U.S. Navcommsta Londonderry Alumni Association

Objective of  "The 500 Club" 

        To provide academic scholarships for deserving students who are residents of Derry, Northern Ireland.

History 

       A discussion held during the General Membership Meeting at the 2005 Orlando Reunion concerning the possibility of creating a scholarship fund for deserving students from the hometown of our "Old Base" as a means of giving something back to "The Town That We Loved So Well" was the impetus for the creation of the Association's Scholarship Fund. Following that discussion, a small group of members committed to donating $100 per year over the next 5 years in support of the scholarship and promptly named themselves "The 500 Club." Rather catchy name, don't you think?

        Following the Orlando Reunion, the Alumni Association's Board of Directors created a committee, the Scholarship Program Committee, to design and implement a Scholarship Program. At the April 2006 Board of Directors meeting the board approved the Scholarship Program Committee recommendation for an initial funding of the Scholarship Fund in the amount of £1,000 per year for the years: 2006, 2007, and 2008, with the hopes of extending it further based upon financial resources.

        The Scholarship Program Committee plan is to work with the Western Education Library Board (WELB), and other relevant institutions, to solicit assistance in developing a mutually acceptable award selection process. Alternative plans include donating equal amounts to the following Derry area schools:  Londonderry, Foyle, Thornhill, and St. Columbs Colleges.

        Funding for the support of these scholarships would come from the following sources: The "500 Club" members, other member donations made to the Scholarship Fund, and monies from the "Scholarship Fund Raffles" held during each of our Alumni Association Reunions. 

How you can help this worthwhile effort

        We certainly understand that not all members will find it possible to participate in "The 500 Club".  So, if that is not an option for you, please know that any donation you can make, regardless of the amount, would be gratefully accepted and much appreciated.

        Should you wish to join "The 500 Club" - or should you wish to make a donation to this worthwhile program - your check made payable to U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry Alumni Association, or USNLAA for short, with a notation "Scholarship Fund" should be mailed to:

U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry Alumni Association
P.O. Box 55118
Virginia Beach, VA 23471-5118

The Year 2006 Derry Scholarship Committee

        All questions concerning this Scholarship Program should be directed to the Scholarship Program Committee members: Dennis Kolodziej, at e-mail: ford427@peoplepc.com and Ron Spadafora, at e-mail: Spadaforausn@aol.com

2007 Updates

After discussions with the WELB and their recommendations, a letter of indroduction and our scholarship proposal was sent to Mr. Seamus Murphy, Director, of the NorthWest Institute of Further and Higher Education. The assignment of working out the details with the NCSLAA Scholarship Committee was turned over to Mrs. Vera Goodman, Head of Staff and Student Services. Criteria selection was finalized and four candidates, two males and two females, were selected by the NWIFHE, based on the following:

NORTH WEST INSTITUTE OF FURTHER & HIGHER EDUCATION

US NavCommSta Londonderry Alumni Association – Establishment of Scholarship Fund

Criteria for selection:

1. Engineering Students attending National Diploma – a student that has progressed from year 1 to year 2 and is now attending the second term of year 2.
2. A student that has shown good progress.
3. A student that has considered leaving due to financial difficulty or a student who has experienced financial problems in year 1 but stayed on course.
4. A student who is working part-time to finance their study.
5. A student who has potential to go into higher education and where an incentive would provide the motivation.
A selection of 2 females and 2 males who fulfil 1 and 2 plus 3, 4 or 5.

Selection to be made by the Course Co-ordinator or Course Team and names forwarded to Charlie McKeown (Staff & Student Services).

July 2007 Update

A formal presentation of the awards are to be made on Wed. August 1st at the Grand Gala Reception, City Hotel, Derry.

 

August 2007 Update

Formal presentation of the awards were made on Wed. August 1st at the Grand Gala Reception, City Hotel, Derry. The recipients for 2007 are Craig Inglis, Tracey Flanagan, Peter Wade, and Charlene Hayes. Congratulations!

 

Photo Credit: Derry Journal - 7 Aug 07

Link to Derry Journal article dated 2 Oct 2007
"US Navy Alumni Scholarships for local students" :  VIEW