Scholarship News

ThanksUSA invites you to join us in celebration of Veterans Day with two very special events: a benefit concert in Nashville, and the Blue Man Group performance in Las Vegas. First, this Monday, November 9th, Jim Lauderdale and friends will present a ThanksUSA benefit concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. We are honored to have some very special guests attending the concert, including ThanksUSA scholarship recipient, Tina Marie Morgan.

Tina Marie Morgan

 

Tina Marie was the recipient of a $3000 ThanksUSA scholarship for the 2008/2009 academic year. Only six months from earning her Bachelors of Science in Radiologic Technology from Austin Peay State University, Tina Marie is currently busy honing her skills at clinical studies three times a week.  Representing ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipients, Tina Marie will be able to share her experiences and challenges with other concert guests and local media.   

 

“I cannot fully express my gratitude to ThanksUSA! I had been struggling trying to figure out how to pay for tuition and daycare for my three boys. Your gift is absolutely tremendous. I’ve been trying to go to school for six years. I am finally here and thanks to ThanksUSA, I will earn my BS in Radiography.”

Tina Marie’s husband, SFC Dennis Morgan, has served in the U.S. Army for 16 years and is currently on an overseas mission. As the mother of three very active children, Tina Marie looks forward to the safe return of her husband and the completion of her academic goals.

Tina Marie with her children

ThanksUSA applauds Tina Marie’s strength and dedication not only to her family, but to her own academic success. This Veterans Day, please honor and remember all those who have served our great nation and the families that love and support them. For links to both the Nashville concert and Blue Man Group performance, please visit the ThanksUSA homepage.

ThanksUSA Events

There are so many ways that you can help ThanksUSA provide scholarships to military family members.  As we approach Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, please keep this in mind.  We have many easy and fun ways that you can help ThanksUSA make  difference! 

If you are a federal employee, you can easily pledge a donation to ThanksUSA through the Combined Federal Campaign.  The five digit CFC code for ThanksUSA is 99441.  You can also make a donation at the ThanksUSA website at any time:  DONATE NOW

There is still time to place bids for the Fight Night 2009 Online Auction.  Sports, travel, jewelry, entertainment and more are up for bid.  Online bidding closes on November 2nd, so place your bid now!

On Monday, November 9, Jim Lauderdale and friends will honor military families with a ThanksUSA benefit concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.  Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.

The Blue Man group will celebrate Veterans Day with a special show on November 12 at The Venetian in Las Vegas.  Proceeds from the event will benefit ThanksUSA.  To purchase tickets, visit BlueMan.com or call 1-800-BLUEMAN and use code: ThanksUSA.

ThanksUSA extends our thanks to all of our sponsors and supporters.  If you have the opportunity to attend any of our events, we’d love to hear from you!  You can post comments to our blogs or send me an email (sherrykoch@ThanksUSA.org).  Thank you for your continued support – you have helped ThanksUSA provide over $5 million in scholarships!

Scholarship News

This week’s featured scholar, Michelle Spradlin, will represent ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipients at our November 9th benefit concert in Nashville, TN.  Michelle was eager to share her story with me and hopes that it will inspire others to pursue higher education:

My name is Michelle Spradlin.  I am 32 years old and a junior at Tennessee Wesleyan College.  I am also a military wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a big sister and am very blessed to be loved.  I am very involved in my community, my church and my daughters’ activities.

If you had asked me ten years ago about my thoughts on college, I would not have known where to start.  I have a great family who taught me to work hard, and so I do my best. 

Five years ago, my husband was returning from his first tour in Iraq and I was working as a branch manager of a bank.  We decided then that it was time for me to start college.  I was unsure of how to begin or where I’d end up, but I knew that I wanted to teach in the public school system.  I fall every day, but I have determination and hope.  I hope that when I have the privilege of being called teacher that I inspire my students to exceed in all they do.  I will also share with them what a great privilege we have to be Americans.

My husband, Eddie Spradlin, served ten years with the United States Marine Corps.  He was deployed with the Marines to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004.  He is currently serving with the Army National Guard. He deployed with the National Guard to Camp Bucca, Iraq, in 2007.  His deployments taught us we could face anything!

That being said, college presents financial challenges that are difficult to face.  If not for programs like ThanksUSA, it would not have been financially feasible for me to attend college.  I am very thankful to all who support such an outstanding program.  It makes me feel proud and humble that I was chosen as a 2009 ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipient.  I look forward to being able to give back to our country through my own education.  Thank you again; not only for the financial support, but also for believing in me!

Thank you, Michelle!  We wish you, and all ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipients continued academic success.  If you would like tickets to the ThanksUSA benefit concert, please visit Ticketmaster.  Featured artists for the event include Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Jim Lauderdale, The Steel Drivers, Leslie Satcher, and Monty Holmes…hope to see you there!

Scholarship News

Most military dependents must become accustomed to the absence of a parent due to deployment. But what happens when both parents are serving on active duty? Duty station assignments, deployments, and everyday schedules become even more challenging. Although these stresses can lead to family instability, this week’s featured scholar and her family embraced the dual military lifestyle and remain as close and loving as ever.

Heather McLernon

Meet Heather McLernon, a sophomore at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) carrying a double major in Psychology and Criminal Justice. Heather is the recipient of a $3000 ESA Foundation/ThanksUSA Scholarship. Both of Heather’s parents have served in the U.S. Air Force. Her mother retired in 2007 after 22 years of service which included four overseas deployments, one of which was to Iraq. Heather’s father has been on active duty for the past 23 years and recently returned from a four month deployment to South America.

 
While reflecting on her parents’ military careers, Heather says, “Its difficult having two active duty parents. Both of my parents were active duty, with my mother retiring during the summer of 2007. When both parents serve on active duty, you move around a lot which becomes hard on your social life. When both parents get deployed at the same time, you don’t have them to come home to every night. Military families have a greater appreciation for the little things that other families take for granted. Let’s just say that family dinners become a blessing. Military families make a lot of sacrifices and I’m really thankful that the ThanksUSA Scholarship recognizes those sacrifices.” 

The McLernon family

Not only does ThanksUSA recognize the sacrifices of our military families, we also recognize the academic achievements of our scholarship recipients. Heather McLernon is certainly deserving of that recognition. She is a member of the University Honors program and is one of only 50 CSULB students to be named a Presidential Scholar. When Heather is not studying, she manages and plays on an intramural softball team for CSULB. 

After completing her degree at CSULB, Heather plans to attend graduate school and study sociology or criminology. Heather adds, “The career I’m leaning towards is criminal psychologist or possibly working with juveniles who’ve gotten into trouble and just need a push in the right direction. I was part of a peer helping group in middle through high school and learned that I really enjoyed helping others. This also influenced my decision to become a psychology major. While taking a criminal justice class, I became very interested in the psychological influence on crime…thus my decision to study criminal justice.”

