Fort Gordon Sergeants Major Association

Scholarship Program

The 2010 SMA Scholarship Award Recipients

By: CSM (Retired) Al Steele

Each year, the Sergeants Major Association awards a number of scholarships to high school graduating seniors. The scholarships are called the Sergeants Major Strickland, Sergeant Major Ivory, Command Sergeant Wilson, Sergeant First Class Brent, and The Retired Sergeants Major of the CSRA Scholarship Awards. They are named in memory of the late Sergeant Major Larry Strickland and Sergeant Major Lacey Ivory who were killed during the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, Command Sergeant Major Jerry Wilson, a native of Thomson, Georgia, who was killed during an ambush in Mosul, Iraq in November 2003, SFC Derrick K. Brent, who passed away in Weisbaden, Germany on January 3, 2007, and The Retired Sergeants Major of the CSRA Scholarship Award, to Honor all Deceased Sergeants Major.

The winners of the scholarship awards are selected based upon the best-written essays.

The Fort Gordon Sergeants Major Association 10^th Scholarship Awards Ceremony was held on Friday July 23, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. at the Gordon Club in the Victoria Room. The recipients of the 2010 Sergeants Major Association Scholarship Awards were recognized and presented a certificate and a $500.00 check.

The President of the Fort Gordon Sergeants Major Association, Sergeant Major Jeffery Watts as well as its members of the association were very impressed with the young students who were selected as the 2010 scholarship winners. Sergeant Major Jeffery Watts said, “in addition to the great subject matter which they chosen to write their essays on, we were extremely impressed with all of their academic and athletic achievements as well as their volunteer work in the church and involvement with community activities. There were many high school seniors who wanted to compete; however, these select few displayed the courage and initiative by accepting the challenge and following through. It is young people like these 10 outstanding citizens who reinforce our beliefs that the future of our country is in good hands.”

The following are the recipients of the 2010 Sergeants Major Association Scholarship Awards.

Sergeant Major Larry Strickland Scholarship Award

Joshua O. Lewis, a graduate of Cross Creek High School, and

he will be attending Catawba College in Salisbury, NC

Sergeant Major Larry Strickland Scholarship Award

Kierra Douglas of Fort Gordon, GA and a graduate of Wichita Falls High School, and

she will be attending Georgia Military College

Sergeant Major Lacey Ivory Scholarship Award

Michelle Clum, a graduate of John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, and

she will be attending the University of Georgia

Sergeant Major Lacey Ivory Scholarship Award

Lauren Cheek, a graduate of Lakeside High School, and

she will be attending Georgia College and State University

Command Sergeant Jerry Wilson Scholarship Award

Ashley C. Saunders, a graduate of the Academy of Richmond County, and

she will be attending the University of Georgia

Retired Sergeants Major of the CSRA Scholarship Award

Darius Guillory, a graduate of Hephzibah High School, and

he will be attending Valdosta State University

SFC Derrick K. Brent Scholarship Award

Clarence Brooks Jr., a graduate of Hephzibah High School, and

he will be attending North Carolina A&T Technical State University

SFC Derrick K. Brent Scholarship Award

Tavarus Ferguson, a graduate of Evans High School, and

he will be attending Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC

SFC Derrick K. Brent Scholarship Award

Shemaiah Stewart, a graduate of Evans High School,

and she will be attending Augusta State University

SFC Derrick K. Brent Scholarship Award

Yashua M. Rivera, a graduate of Glenn Hills High School,

and she will be attending Berry College in Berry, Georgia

After ceremony, SGM Watts said, “Today was a total success and the Sergeants Major Association couldn't have been more proud of the turnout this afternoon. There were some great essays written and it was obvious that a lot of work went into there efforts. We as an Association were very proud to have contributed to their quest for higher learning. We wish all the young men and women and their parents continued success in the future. We feel that the late Command Sergeant Major Wilson, Sergeant Major Strickland, Sergeant Major Ivory, and Sergeant First Class Brent would be very pleased with the way we are honoring their names for their sacrifices and service to the nation.”