ASSOCIATION OF AVIATION ORDNANCEMEN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

ASSOCIATION OF AVIATION ORDNANCEMEN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

The origin of the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen Educational Foundation can be traced back to one of the original objectives contained in the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen Charter which is to “Provide and promote recognition and remembrance of those Aviation Ordnancemen who have sacrificed their lives for their country, by supporting the memorial scholarship fund established by the National Association.”

Recognizing the cost of higher education prevented many highly deserving, motivated and qualified individuals from seeking academic growth beyond the high school level; it was decided to establish the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen Memorial Scholarship Fund. The first scholarship was awarded to a single individual in 1979. A simple “passing of the hat” among the members present raised the funds for the award collecting a total of $250.00.

With strong and generous support of the general membership and local Chapters, the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen was able to continue the tradition of awarding scholarships to qualified and deserving individuals. In subsequent years, a standing Scholarship Committee was established to formalize the awards process and selection criteria. During the National convention in 1985 a motion was made from the floor to “so name the scholarship after and in memory of Robert L. Crow, CDR, USN (Retired)”. This motion was so carried and the scholarship was dedicated to the memory of and still bears his name.

From these meager beginnings, the scholarship has continued to grow both in value and number or recipients each year. During the Association’s National convention in 2005, the general membership voted to establish the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen Educational Foundation. The Foundation is a separate entity from the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen and is charged with the administration of the CDR Robert L. Crow Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Foundation is a separate group of elected officials charged with ensuring the continued growth, security, and integrity of the Robert L. Crow Scholarship Fund. Throughout each year, the Officers and members of the Board of Directors of the Foundation conduct business as required to improve the scholarship program and the benefits provided to the Association’s membership. They monitor various scholarship and financial aid programs offered to military personnel and their dependents and provide information to the membership through Red Shirt articles and the local Chapters of the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen. The Officers and members of the Board of Directors of the Foundation also meet once each year during the annual convention of the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen.

CDR Robert L. Crow, USN (Ret)
BIOGRAPHY

Robert L. Crow was born February 18, 1932 to Gooley and Pearl Crow. Died April 13, 1985.

Robert Crow enlisted in the U.S. Navy May 1949 in St. Joseph Mo. Was Commissioned Ensign June 1960 through the LDO program. In August 1977 achieved the rank of Commander, and retired from the Naval service after 30 years of successful and challenging assignments throughout his career on 1 March 1979 at North Island, San Diego, California.

Robert Crow married the former Betty Johns on March 28, 1951, they had 2 daughters; Deborah Crow/Quinn and Rhonda Crow/Jones and 1 grandson, Robert M. Tupper.

Scholarship Application

Association of Aviation Ordnancemen
Educational Foundation
Officers

Association of Aviation Ordnancemen
Educational Foundation
ByLAWS

I'd like to express my deepest appreciation for being selected to receive the Robert L. Crow Scholarship. Words can't describe the charge that went through me when I found out I'd been awarded a $2,000 scholarship! My dad, CWO4 Billy B. Earl, made a "pit stop" at my home on his return from the 1997 Aviation Ordnancemen Convention and shared the news with me.

I started the Summer I session at Amarillo College in June and am off to a great start! After a vacation with my children, I'm ready to begin the Fall semester. The scholarship will help immensely with the cost of my education in becoming a Special Education teacher.

I'm writing you this letter to let you know how appreciative I am for the scholarship I received last year in June of 1997. I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunities you have helped me acquire in my freshman year here at the University of Washington (UW), in Seattle, Washington. I am currently enrolled as a full time student in my second quarter of my freshman year. I live in the dorms and I'm currently working part-time at an Arts Ticket Office associated with the UW. I haven't declared a major at the UW yet, but I have already taken two classes in Psychology, and I feel very strongly about continuing in the Psychology area. I will, however, be keeping my options open by continuing to take classes that will fulfill towards a pre-medicine degree. I am honestly writing this letter to let you know that I'm doing very well in school, I am learning something new every day, and I am enjoying myself living here in Seattle. But I honestly feel I couldn't have done any of this if it wasn't for the scholarship I received from The Association of Aviation Ordnanceman. Thank you sincerely for what you and the association have done for me. I appreciate everything!

The scholarship money I have received has given me so much this year. Not only has it paid for my room and boars; it has given me peace of mind by letting me concentrate more on adapting to a new life and of course my studies, instead of worrying about a paycheck to pay for these.

Your Scholarships are providing an incredible opportunity for those of us who received them and I don’t believe I could ever thank you enough. Marian Wright Edelman once said “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” Your organization has given me that opportunity, and because of that I will succeed in accomplishing my goals, thus making the world a better place. Thank you again for your generosity.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for receiving a scholarship from your organization. The Association of Aviation Ordnancemen and its affiliates provide a great opportunity for many students, and I am happy to add my name to the list of scholarship recipients. The Raytheon Missile Systems Award will help to alleviate the financial obstacles associated with graduate school. Your generosity is greatly appreciated, and I know that your hard work and dedication is instrumental to helping me on my career path.

I would like to thank all of AAO members and the industry sponsors that are able to donate to your scholarship fund. I have heard so many great things about your association; and I am thoroughly impressed that you place such a high value on education, and that you strive to help families of those who have worked so hard, and given so much, to our country. After hearing all about your convention from my mother-in-law, I am disappointed that I could not be in attendance this year, but I look forward to changing that in the future.

It is with great pleasure that I receive this award. I would like to take this time to thank the Robert L. Crow scholarship committee for selecting me. I am currently enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Nevada Reno (UNR). I will begin classes in August 2006. I plan on studying business and interior design. The scholarship you have awarded me will help me pay tuition my first semester at UNR. Once again I am grateful for this award; it will help me to become better educated and achieve my goals. Thank you for your generosity.

To the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen Education Foundation, AAO Scholarship Committee, and Raytheon:

I would like to thank you for selecting my application to receive the $1000 AAO Education Foundation/Raytheon scholarship. It is an honor and a privilege to be selected to receive this award. I appreciate all the hard work, time, and patience the scholarship committee put into the selection process. I would also like to thank my husband AO1(AW) Scott Rutledge and my family for supporting my educational goals throughout my pursuit for a higher education, without them this would not have been possible. The scholarship will be used to help pay for books and tuition coming due for this fall semester. I’m very grateful and will continue to strive for excellence throughout my educational pursuits. I want to thank you again for selecting me for this years’ recipient for the AAO Education Foundation/ Raytheon scholarship.

Scholarship for WORD

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