2008 & 2009 Scholarship Winners:
2008 – Ryan Jumper, Marion High School
I am now a sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington where I am majoring in Accounting and Finance in the Kelley School of Business. I'm currently involved in many organizations on campus including Campus Crusaders for Christ and the Hutton Honors Student Association. I'm on several intramural teams and also, I am a Head Official for intramural indoor soccer. Last April, I ran in the IU Mini Marathon that supports cancer survivors through the Cancer of Life Foundation and plan on running again this April. Finally, I would like to thank the Bowen family and donors to the Bowen Scholarship for their contributions and hard work to give back to local high school seniors who exemplify the tremendous qualities that Collin Bowen demonstrated throughout his lifetime. It was an honor for me to be one of the first students to receive this award, along with Katie and Kelsey, in Collin's memory. Thank you and God Bless.

2008 – Katie Alter, Oak Hill High School
I am a 2008 graduate of Oak Hill High School, and I am currently in my sophomore year at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Throughout high school I had a love for the challenging subject of science and carried this love in to my major here at IU. I am currently a microbiology major and hope to one day do cell research. I want to be a scientist and wear a classy white lab coat. While not surrounded in a lab by bacteria and microscopes, I love to explore the city of Bloomington with my friends. It is our hope to try as many of the diverse opportunities Bloomington has to offer as possible. Thank you especially to the Bowen family for honoring me, the past recipients, and the current recipients with this scholarship in honor of Collin. My brother joined the Air Force this past year and will be deployed overseas in the coming months. I know how much Collin meant to his family and the community, and as a sister of a military man, I understand now more than ever his amazing sacrifice.

2008 – Kelsey Kirkpatrick, Eastbrook High School
I went to Eastbrook High School and am from Van Buren, IN. I now live in Muncie, IN. I attended Ivy Tech Community College for a semester and worked full-time while taking 5 classes. I plan on attending Ball State University and plan to receive my Bachelors of Science in Nursing. I wanted to thank you again for the scholarship. It was greatly appreciated.

**Kelsey’s cousin, David Kirkpatrick, was killed in action in Iraq on 4/27/07. She has had several members of her family serve in the military and her brother and two cousins currently serve in the military.

2009 – Tamara Barrett, Marion High School
I am in my second semester as a freshman at Butler University. I've been able to do some really exciting volunteering in Indianapolis such as painting at the YMCA, Dick Lugar Kid's Boot Camp, Headless Horseman Festival at Conner Prairie, Dia de los Muertos Festival at the Indianapolis Art Center, and just this semester I began a steady volunteer commitment with Shepherd Community Center where I am able to tutor, minister, and mentor underprivileged children in an after school setting. I am a part of Club Tennis, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Best Buddies. The one that has been most meaningful to me is Butler University Dance Marathon, an organization that raises awareness and funds for Riley Hospital for Children. My siblings are still receiving great care from this wonderful hospital, and to be able to stand for 12 hours for the children at Riley who can't is truly powerful. We raised more money than we ever have before this year, totaling over 80,000 dollars which is pretty substantial considering how small Butler is. During the event this year, we broke the Guinness world record for the most people in a choreographed robot dance with over 400 participants. I am on a pre-med academic track this year and classes are going really well. I went through recruitment to be in a sorority and am currently a new member of Delta Gamma. Thank you so much for your continued support and taking the time to keep up with my endeavors!

2009 – Alexandra Lester, Marion High School
I love every second at UCLA! I just finished my first round of mid-terms for Spring Quarter and am preparing for another round. While the academics are very fast-paced and demanding, I have still found time to love my school and its amazing location. With the beach only five minutes away and Beverly Hills in my back yard, I have not had any down time to say the least! I have been blessed to be surrounded by my family out here and multiple close family friends that have reached out and taken me in as their own. I have also been visited by so many friends and family that I feel as if I never left Marion! I joined the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta and have met so many wonderful girls. Through the sorority I have been able to participate in so many community events and service projects, including raising money for Pediatric Aids, Haiti fundraisers, Relay for Life, and so much more. It has definitely opened up many doors to further not only local community, but nation-wide programs. Last quarter I maintained a GPA of 3.767, receiving two A+'s and a B+. I qualified for membership into Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Societies, UCLA’s oldest and most active honor societies. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to partake in such a wonderful college experience. I cannot thank you enough for the scholarship and how it has helped me to represent everything it entails. I go by the Veteran Cemetery here almost every day and am constantly reminded of the price Collin paid for my freedom and am forever grateful. Thank you.

