2024-25 SOA Scholarship Awardees
My name is Lily D’Arpa, and I am from Flagstaff, Arizona. I graduated from Flagstaff High School in May of 2022 and recently finished my second year at Northern Arizona University (NAU). At NAU I am studying Parks and Recreation and Outdoor Education for my major. My love for the outdoors has inspired me to seek employment where my skills are best applied to helping those find and enjoy their appreciation of nature. In the winter I have been a ski instructor at the local mountain with a summer job as a climbing guide on a local adventure course. Academically I graduated with Honors from High School and remain on the Dean’s List at NAU. When free time allows, I enjoy paddleboarding the local waterways, climbing to the tallest peak in Arizona to watch the sunrise or mountain biking with my family. This summer I am working at a local’s favorite pizza restaurant to earn money for my Junior Year at NAU. After college, I intend to seek out opportunities to nurture my career in beautiful locations where I can inspire the next generations of healthy, well-grounded individuals. I am so grateful for the Special Operations Association and the work they do supporting students as myself. Thank you!
My name is Jasmine and I am from Orlando Florida. I currently attend Valencia College and will be starting their Nursing Program in Fall of 2024. I love going to events my school hosts such as psychology events, and plays and musicals. Outside of school I work and volunteer with the hospital. I hope to eventually become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and possibly study mental health. I enjoy baking, reading, going to the springs, and watching musicals.
I’m Jaxon Downs, soon-to-be freshman at West Virginia University at Parkersburg and graduate of Parkersburg High School with a GPA of 3.36 (which I’m sure would’ve been 4.0 if my freshman year wasn’t wrecked by COVID and familiar issues), making the Principal’s List three years in a row. In that time, I’ve been praised by various teachers for my talent and creativity, as well as gotten a ⅘ on my AP Precalculus exam in my senior year and maintained National Honors Society membership. In terms of extracurricular activities, I’ve been a prolific member of marching, concert and jazz band. I’ve attended many competitions, reached the top fourth of alto saxophone auditions for the all-state band in 2023 and even performed in the most recent Glenville State University honor band. Outside of school, I diligently work to support my father; I prepare his meals, administer his medications, have recently started driving him to his appointments now that I have my license, as well as countless smaller favors on a daily basis. In the future, I’m pursuing a major in biology to put my fascination with the natural world to practical use.
My name is London Finch and I am a proud 2024 recipient of the SOA Lueders Honors Award. I recently graduated from George Ranch High School where I played varsity volleyball and was the Vice President of Service for our school’s National Honor Society. I will be attending Austin Community College in the fall, but my goal is to transfer into the University of Texas at Austin my sophomore year and major in Communication and Leadership!
Laura Greer, a recent graduate of Northgate High School in Walnut Creek, CA is honored to be selected as a 2024 Scholarship recipient. Laura will be attending UC Davis in the fall where plans to major in Viticulture and Enology. Growing up in the heart of Northern California’s wine country, Laura developed appreciation for wine country and the opportunity it provides.
Throughout high school, Laura was a member of National Charity League where she dedicated numerous hours to volunteering opportunities through her community. She also played soccer, volleyball and ran track. In addition, she has worked with the San Francisco Police Department as a minor decoy and a lifeguard for the past three summers. She comes from a proud lineage of military service spanning multiple generations, which have instilled a deep commitment to supporting and giving back to the military community. Raised with a profound respect for those who serve and having attended the Naval Academy Summer Seminar, she is dedicated to serve and honor our military community in the future, either through service or by owning my own winery honoring the community.
Laura is deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent the Special Operations Association as a scholarship recipient, and she hopes to use the money towards textbooks and housing.
Joseph Lock is entering his junior year at Virginia Tech studying Building Construction in the Department of Engineering. Maintaining a 3.7 GPA, he has made the Dean’s List every semester and was selected for membership into the National Society for Collegiate Scholars, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and has been offered membership into the Virginia Tech Honors College. A native of Fayetteville, NC, both of both of Joseph’s parents have served over thirty years in the US Army, the majority in the Special Operations community. A 2022 graduate of Jack Britt High School, Joseph was a two-time National High School Wrestling All-American and an All-State Lacrosse selectee his senior year. Joseph plans to graduate from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Building Construction followed by being commissioned into the United States Army as an Infantry Officer.
