Tidewater NNOA Gives Back with VADM Gravely Scholarships

By CDR Carlton McClain, USN, NNOA Tidewater Chapter President

The National Naval Officers Association, Tidewater Chapter held its 2019 Vice Admiral Samuel Gravely Scholarship banquet Saturday, May 25th. The theme for this year’s banquet; “Continuing the legacy of leadership through service”. The Tidewater Chapter awards $5000 in scholarships to upcoming first-year students that compete throughout the Hampton Roads/Tidewater area. This year’s recipients MacKenzie Walls of Frank W. Cox High School, Kayla O’ Prandy of Western Branch High School and Morgan Rader of Hickory High School, all demonstrated outstanding leadership, citizenship and academic prowess in a very competitive field of applicants.

Guest speaker for the banquet, Commander Warren Judge, United States Coast Guard, has had a distinguished career. To highlight only a few positions, CDR Judge has served as the Technical Director for Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. He was also the sole Coast Guard representative at the White House Communications Agency where he served as the Presidential Response and Communications Officer the 44th President of the United States, President Barack Obama and currently serves as the Executive Office of Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City. His motivating words of wisdom were noteworthy guidance for not only the scholarship recipients embarking on their journey, but to all present at the banquet.

This year’s banquet was dedicated to Captain Sandy Pollard, United States Navy Reserve (retired) who passed away earlier this year. CAPT Pollard was the embodiment of our theme and the VADM Gravely Scholarship has been one of her most championed efforts of the Tidewater Chapter.

Special thanks to CDR Judge, USCG, LCDR Lee Stenson, USCG, Tidewater Chapter Vice President, LT Nakeshia Mouzon, Nursing Corps, USN, Public Relations Officer and acting Scholarship Committee Chair, and the Tidewater Chapter at large for raising the funds and accomplishing the many tasks required making the presentation of these scholarships possible. To our dear friend and mentor, CAPT Sandy Pollard, rest in peace. To the 2019 Vice Admiral Samuel Gravely Scholarship recipients, congratulations!