ThanksUSA is proud to be a part of Heather’s education. Like most schools across the country, CSULB has faced budget cuts and fee increases. With your help, ThanksUSA Scholarships continue to assist students like Heather meet the ever increasing costs of education:
“It was a blessing knowing that I could start off the year without worrying about all the money it costs to be a college student. Thank You!”                       -Heather McLernon

Scholarship News

This past week, friends and supporters of ThanksUSA gathered at the Newseum in Washington, DC, to celebrate the 2009 Treasure Our Troops Gala.  The event raised funds for additional ThanksUSA scholarships and allowed guests to meet ThanksUSA founders, Rachel and Kelsi Okun, as well as some of our past and present scholarship recipients.

There are so many individuals who deserve our appreciation for making the evening possible.  Since this is our Scholarship News blog, I want to focus on a few special guests and recognize all of the ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipients who eagerly volunteered to help with the occasion.

Our emcee, National Correspondent and NBC Today Show co-host, Natalie Morales, spoke of growing up as an Air Force brat and her continued dedication to causes that support the U.S. Military.  Keynote speaker, General George Casey shared his understanding of, and commitment to, the needs of military families during these uncertain times. 

Speaking on behalf of ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipients were Army Reserve spouse, Michelle Lilje and Army dependent, Drayton Bird.  Guests learned of the challenges Michelle overcame to complete her education while Drayton spoke of his ”rat” year at VMI.  Attendees were also able to meet and speak with other scholarship recipients in attendance, Mary Bird, Kelleigh Cosentino, and Amanda Smith. 

To include and honor as many scholarship recipients as possible, Gala guests were encouraged to phone and text select recipients throughout the evening.  My deepest gratitude to all who volunteered their time to be available for this special outreach opportunity:

Shadie  Andraos,  Taylor Andrus,  Johannah Dowell,  Cory Ellis,  Justin Fabling,  Kendall Gill,  Stephanie Harvell,  LaKeshia Hyndman,  Ashtin Jeney,  Jennie Laurent,  Kelly McCorkle,  Heather McLernon,  Bernard McPherson,  Cameron Michael,  Ray Phua,  Thomas Reho,  Brooke Rogers,  Bailey Smith,  Rachel Smith,  Leighann Temple,  Tianna Yentzer

ThanksUSA co-founders, Rachel and Kelsi Okun, recruited an enthusiastic group of young volunteers for the ThanksUSA Kids Committee.  The Kids Committee served as aides and guides for the evening.  On behalf of all the guests in attendance, I would like to extend my appreciation to all Kids Committee participants:

Zachary Baskin,  Griffin Boyle,  Jackie Bruner,  Nicole Bruner,  Trevor Cockerham,  Mary Elizabeth Cordia,  Madison Gallagher,  Muneera Hassan,  Nicole Kittay,  Charlotte Koch,  Jackie Litchewski,  Jeanette Litschewski,  Lauren Martin,  Alexander Pierson,  Amya Smith,  Charlotte Sununu,  Grace Sununu

ThanksUSA wishes to thank everyone who attended the Treasure Our Troops Gala.  Our mission remains the same – to mobilize Americans of all ages to thank the men and women of the United Sates armed forces by providing college, technical, and vocational school scholarships for their children and spouses.  Your donations and support continue to help so many reach their academic goals.  Thank You!

Scholarship News

Change…whether military or civilian, you’re sure to face change at some point in your life. Sometimes change is thrust upon us. At other times we take the initiative to make changes ourselves. This week’s featured scholar, Zachary Gibson, did just that and couldn’t be happier with the results.

Zachary Gibson

 

Next spring, Zachary will earn his BA in Biblical and Theological Studies from Lee University. Since 2006, Zachary has received $7200 in ThanksUSA Scholarships! This year, he received a $3000 ESA Foundation/ThanksUSA Scholarship to help complete his education. Zachary says, “I want to tell ThanksUSA how very much the receipt of this scholarship has meant to my family and me. I am so appreciative of the service this has done for me and for the many other military dependents that receive this scholarship. Thank you!”

 

Originally, Zachary was majoring in Biochemistry with the goal of becoming a doctor. But after his first year of study, he found himself reconsidering his major. “I would find myself in the library, having gone there to study chemistry, wandering the philosophy shelves instead of the math and sciences. I have always had a fascination with the metaphysical. This love of philosophy and theology, along with a trip to Israel during the summer of 2007, solidified in me the necessity of switching majors. I switched to Biblical and Theological Studies that Fall and haven’t looked back. I’m totally loving it!”

Isn’t it wonderful when you make a change in your life that just feels right? Of course not all the changes are so easy. As a Navy brat, Zachary has had to learn to accept and embrace change all his life. His father, Commander David Gibson, has been stationed up and down the East Coast and as far away as Italy. Being a Navy Chaplain, CMD Gibson has served billets not only for the Navy, but also for the Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Zachary says, “My father was recently stationed in Rhode Island for three years straight. This has been a hard journey for my family, but we came through it and he is now stationed back in Pensacola.”

Military families face many emotional and financial challenges. Education should not be one of those. As Zachary remarked, “This scholarship enables me to put the full force of my brain power towards education, whereas without it, my faculties would be divided between school and finances.”

After graduating from Lee University, Zachary has plans to join the U.S. Marine Corps on a flight contract. The ThanksUSA team wishes Zachary all the best in completing his degree and the upcoming challenges of flight school. May he readily embrace the changes that his military career will bring!

Scholarship News

Everybody is an amateur photographer today. We carry cameras with us everywhere…they’re built into our computers, our phones, even our mobile music devices. We all take pictures, but some of us have a true eye for capturing images. Those with real talent can evoke a deep emotional response with a photograph. I’m proud to introduce you to one such individual, ESA Foundation/ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipient, Taylor Curry. Taylor is a sophomore at Savannah College of Art and Design where he is studying photography.

 

“First, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to ThanksUSA. Without their help, it would be so much harder for my family and me to fund college. I am currently attending Savannah College of Art and Design for a B.F.A. in Photography. This will be my second year attending the school and my expected graduation date is in the spring of 2012.

Growing up in the military is full of challenges. One of the darker challenges was the demise of my father who was diagnosed with PTSD and who subsequently went on to end his own life.

 

Dust by Taylor Curry

 

However, even that challenge has shaped me in a positive way because of the support of my family and the military community. I accept that time isn’t finite and that what the day brings isn’t necessarily given in the future. I try to be accepting of others and show my true emotions. As the saying goes “this isn’t a dress rehearsal.”

 

Big Ben by Taylor Curry

 

One of the more enjoyable challenges would be the traveling. In many ways, I owe my inspiration to the military. After being stationed in the UK and submerged in all the history and culture, I felt I had to document the thoughts in my head through any means possible. I took up photo my junior year of high school and have been clicking away ever since.

