This week a Cadet from the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) was awarded the first Randy Van Turner ROTC scholarship. The scholarship is in honor of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity’s EWU chapter co-founder First Lieutenant Randy Turner. Randy Turner was a 1968 graduate from the EWU ROTC program who was a recipient of the Silver Star and in 1969 was killed in action during the Vietnam War. This year his fraternity brothers decided to honor his service by establishing an ROTC scholarship program. The scholarship is awarded to EWU ROTC Cadets that demonstrate academic excellence, high physical fitness, leadership, and financial need.
Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity members present Cadet Samantha Knight with a scholarship check that covers one year of tuition.
Through a board process Cadet Samantha Knight was chosen as the first Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship recipient. Cadet Knight is a junior (MS-III) Cadet studying nursing who maintains a near 3.9 GPA. Besides being a Cadet, she is also a combat medic in the U.S. Army Reserve. The scholarship will pay her full tuition next year as she pursues her nursing degree and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
Next month we will announce our second 2019 Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship awardee, but congratulations to Cadet Knight and big thank you to Pi Kappa Alpha for sponsoring this scholarship in support of our outstanding EWU ROTC Cadets.
I went to school with Randy, he was a great friend. I saw him before Ranger School. He was a warrior and had charisma as this scholarship shows what a tribute to the R.O.T.C. Program in his name!
Mr. Pearson, thank you for sharing memories about Randy. Everyone I have talked to has expressed what great person he was. We are really thankful for Pi Kappa Alpha sponsoring this scholarship in memory of Randy and supporting our outstanding ROTC Cadets.