2009 – Chris Reaves, Oak Hill High School
My first year at Grace College has gone pretty well. Still playing baseball and hoping to get some playing time as a freshman. Our first game is in two weeks and I am really excited. I am keeping up on my school work just fine, and am taking a lighter load this semester because of baseball.

** Excerpt from Chris’s Scholarship Application Essay** “Freedom means to me that a price has been paid. I know this all too well because I have never met my grandfather. He was a Navy Corpsman who was killed in action while serving with the Marines in Vietnam on February 14, 1968. Like Collin, he paid the ultimate price. One of the many things my parents have taught me is that these men were fighting for people’s freedom. Upon a recent visit to Washington D.C., my parents took a picture at one of the monuments that said exactly what I know to be true, “Freedom Isn’t Free.” Collin, my grandfather, and thousands of other men like them have answered the call throughout our time as a nation. The call has been and always will be to defend freedom at all cost. Because of these sacrifices for freedom all of us that live are allowed to do so."

2009 – Madeleine Kuczora, Marion High School
I am an alumna of Marion School (2009) in Marion, Indiana. I now attend the University of Notre Dame. My intended major is undecided as the first year of Notre Dame is designed to fulfill requirements. I was just accepted into the Center for Social Concern's Summer Service Learning Project, which will afford me the opportunity to partake in service and study theology simultaneously. There are no sororities or fraternities at Notre Dame; rather, one's dorm is comparable to a sorority. I live in Ryan Hall, which was just built in 2009. I participate in my hall's Spiritual Life Committee; ND's Twin Club; and a multicultural tutoring program, Building Bridges. I plan on participating in intramural soccer for my dorm as well as a volunteer program, Read to a Child, this spring.

I am very thankful not only for the generous scholarship that the SFC Collin J. Bowen Memorial Scholarship, Inc. has provided me with, but I am also deeply inspired by the selflessness and enthusiasm that the Bowen Family exhibits. I am certain that the family takes a genuine interest in each of the applicant's thoughts and words, so do not hesitate to share your story. This is a wonderful opportunity to support both the military and the Bowen Family. It is truly an honor to be mentioned in honor of such a brave individual.

2009 – Molly Kuczora, Marion High School
After graduating from Marion High School in 2009, I have gone on to attend the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN. As a first year student here, I cannot officially declare a major, but I am currently considering a major in Business. Last semester I participated in a Community-Based First Year Composition course where I volunteered once a week at the Robinson Community Center. There, I worked with members of the Robinson Center’s Shakespeare Club. Each week we studied Shakespeare, performed various activities to strengthen our acting abilities and at the end of the semester, we performed a monologue at the Club’s recital. I will be returning to the Robinson Community Center to tutor students twice a week this semester. I am also involved in the Multicultural Building Bridges Program, the Twin Club and Residential Scholars. This spring, I will play intramural soccer with my dorm, Welsh Family Hall. I plan to take part in a Summer Service Learning Project this upcoming summer, where I will be volunteering about two months at a location somewhere around the country.

So far I have enjoyed my time at Notre Dame very much. I have especially enjoyed my Spanish and Sociology courses, meeting new friends, attending Mass in Ryan’s chapel every Sunday and of course, the football games. I ended my first semester with a 3.611 G.P.A., just missing the Dean’s List (by .005.) Nevertheless, I look forward to another wonderful and rewarding semester here.

I would like to thank Collin Bowen’s Family, the Collin Bowen Memorial Scholarship Committee, and all of those who have been involved in this organization. This association has been such a beneficial asset to the community, by commemorating and honoring Collin along with all of our other soldiers while providing high school graduates with opportunities for further achievement.

It has been an honor to represent myself as a recipient of this scholarship on Collin’s behalf. He is truly a hero to us all.

Thank you so much.