 

 

After being accepted into SCAD, I realized what a financial hole I would be digging myself in over the next four years. Receiving the $3000 ESA Foundation/ThanksUSA Scholarship is more than just money – it is a means of funding my education, making the process of growth and exploration possible. I’ve known from a young age that, in my world, visual imagery has no end. Visual imagery is a powerful means of communication that speaks, without words, but with so much feeling. I know I have the determination to be successful, not only in my chosen field of study, but in any career I choose to pursue which involves the visualization of occurrences in our world.

Transatlantic by Taylor Curry

After receiving my B.F.A. in Photography I plan to either attend graduate studies in Europe or join the Peace Corps and complete a document study on wherever I may be placed. I want to be able to draw my viewers’ eye to the common things that people often see, but at the same time, overlook. I want to inspire passion, movement, and the involvement of others in a just cause through my work. I know that I am on the right track, that I have found my niche.”

As you can see by the few examples here, Taylor has definitely found his niche.  We wish him continued success and look forward to following his visual artistry wherever it may lead him.  Our thanks to the ESA Foundation for their continued support of gifted ThanksUSA scholars like Taylor.

Most Caring People in America

On Tuesday, October 13th, The Caring Institute will present the 2009 Caring Awards to select individuals who personify the spirit of giving in their everyday lives.  Among the youths to be recognized are ThanksUSA founders, Rachel and Kelsi Okun.

Though both Rachel and Kelsi are honored to receive the recognition of The Caring Institute, they are determined to keep the focus on ThanksUSA’s mission:

“ThanksUSA is not about us…It is about Paying it Forward to the troops and thanking them by helping their families improve their education.  We are thrilled about The Caring Institute award but we salute the troops.”

Well said girls and keep up the good work!

Treasure Hunt Update

Congratulations to another Treasure Hunt Three winner, Sandra Obi. Sandra was randomly selected as the alternate winner of chapter nine, Minnesota.

Sandra was so excited to be selected saying, ” I LOVE playing the ThanksUSA Treasure Hunt game. A friend told me about the game last year, and got me hooked! I just love learning all of the facts about American history as I play. This is very challenging too – it’s not some easy google hunt where you just google and you’re done – some are real brain teasers! Of course I love what ThanksUSA stands for as I have many people who are close to me that are in the service.  It’s good to know what is out there to support them when they need help.”

This past week, Sandra received her prize, a new laptop!  If you played Treasure Hunt Four this past year, I may be congratulating you soon – winners will be drawn next week.  Good Luck to all who have submitted answers and be sure to check back for updates on Treasure Hunt Five which premiers on Thanksgiving Day!

Scholarship News

This year, the Northern Virginia Community College Education Foundation and NVCC’s Financial Aid Office joined ThanksUSA to offer the Linda J. Romeo/ThanksUSA Scholarship. This week, I’m pleased to introduce you to the recipient of this $4000 scholarship, Amanda Smith.

Amanda Smith with her family

Since the seventh grade, Amanda has been fascinated by biology and its significance in everyday life. She is currently pursuing her Associate of Science Degree at the Woodbridge Campus of NVCC, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA. In addition to being a dedicated student, Amanda is also the mother of two beautiful children and the wife of U.S. Marine, Quentin Smith.

Quentin has served with the U.S. Marine Corps since 2001 and is a precision weapons technician. Quentin’s military career has included deployments to Iraq and Kuwait. With another deployment scheduled later this year, Amanda had to carefully consider the financial impact that attending school would have on her family. Not only did she have to evaluate tuition costs, but she also had to budget for childcare. As Amanda says, “Being a military spouse and mother makes it hard to decide whether or not to earn a college degree. In the end, I know it will be the right thing to do. I am very grateful for all the people who make ThanksUSA possible. I know there are many military spouses and military children who are appreciative of organizations like ThanksUSA! ”

After completing her A.S., Amanda plans to attend a four year university and earn her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. Eventually, Amanda hopes to become a high school Biology teacher and inspire the next generation of eager minds. Amanda adds, “I think education is so important and teachers make all the difference in the world!”

The Linda J. Romeo/ThanksUSA Scholarship has proven to be an added source of strength and inspiration for Amanda. With financial burdens lifted, she is more determined than ever to prove to herself, her family, and ThanksUSA supporters, that she can maintain her high GPA and achieve all the academic goals that she has set for herself.

On September 28th, Amanda will have the opportunity to share her goals and gratitude with ThanksUSA supporters at our annual Fall Golf Tournament. This year’s tournament, hosted by Intelligent Decisions, will be held at The Club at Creighton Farms in Aldie, VA. To learn more about the tournament, please visit our events page.

The ThanksUSA team would like to commend Amanda on the successful beginning of her college career. We would also like to join Amanda in thanking Northern Virginia Community College for supporting our military families and ThanksUSA!

Treasure Hunt Update

I have some exciting news about Treasure Hunt Three…yes, TH3. At the conclusion of TH3 in 2008, winners were randomly selected from correct entries for each chapter. Unfortunately, because of outdated contact information, we were unable to notify some of the initial winners and alternates were recently selected.

Introducing the chapter two winner of Treasure Hunt Three, LaDonna Nowell. LaDonna has been playing the ThanksUSA Treasure Hunt for the past few years and was thrilled to hear that she had won a laptop computer!

LaDonna Nowell

 

 

 

LaDonna says, “I have a group of friends that like to play online games and who also love to show support for our troops. Imagine how thrilled we were to find a place that lets us do both! ThanksUSA is a great place to learn about our country, support our troops, and help children in their education. Thank you for all that you do for our country and the children!”

 

 

Treasure Hunt Four winners will be selected by random drawing at the end of this month. If you correctly submitted answers to any chapter of TH4, you are a potential winner. Don’t miss out – please update your profile today! Simply login to the Hunt and click on “My Profile” to verify that your contact information is current and accurate.   I can’t wait to notify our TH4 winners!

Back to School

Like most parents, I have spent the last few weeks preparing my children for another year of school.  How many of you remember the excitement of that first day?  I specifically remember receiving my supplies directly from my school.  Every year, each student was handed a writing pad, 2 pencils and a box of crayons.  Our (hardback) books were provided for us and lunch only cost 50 cents.  Oh…the school office also used that lovely spelling mimeograph machine!

Unfortunately, many of our schools today face budget woes and struggle just to provide academic books.  So…schools post lists of supplies that each student should provide.  A few weeks ago, my daughters visited their elementary school’s website and printed out their supply lists.  My girls see this list as an exciting opportunity to express themselves with decorated folders, colorful pencils, and themed notebooks.  I see the supply list as a hole in my wallet!  Even so, I don’t hesitate to buy extra supplies and drop them in the local community donation box because every pencil counts.

