

	SSgt Karl G. Taylor, Sr. Detachment 1084

Scholarship Page

Applying for the 2008 Scholarship: The SSgt Karl G. Taylor, Sr. Detachment 1084 scholarship submission process is currently closed for 2008. Please bookmark this page and return in January 2009 for information on applying.

Corporate Sponsors: Booz Allen Hamilton: Delivering results that endure.; 2003: $250; 2004: $500; 2005: $750; 2006: $750; 2007: $500

Fifth Annual Scholarship Award Presentation: On July 24, 2007, 2000 dollars in scholarship money was awarded to Joshua Ruffa and Brittany Shepherd, both 2007 graduating high school seniors from Howard County.

Johsua graduated with a 3.90 unweighted and 4.40 weighted grade point average (GPA) from Reservoir High School. He is a talented musician and former President of the National Honor Society. Joshua donated his time to help with Red Cross Blood Drives and Helping Hands Canned Food Drives. He plans to study engineering at the University of Maryland. To help prepare for this endeavor, Joshua served as a summer intern at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center.


Brittany graduated with a 3.76 unweighted and 4.40 weighted GPA from Centennial High School. Like Joshua, she too is a talented musician. She played in the Junior All-State Band and the Columbia Concert Band. Brittany is also a gifted athlete, having played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. Not only a participant, but a leader, Brittany has served as soccer and lacrosse captains, assistant coach, and Howard County Association of Student Councils Vice President. She plans to study engineering at Vanderbilt University.


Also recognized was one of our long time sponsors, Booz Allen Hamilton. Deon McGuire, the Booz Allen Hamilton Central Maryland community relations lead, accepted a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the company.


The photo below shows the scholarship recipients, their families, the sponsor representative, members of the scholarship committee, and some of the detachment and auxiliary.

Fourth Annual Scholarship Award Presentation: On July 25, 2006, 2000 dollars in scholarship money was awarded to Michael Hassett and Christopher Jason Scott, both 2006 graduating senior high school students from Howard County.

Michael graduated with a 4.00 unweighted and 4.57 weighted grade point average (GPA) from Reservoir High School. He also scored a perfect 800 on the math portion of the scholastic aptitude test (SAT)! Michael plans to study mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Michael is also active in sports, excelling in lacrosse, basketball and soccer. He was even the 2006 Howard County Male Scholar Athlete of the Year!


Christopher graduated with a 4.00 unweighted and a 4.39 weighted GPA from River Hill High School. He plans to study medicine at Eberly College of Science at Pennsylvania State University. Christopher is a champion cross country runner who spends much of his time doing volunteer work. This work includes organizing community-wide trash cleanup day, caring for neglected horses, volunteering at community road races, and removing invasive plant species.


The photo below shows Deon McGuire (Booz Allen Hamilton Central Maryland community relations lead), Michael Hassett, the families of the scholarship winners, detachment members, and auxiliary members. Christopher Scott was not able to attend since he is currently attending summer school. His parents accepted the award on his behalf.


In June 2006, we received a letter from Michael.

I had a pretty good first year. I played on the University of North Carolina club soccer team, which is competitive but not nearly the level that division one soccer is. We still traveled to places like Clemson, but it wasn't too much of a time committment. Other than that, I participated in several intramural games, which were fun because it's with friends and not too competitive.

School was pretty good. It didn't take too long to get settled in with everything. My second semester was a little harder than the first. I took mostly introductory level classes to fulfill all the different requirements, and as of now I'm undecided on my major. I am leaning towards a major in Exercise and Sports Science with a concentration in Sports Management, in addition to majoring in business.

Other than that, school has been great, and it's very enjoyable to go to all the different sports games and other social events on campus. I'll be returning next year for sure.

Third Annual Scholarship Award Presentation: On July 26, 2005, 2000 dollars in scholarship money was awarded to Alison Tarwater and (Erica) Nicole Beall, both 2005 graduating senior high school students from Howard County. Alison graduated top in her class from Long Reach High School and will be studying International Relations at Harvard University. Already proficient in French in Spanish, Alison is actively learning Arabic. Nicole graduated from Wilde Lake High School and will be attending New York University. While music, sports, studies, and work take up much of Nicole's time, she also finds time to give back to the community in many ways such as helping with the Appalachian Service Project and the Habitat for Humanity. Congratulations ladies and job well done!

Shown below are some of the Marine Corps League members and the families of the scholarship recipients with Alison (2nd plaque holder) and Nicole (3rd plaque holder). Also shown are Sudhir Bahl (1st plaque holder) and Vivek Thaker (4th plaque holder) who jointly serve as the Booz Allen Hamilton central Maryland community relations lead. Booz Allen Hamilton was recognized for generously donating 750 dollars to the Marine Corps League scholarship fund. This photo later appeared in the Booz Allen Hamilton "Source" on-line newsletter.

In January 2006, we received a letter from Nicole.

