WCU Honors Military Scholars
The University held this year’s Military Scholarship Ceremony and Breakfast on November
12 at the WCU Alumni & Foundation Center Ballroom to celebrate ROTC cadet and veteran
scholars. Among those present were the 28 students who were recognized with at least
one of 21 scholarships awarded this year.
“West Chester University takes great pride in providing a quality education and supportive environment for our student veterans, military service members, reservists, and their families,” said WCU President Christopher Fiorentino.
He noted WCU’s longstanding commitment to military students and emphasized the growth of the Greg and Sandra Weisenstein Veterans Center and expansion of services in recent years under Director Lillian Morrison. The center works to create an intentional culture of understanding, acceptance, and success for veterans, active military, and those whose support them, in part by facilitating communication among campus offices with a coordinated system of service.
“Along with increased scholarship support and program funding, in 2019, due to support from Mrs. Eileen Reider Glenn, Class of ’69, M’99, we’ve established a dedicated counselor position specifically to support our student veterans,” added Fiorentino.
West Chester University is among only 282 universities nationwide that were selected for Gold award status on the Military Friendly Schools list for 2022-2023. The Gold designation recognizes schools for their leading practices, outcomes, and effective programs on behalf of veterans, military service members, reservists, and their families. This is the second year WCU has achieved Gold status. In addition, WCU is a Yellow Ribbon school committed to helping students pay for tuition and fees that are not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Capt. Lucas Frisch, WCU Assistant Professor of Military Science for the Army ROTC program, presented the West Chester University ROTC scholarships to Joshua Adams, Gillian Barrie, Ian Crowe, Alexander Kubel, Katherine Lacosta, Christopher Morales, Danny Nguyen, Logan O’Grady, Cameron Olson, and Thomas Schenk.
The recipients of the ROTC General Military Scholarship are Kristi Kromko and Danny Nguyen.
Three scholarships are awarded by Mrs. Merion in tribute to her family members, her father John Martinkus, her brother Roger Martinkus, Sr., and her nephew Roger Martinkus Jr.: ROTC Scholarship in Memory of John Martinkus, USA to Alex Kubel; ROTC Scholarship in Honor of Roger Martinkus, Sr., USAF to Molly Grant; ROTC Scholarship in Honor of Roger Martinkus, Jr., USAF to Deandre Dorsey.
Thomas Schenk is the recipient of both the Captain Steve Quigley ROTC Scholarship and the Military Order of the World Wars ROTC Scholarship.
The VFW Post 106 ROTC Scholarship is awarded to Joshua Adams.
VFW Post 845 Military Scholarship is awarded to Jeffrey Fitzgerald.
The Hoxie Harrison Smith Foundation ROTC Scholarship is awarded to Stephanie Ierardi and Mark Pires.
Post Commander Howard Crawford, representing the Bernhard F. Schlegel American Legion Post 134, presented two scholarships: the Bernhard F. Schlegel American Legion Post ROTC Cadet Scholarship to Joshua Adams and Ian Crowe; and the Bernhard F. Schlegel American Legion Post Veteran Scholarship to Brandon West.
Lillian Morrison, director of WCU’s Veterans Center presented the following scholarships to student veterans.
Brigadier General (Ret.) Carol Eggert Pallas Athena Women Veterans Scholarship to Mackenzie Owens.
American Legion Veterans Scholarship to Vincent Gurko.
General Military Veterans’ Scholarship to Paige Griffin, Cody Macias, and Kristi Kromko.
VFW 106 Veterans Scholarship to Mackenzie Owens.
Goncharoff Public Service Scholarship to Kristi Kromko.
WCU Veterans Scholarship to Bryce Gable, Joshua Adams, Paige Griffin, Kristi Kromko, Cody Macias, Mackenzie Owens, Jack Reilly, and Hassan Tejan-Kella.
Student Veterans Group Scholarship for Academic Excellence to Bryce Gable.
Student Veterans Group Service Scholarship to Julinette Vazquez Tanon, Edward Rettmann, TaCari Talford, and Kenneth Roberts.
Student Veterans Group Distinguished Service Scholarship to Edward Rettmann.
For more information about WCU’s student veterans and the Veterans Center, visit