Much as our grade schools face budget crises, so do our colleges and universities.  Budget cuts have forced many institutions to reduce or eliminate financial aid and need-based grants.  Every year, students face tuition and fee hikes as financial aid dwindles.  With your continued help, ThanksUSA will provide hundreds of scholarships worth $3,000 each for the 2009/2010 academic year.  I know that many of you donate school supplies to your local community every year.  Just as you wouldn’t hesitate to purchase an extra notebook or box of pencils, please don’t hesitate to make a ThanksUSA donation today because every cent counts.  Thank you so much for your continued support!

http://thanksusa.org/common/flash/psa.swf?vid=qyZ1s1Il-DQ

Cousins Who Care

I am so excited to report that the Cousins Who Care raised over $2,000 for the ThanksUSA Scholarship Program during their August 7th Bowl-A-Thon! The ThanksUSA team would like to thank Oma Walker’s extended family and friends who made the evening such an awesome success. In addition to raising funds, the Cousins Who Care also raised awareness of ThanksUSA and more donations are expected in honor of Mrs. Walker’s 80th birthday.

We would like to recognize and thank each of the Cousins Who Care for enlisting the help and support of family and friends. Participants from across the country enjoyed a fun filled night of pizza, face painting, and of course bowling! Special thanks to Suzanne Walker for organizing the event and to Christine Cockerham for her talented face painting. The Cousins Who Care are:

Miranda Moriarty

Charlie Leonard

Kyle Walker       

Julia Cockerham

Kelley Walker   

Derek Walker

Trevor Cockerham (Cousins Who Care logo/flyer design)

Maggie Guerriere

Stephanie Leonard         

Michael Guerriere

Lily Moriarty                      

Tommy Leonard

Carly Cockerham

Olivia Guerriere

Cousins Who Care & Friends

These kids really deserve our thanks! Please give them a round of applause and leave an encouraging comment on this blog. You can also check out more Bowl-A-Thon photos on the ThanksUSA Facebook page. Thanks again, Cousins Who Care. We look forward to hearing about your future philanthropic endeavors!

ThanksUSA Benefit Concert

Announcing the ThanksUSA benefit concert presented by Jim Lauderdale and Friends!  Join us November 9th at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, to listen to music greats Vince Gill, Amy Grant, The SteelDrivers, and Jim Lauderdale.  Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster and we would love to hear from those who are planning to attend!  Select Nashville area radio stations will have ticket giveaways so be sure to check back here for an update!

 

Scholarship News

The ThanksUSA team is always happy to receive updates from current and former scholarship recipients. Recently, I had the pleasure of following up with one of the first ThanksUSA scholarship recipients, Celena Janton. During 2006, Celena received a $5000 ThanksUSA Scholarship. This former Technical Sergeant, loving wife, and mother of four, graduated in May from Northern Arizona University with her BA in Education.

The Janton Family

What influenced Celena’s choice to pursue a BA in Education? Her children, of course! When she became pregnant with twins, her educational focus shifted to the understanding and education of children. As Celena says, “Becoming a mother changed my interests dramatically!” After completing an Early Childhood class, her decision was made.

After the birth of twin daughters, Beth and Milena, Celena was able to attend Northern Arizona University full-time through an on-line program. One year after the birth of the twins, daughter Olivia came along. As the family grew and life became more hectic, Celena kept up with her studies, maintaining a high GPA and making the Dean’s list every semester. Even when, in 2007, son Sammy joined the fold…yes, Celena and husband, Mike, were blessed four times within three years! Celena adds, “I’m proud of my educational accomplishments considering I had so many little ones!”

Prior to the birth of her children, Celena served in the U.S. Air Force for four years and the Air National Guard for five years. Like many active duty mothers, Celena struggled with the consequences of a possible overseas or war zone deployment. With her husband, Mike, also serving on active duty with the Air National Guard in Civil Engineering, Celena made the decision to put her children first and leave the service.

When I asked Celena to elaborate on the challenges of military life, Celena was very upbeat and replied, “I have to admit that any challenges turn out to be exciting experiences! My husband, Mike, has not deployed overseas since our engagement 10 years ago and I’m grateful for that. He had to go TDY once last year, but the whole family went with him. We had a big family road trip across the country which made some of our best memories. Because my classes have been entirely online, I was able to continue my studies even while travelling. Overall, the military has been more of a blessing to us than any kind of burden. We have changed and grown in ways that never would have been possible without it!”

When Celena graduated in May, the entire Janton family took another family road trip to Flagstaff, Arizona to attend the commencement ceremony. Celena says, “It was rewarding to have all of my family there to see me graduate. They were all so excited for me!” Celena looks forward to continuing her education and plans to enroll in Graduate school next semester.

Currently, Celena’s focus is on her husband and children. Both Celena and Mike are involved with churches both on and off base. Mike leads a Bible study at the base chapel while Celena teaches preschool at an off base church. Celena has also begun homeschooling the twins. Mike is currently working with the Predator Squadron and has recently been promoted to TSgt. Later this year he will be attending the NCO Academy…Celena and the children are looking forward to the upcoming road trip! In her spare time (as scarce as it may be), Celena enjoys writing children’s stories and devotionals.

ThanksUSA is so proud to have been a part of Celena’s education and we wish the entire Janton family the best. I truly hope that every individual who makes a donation to the ThanksUSA Scholarship Program understands the difference that they have made in someone’s life. In Celena’s words, “When I found out that I had been selected to receive a $5000 scholarship, I was so excited! Without it, I would not have been able to attend school full-time and I would have been worried about how to pay for books and supplies. Especially with a growing family, it was truly a blessing!”

Treasure Hunt Four

The clock is ticking….today, August 15th, 11:59 p.m. EDT, is the final deadline for Treasure Hunt Four! We thank you for accepting the challenge and hope that you’ve learned some interesting state facts while unlocking those treasures. Please make sure to verify that all of your contact information is correct in your profile – we’ll be contacting winners soon!

Although Treasure Hunt Four is concluding, the ThanksUSA team is already busy preparing Treasure Hunt Five which will premier Thanksgiving Day. Make sure to visit the ThanksUSA website and blog often to get updates on TH4 winners and news on upcoming ThanksUSA events.

We extend a very special Thank You to all TH4 participants who donated to the ThanksUSA Scholarship Program during the hunt. We hope you’ll take some time to read the Scholarship News blog to learn more about the individuals who benefit from ThanksUSA. Thanks again and good luck to all!

Treasure Hunt Four

This is it, Treasure Hunters…the final week. The Treasure Hunt Four deadline is August 15th.  I am so excited for everyone participating in Treasure Hunt Four! If you’ve missed any TH4 hints or tips, search the blog archives. There are several ways to get some direct help: post a comment to this blog (below), send me an email (sherrykoch@thanksusa.org), DM on Twitter, or visit our Facebook page and write on our wall.

Now, let’s work on some questions from North Dakota, chapter 11. Don’t be intimidated by the Kakuro puzzle. Yes, you will have to do some math, but with a little guidance even our youngest players can complete this puzzle. Let’s look at a clue that tricked quite a few of our treasure hunters:

22. This lady is an awesome role model in several ways. Her work helped open the world of theater to the hearing-impaired. In the 1960s, she helped found the National Theater for the Deaf, and she won a Tony award for her performance in the Broadway play, Children of a Lesser God. She is the oldest of how many deaf children? Add eleven to your answer and place it in the upper half of F2.

