Newspaper Page Text
Private scholarships
available to students
Every year millions of students
pursue their dreams by applying
tocolleges, universities and gradu
ate schools. Their attention soon
shifts tothe reality and concerns of
paying for their education. College
costs have tripled over the past 15
years making it more and more
difficult for families to pay for tu
ition, room & board, text books, lab
fees, and otherexpenses.
With recent cutbacks in federal
grants, students are becoming frus
trated as they discover they can’t
keep up with the increasing dol
lars they are asked to contribute
each year. Financial experts see a
disturbing trend as many families
are funding college costs totally
through loans. As a result, an
increasing number of students are
graduating from undergraduate
programs with overwhelmingdebts
of S2O-$30,000 or more.
The good news is that private
scholarship and grant money has
been increasing. Currently there
are nearly 400,000 independent
and private scholarship and grant
Massive Naval exercises
prepares sailor for
overseas deployment
By Rich Henson
Special to AUGUSTA FOCUS
ABOARD USS CONSTELLATION
For the men and women who
launched, recovered and main
tained Navy and Marine Corps
aircraft aboard an aircraft carrier,
working on the flight deck is a
truly exhilarating experience.
Whileit’s often the carrier, with
its mixture of fighter and attack
aircraft, that gets all the atten
tion, it’s the 5,000 skilled sailors
onboard the massive warship that
make it go. A Martinez sailor is a
member of that elite corps of pro
fessionals who keep the navy fly
ing high.
Petty Officer Ist Class Charles
R. Wiggins, the 32-year-old son of
Charles and Carolyn Wiggins of
Martinez, is an aviation utilities
mechanic with Fighter Attack
Squadron 137 (VFA 137), an F/A
--18 Hornet squadron embarked
aboard the aircraft carrier USS
Constellation. His skills and train
ing were put to the test in mid-
February during Joint Task Force
Exercises97-I(JTFEX97-1).
The massive two-week exercise
was held offthe coast of Southern
California involving more than
15,000 sailors and Marines, and
a wide variety of ships and air
craft. The exercise prepared the
ships and squadron attached to
the Constellation Battle Group
for its upcoming deployment to
the Arabian Gulf scheduled to
begin in April.
Wiggins, who maintains and re
pairs the utilities on the F/A-18
and trains junior personnel the
duties of being a plane captain,
feels the last few months of train
ing and the JTFEX exercise have
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Look in the growing classified section of
the AUGUSTA FOCUS for your next job!
sourcesavailable whichdonothave
to be paid back. More than 80
percent of these scholarships do
not depend on family need or excep
tional grades, but are awarded
based on factors such as the
student’s interests, hobbies, aca
demic focus, age, heritage or
parent’s work or military service.
Unfortunately, these sources re
main largely unknown to most stu
dents. As a result, many students
missoutonscholarship money avail
able to them simply because they
are not aware that it exists and do
not apply for it. Now, through the
resources of the National Academy
Funding Advisory (NAFA), an up
dated publication for 1997 is avail
able which provides important in
formation that will help all students
seekingfinancial assistance.
For information on how to re
ceive academic funding and schol
arships, send a No. 10 self-ad
dressed, double-stamped business
envelope plus s2tocover handlingto
NAFA, 700 Greenland Road-Left,
Dept. G 3, Portsmouth, NH 03801.
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Charles R. Wiggins Photo by
Marcus T. Myers
prepared him for the upcoming
deployment. < et PG e
“The training made sure the air
wingand thebattle group areready
for any situation. Thisis one of the
mostimportantjobsduetothe fact
that we are the last people to look
attheaircraft beforeitislaunched,”
said Wiggins, a 1982 graduate of
Evan High School.
Wiggins feels that his squadron
and the Constellation truly sup
port the United States strategic
effort overseas.
“The United States deploys air
craft carriers and their air wings
around the world to show the flag
toourallies and potential aggres
sors,” said Wiggins, a 14-year
Navy veteran.
As the turn of the century ap
proaches, the United States and
its allies are becoming more in
volved with worldwide regional con
flictsand humanitarian operations.
JTFEX97-lensuresthe Navy and
Marine Corps are ready and fully
capable to help maintain global
peace, and sailors like Wiggins
have the training they need to
complete their mission success
fully and safely.
Fort Gordon presents monthly awards
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Matthew Magardo
plishment. Specialist Magardowas chosen based on his military bearing,
technical expertise and knowlege of soldier and professional skills.