I hope these past few months have been as good to you as they have been to me. My first semester at NYU went very well, thanks to your help, and I will be starting my second semester on Tuesday. I would not have been able to go to such an intriguing institution without your help and the help of many others. My parents and I greatly appreciate your aid.

...Everything I have enjoyed this semester is due to the help of several organizations and my parents' support. During this holiday season I just wish to remember and recognize your help. I hope the holidays have found you all in good health and happiness. Good luck finding more students to help in coming years. I hope you know just how much your aid can make a difference. I will be sure to keep in touch.

Second Annual Scholarship Award Presentation: On June 22 and July 27, 2004, 2000 dollars in scholarship money was awarded to Valerie A. Cappelaere and Jordan L. Ambrose, both graduating senior high school students from Howard County. Valerie will be attending Northfield Mount Hermon School then move on to study engineering at the Naval Academy. Jordan will be studying biology at Pennsylvania State University. Outstanding job ladies!

Shown left to right in back row are Kevin Oliver (Marine-for-life representative), Mike Betts (adjutant), William O'Neill (newsletter editor), Dennis Graham (paymaster), Frank "Kip" Kippenbrock (commandant), Jordan L. Ambrose (scholarship recipient), Summit Sampat (Booz Allen Hamilton central Maryland community relations lead), Pat Starliper (junior vice commandant), Saki (judge advocate and webmaster), Joe Roman (chaplain), and Chuck Casey (senior vice commandant). In front row from left to right are Janet Graham, Kathy Casey (auxiliary senior vice president and treasurer), Bobbie Flock (WW2 Marine), Gloria Roman (auxiliary junior vice president and secretary), and Mimi Kippenbrock (auxiliary president). Booz Allen Hamilton generously donated 500 dollars to the scholarship fund. This photo later appeared in the Marine Corps League National Magazine, Winter 2004, Volume 60, Number 4.


The following is an update on Jordan Ambrose's first year of college, received March 2005, almost a year after she received her scholarship:

Jordan completed 19 hours in her first term with a 3.4 GPA. She is taking 20 hours in her second semester is is doing about the same. In addition, she has been playing intermural basketball and working approximately 10 hours per week in a campus lab performing cancer research. She is one of the few freshmen to obtain such lab experience due in part to her work at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She was asked to join a National Honor Fraternity called Psi Sigma Pi and she is the Vice President of her pledge class. She recently hosted a potential applicant to the school as part of the Women in Science Program. Additionally, she participated on a freshman panel for prospective students.

Your support was well invested and while we don't yet know the full value of the return of investment, I know that she appreciates the support that you provided and that she will make a difference in the world. Your generosity helped enable her to attend Penn State. Please know that you made a difference and that it was important.

Commandant Frank "Kip" Kippenbrock congratulates Valerie A. Cappelaere.


The following is from a message received from Valerie Cappelaere in March 2005, almost a year after she received her scholarship:

I wanted to send you an email just to let you know how I've been doing since I started prep school in August. I'm currently home for my spring break vacation; it's so nice to be back and to spend time with my family. I just finished my winter term at prep school, which means I have one term left to go until I am finished (we're on a trimester schedule). I have been working very hard in school and have completed Chemistry, English, French, Genetics, and Ethics courses. I was busy playing soccer fall term and I took an intramural ice hockey class over the winter. I also joined the concert choir and a select women's singing group. All of these activities have kept me very busy and helped me survive my first New England winter!

When I return back to school towards the end of the month, I will be playing lacrosse and working to get in shape for Plebe Summer. My Induction Day is set for 29 June. I am nervously and anxiously awaiting my Plebe year at the academy; I am counting down the days!

Please extend this message to all of the members of your chapter of the Marine Corps League. I hope all is well with everyone and you and your family. I think about all of you often and I am very thankful for your support! I will keep you updated as my journey continues.

In June 2005, Valerie provided us with another update. Evidently, the scholarship money she received was a worthwhile investment.

I want to take the opportunity before I leave this Wednesday for the Naval Academy to send an email to you all. For the next six weeks I will have little access to the "outside world." I'm excited, nervous, and anxious to finally start my Plebe Summer! My mother offered to send email updates to my friends and family; keep posted for news and maybe a few pictures in the near future. Unfortunately, I will not have time to write letters to everyone. I hope you continue to enjoy the summer and know that I will be thinking about all of you who have encouraged and supported me in my journey thus far.

First Annual Scholarship Award Presentation 2003: On June 24, 2003, the Detachment presented two 500 dollar scholarships to Yiyang Wu and Hajin Kim, outstanding graduating seniors from Howard County. Keep up the great work ladies! Shown left to right are Frank "Kip" Kippenbrock (Scholarship Committee chairperson and Judge Advocate), Hajin Kim, Yiyang Wu, and Mike Betts (Commandant). Both ladies used their scholarship money to pursue degrees at Harvard University. Booz Allen Hamilton generously donated 250 dollars to the scholarship fund.

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