Many of us are familiar with 1986 film version of Children of a Lesser God, and mistakenly thought that the clue referred to Marlee Matlin. The clue specifically refers to the Broadway play, Children of a Lesser God. Keep in mind that we’re completing the North Dakota chapter, so our search may include the following:

North Dakota + National Theater for the Deaf + Tony award

Make sure that you read the biography of this person to find out how many children were in her family. If you’re having trouble finding a complete biography, try this search:

(name) + oldest of children

This should give you the exact number you’re looking for. Don’t forget, we have to add 11 to our answer and then enter that number into the upper portion of F2. Hint: you should have a two digit number. Keep in mind that this upper portion of F2 is the sum of F3+F4+F5+F6.

Let’s look at one more for this chapter:

7. The military community encompasses personnel from all over the world. “Only the Best Come North” is the motto of this Air Force Base. How many letters are in the name of both the city and its base? Subtract one from your answer and place it in G4.

Since this clue includes a quoted statement, let’s make sure to include that in our search.  We know we’re in North Dakota (abbreviation ND) and we’re looking for a city which is also the name of an Air Force Base (abbreviation AFB):

ND + AFB + “Only the Best Come North”

Don’t forget to subtract 1 from the total amount of letters.  Now enter your answer in the lower part of G4.  G4 will be the sum of H4+J4.  It’s very important to remember that H4 and J4 cannot be the same digit.

I hope this helps you get through the Kakuro.  You really do need to answer all of the questions before you tackle the rest of the puzzle.  Your final clue will use the numbers in H7, C5, E6, D7, D4, H4, and F3.  These numbers will actually make up a date: 1 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year.  Your final answer was dedicated in North Dakota on that date.  Good Luck!

Treasure Hunt Four

Just to make sure that we cover all of the chapters before the August 15th deadline, here are a few questions from The United States Marine Corps, chapter 12:

21. What world famous military unit “wordlessly” wins acclaim for its “colorful” precision, magnificent “manual” maneuvers and “disciplined” pace?

Wow, this one is a bit cryptic. First, we’re looking for a famous military unit. We are in the United States Marine Corps chapter, so we’re looking for a U.S. Marine Corps unit or platoon. Notice “wordlessly” is in quotes? Perhaps there’s some word play here. What an excellent opportunity to use a thesaurus! No, children, it’s not a baby dinosaur. Yes, I am considered a dinosaur because I actually own a thesaurus (in actual book form)! There are many online thesauri so don’t despair…wordlessly means without speech or sound, so a good synonym would be silently.

So we’re looking for a platoon of silent Marines who demonstrate precise and magnificent maneuvers. The following search should be enough to find your answer:

U.S. Marine Corps + silent

If you need additional help, try adding the words platoon, precision, or maneuvers to your search. You should also find some very impressive video clips of this impressive unit. If you visit Washington, D.C. during the summer (May-August), you may even see them perform live during this event:

18. What famous event takes place seasonally at a similarly famous location at 8th and I Streets, Washington, D.C.?
This address is so well known, that you can find your answer by searching for the cross streets in quotes:

“8th & I”

If you’re looking for additional help with chapter 12, check out the Treasure Hunt Four blog from April 4th. There is also a search bar in the upper right corner of this page – it allows you to search through all the blog postings for specific words or phrases. If you still can’t find the help you need, submit a comment blow or send me an email at sherrykoch@thanksusa.org. Good Luck!

Treasure Hunt Four

Where has the summer gone? For many, August marks the last weeks of summer and the beginning of a new school year. For ThanksUSA Treasure Hunt participants, August marks the end of the hunt. The final deadline for TH4 is August 15!

With only two weeks left to unlock those treasures, we’ll focus on the tricky “Wordoku” for Maryland, chapter 10. Since the Wordoku requires the nine letters from your answer to question #24, we’ll start there.

24. This largest Maryland city is situated closer to major Midwestern markets than any other major seaport on the East Coast.

You may choose to search largest Maryland city, or you may want to browse through Maryland state facts to find your answer. When you enter your answer, the city’s name will appear diagonally through the Wordoku, from A1 through J9.

Each of these nine letters should appear once in every row, column, and 3×3 region of the large grid. Let’s look at the questions that will help you complete the bottom right 3×3 region:

7. The most famous baseball player born in Maryland is a Jr., but this babe’s first name was not Calvin.

In case you’re not familiar with baseball, Calvin in this question is referring to Calvin Edward Ripken Jr. So the answer is not Cal Ripken Jr. If you are familiar with baseball, you’ve probably figured out who we are looking for…let’s make sure we include the word babe in our search:

Baseball + Maryland + babe + “Jr.”

Including the quotes around Jr. ensures that we get the full and complete name that we’re looking for. Once you have your answer, blocks J7 and A3 will be filled in on the grid. Now let’s get a letter for G9:

17. Surveyed between 1763 and 1767 to resolve a dispute, this forms part of the border of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

For our younger Treasure Hunt players, a few additional hints: this border is named after the two men who conducted the survey and was later considered the separating “line” between union and confederate states. Since we have those ever important dates, our search could be:

border surveyed 1763-1767

One more question contains a letter for the last region:

19. Military members often refer to this hospital by the name of the city it resides in, and this facility also cares for presidents and members of Congress who need surgical and medical procedures. What is its official name?

If you haven’t spent time in the Washington, D.C. area, this question may be a bit confusing. Notice that the first two words of the question are Military members? The facility we’re looking for is a military hospital. Try one of the following searches:

MD military hospital

Or you can add the clues Congress and/or U.S. President

MD military hospital + Congress + U.S. President

This should lead you to your answer and the letter for H9. If you’ve completed all of the questions listed here today, you will have six of the nine blocks completed in the last region. The rest is up to you…when you’ve completed the entire Wordoku, click the Wordoku 2 tab to get your final clues to unlock the Maryland treasure.

With only two weeks left to submit answers, now is the time to ask for help. Some of the TH4 questions are easy and obvious, but some are really tricky. Don’t hesitate to ask for additional hints…I am truly eager to help. Next week we’ll focus on questions from the remaining two chapters, North Dakota and the United States Marine Corps. Until then, I wish everyone the best of luck!

Scholarship News

Dawn Steele is a Navy spouse, a mother, a full-time student, and the recipient of a $3000 Intelligent Decisions/ThanksUSA Scholarship. Dawn will earn her BA in Education at the end of September, graduating Magna Cum Laude from National University in La Jolla, California. She will spend the next year completing her teaching credentials before leading and inspiring her own classroom. Ideally, Dawn would like to teach high school aged students in the gifted and talented program.

Jeffrey and Dawn Steele

Dawn’s husband, Jeff, is very supportive of her decision to attend school. He has served in the U.S. Navy for over sixteen years and likes the idea of Dawn having a career that offers a set schedule. The Steele’s often joke that somebody in the family needs to have a “normal” job in order to provide a stable and healthy family environment.