My name is Katelin Lock and have received the honor to study at Virginia Tech, where I plan to major in architecture over the next 5 years. I am also joining as a member of the Corp of Cadets, and under the Army ROTC program, where upon graduation I will commission as an officer in the United States army. After serving, utilizing my degree and learned knowledge of leadership, I plan to create my own Architecture business. Thanks from the opportunity and support of SOA I can begin to pursue these goals.
My name is Macey Porambo and I am the daughter of former Green Beret, John Porambo. I am a current student at Auburn University majoring in Communications and post graduation I intend to work in Digital Marketing in the beauty or fashion industry. I currently serve as the Director of PR and Marketing for my sorority and am very involved in my church as well as a local on campus ministry- Onward. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that this award will open up for me and always proud to be from a military family!
My name is Mackenzie Munsey and I am entering my sophomore year at the University of Colorado Boulder. I’m currently in the process of obtaining my Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and my Minor in Media Production in order to one day enter the world of screenwriting. My passion has always been writing and reading, and helping to create something that could one day appear on the big screen has always been my dream. While I still have a long way to go in that regard, as of right now I’m getting a taste of what could be through my internship Life Out Loud Films, a small film company that helps individual filmmakers get their films on a screen. I plan on using this scholarship in order to allow me to focus more on this internship and not have to worry about paying for textbooks and tuition.
Loren Schowengerdt is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Sciences with goals of going to Dental school in the upcoming years. With a cumulative GPA of 3.6, Loren is in the middle of her degree and enjoys taking classes that challenge her such as organic chemistry. She is very active in the Nebraska ROTC program and was selected Company Commander of the Big Red Battalion as well as the treasurer. During her time at Nebraska, she was nominated for the Superior Cadet Award by her Cadre and received the Scholastic Excellence Award this past semester. She was active on both the Ranger Buddies and Ranger Challenge teams in which they placed 3rd at the regional meet. Outside of school, Loren loves to read, ride her bike, and hang out with friends. This summer, Loren is tackling a biochemistry course and completing an Army CTLT internship at Fort Liberty. Loren looks forward to these upcoming years and cannot wait to apply to graduate schools in the immediate future. She will commission into the army as an officer following graduation.
Hunter is a rising junior at the University of Colorado Boulder, pursuing a double major in Political Science and Spanish. He graduated Valedictorian from his high school in Arvada, Colorado in 2022 with the Seal of Biliteracy, a 4.5 weight cumulative GPA, and the AP Scholar with Honors award. He also served as president of his high school’s chapter of the National Honors Society his junior year. Currently he is a member of CU’s Presidents Leadership Class, the Arts and Sciences Honors program, the University Choir, has a 3.917 GPA, and made the Deans List. The fall of 2024 Hunter will be studying a semester abroad in San José, Costa Rica; to further hone his Spanish and immerse in a different culture.
When not at school, Hunter enjoys spending time outside, reading, and relaxing with the people around him. After being awarded the George C Morton Scholarship in 2022, he is incredibly grateful to have received it a second time, and thanks everyone involved for the opportunity. With it, Hunter will be that much closer to his goal of going to grad school making his Doctoral degree financially feasible.
Christian Sutcliffe is a returning student at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music and plans to use the degree and learned skills to further his passion in the music industry. He shows academic success as a member of the Honors Society of Columbia College and has been involved in the community by supplying piano accompaniment to a local high school show choir. Christian is a competent piano player and progresses in musical prowess every day. He is currently increasing his knowledge of jazz music and the unique piano style of the genre. Some of his hobbies include exercise and reading as well as a growing interest in target practice with archery and knife-throwing. He very much enjoys composing music and aspires one day to be able to have a vocation with similar work. Christian greatly admires his grandpa for his service to our country and for his love of his family.
