Missouri.

Our first place winner is Devin Tracy. He graduated from Truman High School of Independence. He ranked in the top 15 per cent of a class of 372 with a 3.86 grade point average. He’s planning to attend the Fort Hays State University and majoring in Petroleum Geoscience. His many activities included high school JrROTC Battalion Commander, Company Executive Officer, Sabre Guard and several other Guard teams. He is also heavily involved in Boy Scouts. He works part time with the Independence School District Transportation Department.

Our second place winner is Travis Riley of Van Horn High School. He is attending the Kansas City Metropolitan Junior College where he is preparing to be a certified welder. He was the Jr ROTC Executive Officer this year and led the unit to be very competitive for the AFJROTC Distinguished Unit Award for the first time in four years. He was involved the Drill Team, Color Guard and Sabre Guard. He iranked 193 out of a class of 575 with a weighted GPA of 3.42.

Our 3rd place winner is Ni Tial. Ni graduated from Washington High School in Kansas City Ks. Ni’s family was forced out of Burma and they spent 3 years in Malaysia. She worked during her time there to help support the family. Her story of survival in a refugee camp helped build her hard work and determination character. Ni has succeeded at school and JrROTC and graduated 2nd out of 198 with a GPA of 3.957. She earned the Kansas Governor’s Scholars award and has many JrROTC awards. Her lead instructor says she is the model cadet. She is planning to become an architect so that she can go back to Burma give back to her nation of origin.

We also will give a 500.00 to the member grandchildren of Bruce Eveland and Tony Rizzi. Their grandchildren were very accomplished both academically and very involved in their high school and community.

We would like to thank our scholarship committee for their diligent work in choosing our scholarship winners from this year's highly qualified applicants and our members for their continued financial support. Most of the students took college classes while in High School, were highly involved in school, Jr ROTC and volunteer activities. They were invited to one of our meetings to tell us a little about themselves and their goals.

Our first place winner is Kelli O’Donnell. She graduated from St Thomas Aquinas of Overland Park Ks. She ranked in the top 25 per cent of a class of 225 with a 4.32 grade point average. She’s attending the University Of Kansas School Of Nursing. Her many activities included high school dance teams and other sports, mentoring freshmen, and volunteering at many hospital and service organizations.

Our second place winner is David Cahill of the Blue Springs High School. He is attending the Kansas City Metropolitan Junior College where he is taking computer and technical classes and plans to graduate from there and attend a four year college. He was his Jr ROTC cadet commander and led the unit to be very competitive for the AFJROTC Distinguished Unit Award for the first time in four years. He is ranked 193 out of a class of 575 with a weighted GPA of 3.58.

Our 3rd place winner is Mike Rizzi. Mike graduated St James Academy of Lenexa Ks. with a 3.75 GPA. He took many high level classes in Physics, Geometry, Pre-Calculus. He is attending Morningside College of Sioux City Iowa where he majoring in biology. He was the student leader of 125 students where his team involved the students in building fellowship and school wide events.

We would like to thank our scholarship committee for their diligent work in choosing our scholarship winners from this year's highly qualified applicants and our members for their continued financial support. Most of the students took college classes while in High School, were highly involved in school, Jr ROTC and volunteer activities. They are invited to one of our meetings to tell us a little about themselves and their goals.

Our first place winner is Gabrielle Belz. She will graduate from Lee’s Summit West High School in Lee’s Summit Mo. Besides ranking 43rd out of a class of 430, she had a 3.76 grade point average and a weighted GPA of 4.02. She’s planning to attend Missouri State University and major in Clinical Laboratory Science and Criminology in Springfield Mo. Her many activities included high school sports, Veterans Stand Down and helping the Kid’s Rodeos. She received many academic and musical awards.

Our second place winner, Kyle Brown is also from Lee’s Summit West High School. He plans to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology and major in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aerospace. He plans to take ROTC classes and earn a commission. He’s spent many hours in the FIRST Robotics organization and helping 8th graders with robotics and other engineering principles. He’s received many awards from the school and service organizations such as the American Legion and MOWW. He is ranked 77 out of a class of 430 with a weighted GPA of 4.37.

Our 3rd place winner is Nicole Dillon. Nicole will graduate from Lee’s Summit West with a 3.11 GPA and a 3.39 weighted GPA. She was planning to attend the University of Central Missouri and study nursing. She ranked 177th out of a class of 430 students. She worked at Worlds of Fun as a seamstress and a zombie cheerleader. She was Vice Commander of their JrROTC Cadet Corp and help coordinate many school wide activities. She was also involved in competitive sports to include soccer. Her JrROTC Commander speaks highly of her and listed many awards and charitable activities.

Without the generosity of the members of our Chapter, we would not have been able to provide scholarships to these very deserving student leaders. Thank you.