Jeff’s Navy career demands frequent moves to new duty stations. Though they have gotten used to moving an entire household across the country, Dawn has faced the frustration of trying to transfer credits from one university to another. Since different schools value each other’s academic credits differently, Dawn’s studies have taken longer than expected. But Dawn remains positive, seeing education as a life-long endeavor. She plans to pursue higher education well beyond her bachelor’s degree.

Dawn and Jeff recognize and appreciate the benefits allotted by Jeff’s Navy career. However, educational benefits for military spouses are scarce. The ThanksUSA scholarship program was just what they needed. Dawn and her family would like to thank Intelligent Decisions for easing the substantial financial burdens of her education. She adds, “I applaud Intelligent Decisions for living up to their name by making the excellent decision to generously support ThanksUSA. We need more companies like Intelligent Decisions to focus on education because the benefits are ten-fold.”

ThanksUSA applauds Dawn’s success and hopes that her story encourages others. Dawn has some very simple, direct advice for any military spouse considering higher education, “It’s time. You can accomplish your goals without sacrificing your family life.” Dawn has two young children and explained that using a combination of online courses and classroom studies works well for busy parents and spouses. Is your spouse deploying soon? Take a class or two to make sure school is the right fit for you at this time. As Dawn says, “It’s a very constructive way to stay busy, boost your confidence, and be the strength that your family needs!” Thanks for the advice, Dawn. We know you’ll make a great teacher!

Treasure Hunt Four

Welcome Treasure Hunters! Since there are only three weeks left to play TH4, let’s jump right in and answer some questions from Colorado, chapter 9. First, we’ll dig up the answers to mining questions:

7. This type of metal mined in Colorado helps to create steel and is more resistant to heat than other metals. What is it?
12. What is the name of the most productive gold mine in Colorado?

Since both of these questions focus on mining in Colorado, we can probably find both answers in the same place. If you search for Colorado mining, you should come across the website for the Colorado Mining Association. Although the entire website has fascinating information, you’ll find what you’re looking for under Mining Facts and Resources.  (hint -Unique Facts About Colorado Mining)

After you find your answers, challenge a friend or relative to pronounce the answer to number 7. If they’re successful, challenge them to say it five times fast!  (www.Merriam-Webster.com includes pronunciations)

Now let’s look at two questions that focus on nicknames:

9. What famous boxer was known as the “Manassa Mauler?”

Type the key words “Manassa Mauler” into your search engine and you’ll easily find your answer. Now, a trickier question:

16. This Denver socialite, who was born in Missouri, survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. She was commonly known as the____.

There were several hundred survivors of this tragedy, so we need to narrow our search. I always mention how important it is to include dates in your search, but not this time. The sinking of the Titanic was such a shocking tragedy that the date in this case is really not necessary. Let’s focus on the words Denver socialite and keep in mind that we’re looking for a “nickname” of sorts. Your search may look like this:

Titanic survivor + Denver socialite + nickname

When you find your answer, I hope you’ll take some time to learn a bit about the philanthropic endeavors of this larger-than-life personality.

Next week we’ll focus on questions from Maryland, chapter 10. If you’ve missed any of the hints or tips, search the blog archives. If you need help with a specific question or chapter, please leave a comment on this blog or send me an email at sherrykoch@thanksusa.org. Just a reminder that the final deadline is August 15th. Good Luck!

Scholarship News

ThanksUSA has many friends and supporters who continually tell others about our organization and encourage donations to make the scholarship program a success. One of these enthusiastic supporters is our friend Suzanne Walker.

Suzanne comes from a large, loving family which is spread out throughout the country and across the globe. She has several nieces and nephews who are actively looking for ways to better their communities and society as a whole. To encourage the continuation of this generous spirit, Suzanne’s nieces and nephews have become “Cousins Who Care.”

With Suzanne’s sponsorship, Cousins Who Care will be hosting a Bowl-A-Thon to benefit the ThanksUSA Scholarship Program. This family friendly, kid inspired event will take place on Friday, August 7, from 5-7 p.m. at Baldwin Bowl in Baldwin, NY. 

What a wonderful and giving family! This is truly an example of what ThanksUSA stands for. Keep in mind that ThanksUSA was started by Kelsi and Rachel Okun when they were just 8 and 10 years old. They wanted to show their support for our troops by honoring their families with educational financial assistance.

How can you help ThanksUSA? You can donate to the scholarship program at any time through our website. You can tell friends, family and your employer about ThanksUSA. Your family can do what the Walker family is doing…a home grown fundraiser to support ThanksUSA. Has your family ever held a yard sale? Set up a lemonade stand? Hosted a car wash? Does your family like to bowl, skate, or swim?

If you have a fundraising idea and would like to raise funds for ThanksUSA, we’d love to hear about it! The ThanksUSA team is very happy to help you help ThanksUSA…we’d be so proud to feature your family or group and your fundraising efforts on our website and social networking. If you would like to contribute to the ThanksUSA Scholarship Program through a fundraising effort, please contact us for support and ideas. My personal email address is sherrykoch@thanksusa.org

ThanksUSA (and many ThanksUSA scholarship applicants) are anticipating the funds raised during many of our fall fundraising events. Please check our website often for event updates. If you are a ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipient and you are interested in attending any of our scheduled events, please contact me for updates and possible media outreach opportunities.

Some upcoming ThanksUSA events include:

September 28, 2009
2009 ThanksUSA Fall Golf Tournament
The Club at Creighton Farms
Aldie, VA

October 14, 2009
ThanksUSA 2009 Treasure Our Troops Gala
The Newseum
Washington, D.C.

November 9, 2009
Jim Lauderdale and Friends Present a Troop Appreciation Concert
Featuring Vince Gill and Amy Grant
Ryman Auditorium
Nashville, TN

Treasure Hunt Four

With less than a month left until the final deadline of ThanksUSA Treasure Hunt Four, it’s time to unlock those treasures! The entry deadline is August 15, 2009. Even if you have already successfully completed all the chapters, please log in and verify that you have provided your current contact information. ThanksUSA needs to be able to reach you if you win a prize.

This week let’s work on unlocking the Rhode Island treasure (chapter 8). Many of the questions in this chapter provide a year which is very valuable. For example:

7 (across) Home of the first U.S. Open in golf (in 1895) and the first circus way back in 1774.

There are several ways to search for your answer. You may choose to focus on just the golf portion of the question, just the circus portion, or both. Regardless of how you search, the dates will help you zero in on your answer. For example, you should be able to find your answer with any of the following:

First circus 1774
Golf U.S. Open 1895

Once you have the answer to #7, you can use it to help with another question:

17 (down) This was played for the first time in the U.S. in 1876 near 7 Across.

