Dyess Spouses' Club honors dependents with scholarships

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shannon Hall
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Dyess Spouses' Club awarded $16,000 to nine military dependents during a scholarship presentation ceremony April 21, 2013, at the base chapel here.

The Dyess Spouses' Club is a private volunteer organization that supports Dyess families, as well as local and national charitable organizations, through funds generated by the Dyess Thrift Shop and Annual Scholarship auction.

"Our auction combines the efforts of Dyess Spouses' Club volunteers with community donations, resulting in a phenomenal night of fundraising," says Erin Coffman, a member of the Dyess Spouses' Club. "This year, the Thrift Shop and auction raised over $30,000."

The amount of money given to each winner is determined by the Dyess Spouses' Club Scholarship Committee. Nominees are chosen based on scholarship, leadership and citizenship. Their packets are kept anonymous and reviewed by an impartial board of faculty and staff members from local universities. Throughout the entire judging process, the packets are kept anonymous.

"Ideal applicants are students who balance academic pursuits with leadership and community involvement," says Angela Witkowsky, president of the Dyess Spouses' Club.

All applicants must meet a certain criteria to be considered. They must be a legally married spouse or dependent child of an active duty, retired or deceased military member who was assigned to Dyess Air Force Base or the Dyess area. They must also be seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree at a four year college for the upcoming summer or fall semesters, and must not have received a prior scholarship from the Dyess Spouses' Club.

"It is an honor to be considered worthy of such a prestigious award," says Diamond Lawson, a 2013 scholarship award winner. "I can't fully express my gratitude, so I will continue to work hard and diligently to honor the Dyess Spouse's Club."

The winners for this year's scholarships were Joshua Dodderer, Joycelyn Roux, Alicia Dorado, Alyssa Presley, Sharpira Fields, Kyersten Parks, Zane Shelton, Bethany Dempsey and Diamond Lawson.