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K.e Monti
his family tojoin the military and hopes to attend Air Assault School next
month. Specialist Monti was chosen Soldier of the Month based on his
militarybearing, technical expertise and knowledge of soldier and profes
sionalskills.
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Nicholas Marotta
the Quarter based on his military bearing, technical expertise and
knowledge of soldier and professional skills.
It’s Time! It’s Time!
It’s Time Once Again!
The CSRA Business League
Presents the 7th Annual
CSRA Black Expo 97
Saturday, April 12, 1997
Augusta State University
Sports Complex
11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
*Vendors *Entertainment *Seminars
*Job Fair *Kid’s Fair
Fun for the entire family
Vendor booths still available. For more info, call (803) 613-9161
The Soldier of the Month for November 1996 is
Specialist Matthew Magardo, Company C, 63rd
Signal Battalion. Specialist Magardo is a small
extension node operator. He joined the Army to
better himselfand tosupport his family. Specialist
Magardo considers himself a hard worker, and a
good father and husband. He enjoys playing the
drums and spending time with his family, includ
inghisson Matthew. Specialist Magardois looking
forward to earning his sergeant’s stripes in the
next few months, but for now considers winning
theSoldierofthe Month Award his greatest accom
The Soldier of the Month for January 1997 is
Specialist Keith Monti, Headquarters and Head
quarters Company, 721st Military Intelligence
Battalion. He joined the Army for adventure,
discipline and experience. He works for the 721st
Military Intelligence Battalion, providing escorts
for visitors and physical security checks of the
facility. Specialist Monti considers himself ath
letic, an eager learner and a team player. He
spends his free time exercising, watching movies
and visiting his family. He is the first member of
The Soldier of the Quarter is Specialist Nicholas
Marotta, Company A, 721st Military Intelligence
Battalion. Heisalinguist, but hejoined the Army
to get experience. Specialist Marotta considers
himselfa man ofhonor, pride and strength. He is
an ambitious soldier working toward a master’s
degreeand a career as acommissioned officer. His
greatestaccomplishmentstodate aregraduating
from college and being selected for the U.S. Air
Force Officer Training School. In his spare time,
Specialist Marotta enjoys playing guitar and vol
leyball. Specialist Marotta was chosen Soldier of
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Earl Cla
is proud of his knowledge and appearance as a soldier, which has allowed
him tocompete and win as Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarterbased
on his militarybearing, technical expertise and knowledge of soldier and
professional skills.
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Patsy Dickerson
part of the Augusta community and is proud to be emplb≷e;:eTéi; w?s
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Eva-Maria Proudfit
volvement in the area with the goal of making things even better. She was
chosen Volunteer ofthe Month based on her professionalism and significant
contributions to the Fort Gordon community.
AUGUSTA FOCUS MARCH 27, 1997
The Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarteris
Staff Sergeant Earl Clark. He is a drill sergeant
with Company D, 369th Signal Battalion. He
joined the Army because he believesin his country
and the Constitution. Drill Sergeant Clark serves
so that his children can enjoy the same freedoms
that he does. When he is not at work, Drill
Sergeant Clark spends time playing with his
children, working on his computer or restoring
furniture. He considers himself a hardworking
and honest man whois committed to his family. He
TheCivilian ofthe Month for February 1997 is Ms.
Patsy Dickerson, a secretary for the Directorate of
Combat Developments. She preparescorrespondence
and the director’s calendar and maintains files and
suspense logs. She is also the directorate civilian
timekeeper. Sheoriginally came to Fort Gordon more
than23yearsagoforabetterjob. Her hobbiesinclude
gardening, reading and listening to music. Ms.
Dickersonenjoysspendingtime with herchildrenand
takes pride in being involved in their education. She
is also an active member of West Acres Baptist
Church. Ms. Dickerson considers Fort Gordon a vital
The Volunteerofthe Month for February 1997isMs.
Eva-Maria Proudfit. Sheisinvolved in manyOfficers’
Wives Club functions, including the Thrift Shop, Art
Auction and Lunch Bunch. The native of Frankfurt,
Germany moved to Fort Gordon to be with her Army
husband. Cheerful, outgoingand organized, sheenjoys
cooking, reading and volunteering. Herinvolvementin
the community made it easier to adjust to a new
country, language and lifestyle, but it also was a
wonderful way to make friends and give back to the
community. Ms. Proudfit plans to continue her in-
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