Can you answer this question without 7 Across? Probably, but it will certainly be easier to answer 7 Across first. Your search may resemble this:

First played 1876 + (7 across answer), Rhode Island
Or more simply:
1876 near (7 across), RI

Don’t forget that both 7 Across and 17 Down provide needed letters of the final clue. After you’ve completed the crossword puzzle, click on the Treasure tab at the top to find the clues to unlock the Rhode Island Treasure. I know that some TH4 players have gotten a bit stumped when it comes to the final answer. Pay close attention to the sentence under the scrambled words:

We think you’re on the right track.

The right track? That reminds me of trains…

If you should get stuck on any TH4 questions, make sure to leave a comment on this blog or send me an email right away. The deadline is approaching fast so let me know how I can help. Next week we’ll look at some questions from Colorado, chapter 9.

Scholarship News

As a special thank you and welcome to all new ThanksUSA supporters, I would like to introduce a family who has truly benefitted from the generosity of ThanksUSA donors since 2006. Please meet Mary and Drayton Bird who have received $10,000 of ThanksUSA Scholarships since 2006.

The Bird Family

Mary attends Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She is an Honors Biomedical Engineering major with minors in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. Mary was named a 2008 National Barry M. Goldwater Scholar and was a 2009 Harry S. Truman National Finalist. Mary has also earned guaranteed admission to the VCU School of Medicine where she plans to pursue a Master’s of Public Policy. Afterwards, she hopes to earn a Medical Doctorate and complete medical training with a residency in Women’s Health and postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Genetics.

Mary’s academic successes are evident, but what about the transition from a military lifestyle into the civilian lifestyle of a college campus? Mary says, “Although I felt incredibly prepared socially and academically, I was surprised by how much I missed the military support system I’d grown up around. As a child, I took for granted how much living on military bases and being surrounded by other Army Brats meant to me. I found that new friends of mine often didn’t understand why I found anti-war protests or anti-military displays so upsetting. Since then, I’ve acclimated to a more civilian lifestyle and have come to appreciate the diversity of opinions that living on an urban academic campus has exposed me to.”

Mary’s brother, Drayton, doesn’t quite have the same experience since he is currently attending the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. Drayton was awarded a $3000 ThanksUSA scholarship while studying at Columbus State Community College. His passion for electronics naturally led to a major in electrical engineering. Drayton has been repairing and modifying electronics for years and realized that his talents would eventually lead to a career. After graduation, Drayton plans to join the military in order to gain experience and see the world.

Both siblings, as well as their parents, are grateful for the ThanksUSA Scholarship Program. Colonel Carl Bird has served in the United States Army for twenty four years. He and wife, Hope, have moved their family across the United States, to Australia and back again saying, “We never really know what the army has in store for us and are always open for that next big adventure.”

The Birds use all of their travelling time to catch up with each other, make family plans and discuss career options. Hope adds, “Family is very important to us and through faith, a good cell phone plan and frequent flyer miles we manage to stay close and very involved in each other’s lives.”

Hope also wants to make sure that others know the importance of the ThanksUSA Scholarship Program:
“I cannot put into words how much we appreciate the financial assistance provided by the incredible donors of the Thanks USA Scholarship program. Education has always been a top priority in our family and with two children in college any assistance is a blessing. I am so thankful that the children are able to focus on their studies and not have to worry about the cost of books, tuition and fees as a result of this program! Thank you so very much for your unwavering support. All the children helped by the generous donations and the Thanks USA program as a whole are this country’s future and I cannot think of a better way to support these students. By investing in these bright, talented students we are investing in our future. Reading about the other recipients keeps me confident that this country is going in the right direction. Keep up the superior job Thanks USA and thank you so much for your continuous support of today’s youth.”

ThanksUSA would like to thank all of our generous donors, both individual and corporate.  You make ThanksUSA possible and help families like the Birds everyday.

Treasure Hunt Four

We are only a few weeks away from the final deadline of Treasure Hunt Four (August 15, 2009). Even if you’re just starting the hunt, you still have time to complete all twelve chapters. The purpose of this blog is to help you find the answers that will lead you to the “treasure” of each chapter. Since we just celebrated our Nation’s birthday, I find it fitting to focus on chapter 7, Delaware. Let’s jump right in and start at the beginning:

1. Delaware was the _____ state to ratify the constitution.

Like most states, Delaware has a “.gov” website which contains an internal search engine. So start by checking out state facts at www.Delaware.gov.

Keeping with the patriotic theme, let’s look at another question:

4. On the evening of July 1, 1776, this Delaware patriot rode to Philadelphia to cast the deciding vote in favor of America’s independence.

If you’ve already visited the Delaware.org website, you can enter the date July 1, 1776 into the internal search. If you prefer to search anew, I suggest:

July 1, 1776 + Delaware patriot

Once you’ve found your answer, please take some time to read the historical accounts of 1776. I understand that it can be difficult to interest some children (and adults) in history. I have found the following websites to be an excellent educational resource:

www.congressforkids.net                    www.teachingamericanhistory.org

www.enchantedlearning.com              www.50states.com

www.ushistory.org

Not only will you find fun learning activities on these websites, you will also find quite a few Treasure Hunt Four answers! If you need additional help with the Delaware chapter, search the blog archives. Still need help? Submit a comment to this blog or send me an email at sherrykoch@ThanksUSA.org. Come back next week to get some help with chapter 8, Rhode Island. Until then, Good Luck!

Independence Day

I had the pleasure of celebrating Independence Day in the beautiful and welcoming community of Corolla, North Carolina. The weather was perfect, the mood was patriotic, and donations to the ThanksUSA scholarship program were generous!

ThanksUSA Mural for Morale begins

ThanksUSA supporter and friend, Stephen Cochran, performed with his band while enthusiastic concert goers helped paint the ThanksUSA Mural for Morale. The mural will remain on display in Corolla for the next month. The mural will then be carefully packed and shipped to a command post overseas. Special thanks to Derrick Crandall for coordinating every aspect of the Mural for Morale. Derrick supplied the canvases, transported the easels, mustered volunteer artists and assistants, and garnered a donation of paint brushes from The Home Depot. Derrick, we cannot thank you and your family enough for your hospitality and enthusiastic support of ThanksUSA!

A big “thanks!” to everyone who stopped by to learn more about ThanksUSA. Military families learned how they could apply for scholarship funds, teachers and parents made plans to participate in the ThanksUSA Treasure Hunt, and children stopped by for ThanksUSA/Currituck balloons! Thank you to Currituck County for their sponsorship.

Supporters paint the ThanksUSA Mural for Morale

Throughout the day, donations were collected for the ThanksUSA Scholarship Program. Again, thank you to all who contributed…every penny collected will help provide a scholarship for the 2009/2010 academic year. You can still help us reach our goal of providing 500 scholarships worth $3000 each by making a donation today.  To see more pictures from Corolla, please join the ThanksUSA group on Facebook.

Tuition Info for Military Families

Though many of us try to enjoy summer without thinking about school, the current economy and rising educational costs make it difficult not to think about academics. Military families face some difficult decisions when it comes to higher learning. The question of “in-state” and “out-of-state” tuition can become confusing. Military families have often faced significant tuition hikes because of relocation…until now. MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) reports:

“As of July 1, military members, spouses and their college-aged youth are now guaranteed in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in the state where they reside or are permanently stationed. A MOAA-backed initiative, the in-state tuition directive, was approved by Congress as part of the Higher Education Act and became effective for enrollments after July 1, 2009.

Most states already offered military families in-state tuition, but many did not allow for continuation of the in-state tuition rates once the military member relocated. This change takes care of that. Military families should no longer be subject to rate hikes if the military member PCSes from that state. If they have enrolled at a public college or university, then they will be able to pay in-state tuition rates as long as they remain continuously enrolled, even if the military member moves.

It’s possible though that some institutions may not be aware of the change. Service men and women who have questions should see the institution’s registrar or the campus-based Veterans Affairs office, if there is one. Servicemembers may also contact the Department of Education’s Ombudsman’s office (toll-free at 877 557-2575).”

Attention milspouses:

Perry M. Collins, Col(ret), USAF recently contacted ThanksUSA regarding a special tuition offer from Indiana Tech. This fully accredited private university is offering a $105 per credit hour scholarship for military spouses choosing online studies. This scholarship is effective for course work completed between July 2009 and June 2010. To learn more about Indiana Tech, please visit www.indianatech.edu. To get specifics on the tuition offer, contact the financial aid office at (800) 937-2448.

As a military spouse, I feel that it is important to stay informed and connected with other individuals and organizations within the military community.  Therefore, the above information is being passed along from one member of the military community to others and is not an endorsement from ThanksUSA.

Treasure Hunt Four

As we celebrate Independence Day weekend, please take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices of our forefathers and those who serve our great nation every day. I wish everyone a safe and educational summer. Please drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, swim safely, drive safely and read as much as you can!

This week we’re going to work on chapter 6, the United States Air Force. All of the answers have been provided for us…we just need to unscramble the letters! Even the final answer requires us to unscramble certain letters within our answers. Let’s focus on the smallest (yet still very important) word of our final answer. Number 3 contains only three letters and the quotes indicate that it is probably a nickname. We will need to answer three different chapter questions in order to find the needed letters. Here is the first question containing one of those letters:

2. This former Commanding General of the Army Air Force became the first Chief of Staff of the newly formed United States Air Force in 1947.

This question contains many key words so don’t be stingy with your search:

First chief of staff U.S. Air Force 1947

When I searched these key words, I found several websites which gave me the correct answer. However, some of the websites neglected to mention the gentleman’s middle initial. Since our answer requires the middle initial, just enter the first and last name into your search engine to find his full name.

The second question which contains a portion of our final answer is number six:

6. On December 17, 1993, the first operational B-2 stealth bomber was delivered to the USAF. What was the B-2’s name?

Alright, we are looking for the name of the first B-2 stealth bomber, so both first and B-2 are key. Also, dates are always important, so let’s try:

name of first B-2 + Dec 17, 1993

Make certain that you are searching for the name of the first B-2….many of the stealth bombers have very similar names!

Let’s look at the final question which contains a piece of the third clue for the final answer:

23. …In December 1941, this pilot lost his life when his Spitfire V collided with an Oxford Trainer aircraft. A poem he wrote, which reached his parents after his death, gave him a different kind of military fame.

Once again, we have a date to begin our search. We’re looking for the name of a pilot, a Spitfire pilot to be more specific, who wrote a poem that became famous. Your search may resemble this:

December 1941 + Spitfire pilot + famous poem

Now you should have the final letter to complete the third word of the final answer…don’t forget to unscramble the letters! I hope you have success with the remaining clues and questions in chapter six. The final TH4 deadline is August 15th. Good luck!

Independence Day Celebration

Independence Day PSA featuring Lonestar

Summer has officially begun and the ThanksUSA team is busy promoting our mission to provide scholarships for the spouses and children of our men and women in uniform.

Next weekend, I’ll be heading down to the outer banks of North Carolina to celebrate the 4th of July with ThanksUSA friends and supporters in Currituck County. The community of Corolla will host their 17th annual Independence Day celebration. The day’s festivities will include family activities, painting of the ThanksUSA Mural for Morale, a concert featuring a performance by Stephen Cochran and a spectacular fireworks display.

With the help of many local volunteers and donors, ThanksUSA will host our first large canvas “Mural for Morale.” The mural will be a collaborative effort of children and adults alike to show our love and appreciation to our overseas troops. Pictures from the celebration including the completed mural will be available on our ThanksUSA Facebook group page.

Please accept this invitation to join us in Corolla to celebrate and enjoy the freedoms and traditions of our great nation. Please click here to see the flier or send me an email (sherrykoch@thanksusa.org) to request additional information.  Admission to the event is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit Thanks USA.

Treasure Hunt Four

winners from Union County Early College High School

Congratulations to our chapter 12 school group winners: U.S. History classes from Union County Early College High School taught by Melissa Cook. Thirty two students from two separate classes pooled their knowledge and research skills to successfully complete TH4. Their prize is a $1000 gift certificate to use at Barnes&Noble.

 

 

winners from Union County Early College High School

Since there are only seven weeks left to submit answers for TH4, I’ll try to focus on one chapter each week until the final deadline of August 15. Be sure to search the blog archives if you’ve missed some hints/tips about a specific chapter. If a particular chapter or question has you stumped, submit a comment to the blog or email me directly at sherrykoch@thanksusa.org for additional help.  This week we’ll focus on a question from chapter 5, Oregon:

3. Oregon was admitted to statehood on what would eventually become this “lovely” day.

Though there are many websites that summarize state facts, let’s enter the following key words into your search engine:

Oregon statehood date

Not only will you find your answer, but you should also learn that 2009 marks the 150th anniversary of Oregon’s statehood! I do realize that this was one of the easier Oregon questions. To help you through some of the tougher questions, I suggest exploring the following websites:

http://www.oregon.gov/
http://www.oregon.com/
http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/index.cfm

Each of these websites contains an internal search which is a great way to zero in on an answer. For example, I know many people were having trouble with that pesky scurvy question:

2. …Trial and error identified a simple and cheap food that prevented scurvy and made up for the lack of fruits and vegetables on the barren plains and chilling mountains. Pucker up for this food.

If you go to the www.oregon.com website, you will notice a search bar at the top left under the Oregon.com logo. Type the word scurvy in that search bar. The search result directs you to Oregon Trail Trivia. This page contains several trivia tidbits that are fun to know. If you don’t want to read through all of them and just want to find out about scurvy (or the prevention of scurvy), you can hold Ctrl+F which will bring up a “find” box. Now you can find the word scurvy on the page.

This string of searches should lead you to the correct answer for question #2. Sometimes it takes many searches and comparing many facts to find the correct answer. Don’t get discouraged…the challenge of TH4 is what makes it so fun and exciting!

Next week I’ll focus on a question or two from chapter 6, United States Air Force. If you would like to suggest which questions I focus on, please leave a comment or send me an email. Until next week, good luck!