Camaraderie of Courage Scholarships
$2,000 awarded to two outstanding individuals!
The 2025 Camaraderie of Courage Scholarships will be open for applications in the coming days. Please check back soon for more information and to apply.
For more information or general questions, please contact: Bronwyn Wilson at camaraderieofcourage@yahoo.com
The Bill and Dee Ledgerwood Scholarship is one of the two scholarships Camaraderie of Courage awards annually. This scholarship is named in honor of two incredible individuals who are dedicated to academia and philanthropy. Their support of Camaraderie of Courage has made the annual scholarship possible.
Both Camaraderie of Courage Scholarships are awarded annually to any 1st Brigade affiliate through our non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to serving 1st Brigade at Ft. Drum.
Camaraderie of Courage Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:
1. Must be affiliated with 1st Brigade, Ft. Drum. Affiliation means current Soldier in 1st Brigade, Spouse or child of 1st Brigade Soldier; former Soldier, Spouse or child (step and/or adopted) of 1st Brigade Soldier; or Mother, Father, Step-Mother, Step-Father, Brother, Sister, Step-Brother, Step-Sister, child (adopted) or adult child of fallen 1st Brigade Soldier (Gold Star Family). If you have an affiliation with 1st Brigade that is not listed here, but you believe there is an affiliation, please apply and list the affiliation with an explanation.
2. Email proof of affiliation to camaraderieofcourage@yahoo.com. Examples: Orders, Awards, etc. Any documentation that shows affiliation.
3. Current Camaraderie of Courage Board members are NOT eligible.
4. Must be using the scholarship award for higher education. Must be for a college, community college, university, trade school, study-abroad program through a college, etc.
5. Most recent high school or college transcript. Home School transcripts are acceptable. Email a copy. If you have been out of school for an extended period of time (10 years or more) and cannot get a copy of your transcripts, please explain why.
6. Essay is required. See the explanation at the end.
7. Letters of Recommendation are required. See the explanation at the end.
8. If you are receiving full tuition from another source (GI Bill, GRADSO, etc.) but have a need for the scholarship to pay for another aspect of your education, please email an explanation.
9. If awarded the scholarship, you agree that the scholarship will be paid directly to the institution. If paying to the institution is not possible, scholarship winner agrees to show proper validation of the scholarship being used for further education.
10. Type your application as clearly as possible.
11. Make sure to include city, state, and zip code. Do not use abbreviations regarding your city.
12. Supply an active email address and phone number, including area code, where you can be reached in case of questions.
13. Fill in all blanks on the application. If it does not apply to you, use N/A (not applicable).
14. Make sure all required items are included. If any part is missing, you may be disqualified. Make a copy of your completed application packet for your records.
15. Previous applicants who were not selected for a scholarship are welcome to reapply.
16. Prior scholarship winners are welcome to apply again provided two whole years have lapsed in between the award and the new application, AND it is being used for another degree after you completed the original degree that you received the scholarship for previously. For example, you were awarded one of Camaraderie of Courage’s scholarships in 2020 while pursuing your bachelor’s degree in education. You have since graduated, and you are now in school to obtain a master’s degree in education. Or, after you graduated with your bachelor’s degree in education, you are currently pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or attending a trade school.
2022 Camaraderie of Courage Scholarship Winners:
Maya Jones is the recipient of the 2022 Bill and Dee Ledgerwood Scholarship. Maya is the child of a former 7th Engineer Battalion soldier. She is currently pursuing a degree in Film and Video Studies at George Mason University in Virginia. Throughout high school, Maya was a member of her high school’s sustainability program that focused on environmental care by cleaning up local parks and working on the gardens at her high school. During her senior year of high school, she also took classes that were a part of the dual enrollment courses through SUNY, earning college credits. She has continued the same academic success in college, maintaining an A-AB average, making the Dean’s List, working on some student films, and writing her own.
Tracy Kelly is the recipient of the 2022 Camaraderie of Courage Scholarship. Tracy is the spouse of a current 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment soldier. She is currently attending Jefferson State Community College and working towards obtaining her PharmD. Tracy has extensive experience in working in a pharmacy environment. She was a Lead Pharmacy Technician for seven years for CVS and earned seven “Employee of the Month” titles. Before being stationed at Fort Drum with her husband, she was a Sunday School teacher at Fort Benning and a safety committee in Roanoke, Virginia, providing clothes, food, and assistance to the homeless. In addition to being a busy mother of five children, she runs her own business and volunteers with the SFRG for 1-87.
Previous Camaraderie of Courage Scholarship Winners:
2021
Brianna DeOre has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Bill and Dee Ledgerwood Scholarship. Brianna is the spouse of a current 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment - Chosin soldier. She has an impressive academic and volunteering background. Brianna graduated in 2019 with Honor Roll distinctions from Northwestern State University of Louisiana with a Bachelor of Science. In addition to her course load, Brianna volunteered to be a part of an independent research group testing her local community's water for harmful pathogens. The group's research has received awards at conferences in the University’s local area. Brianna is currently pursuing an Associates of Applied Science in Clinical Laboratory Science at SUNY Broome Community College.
Alexandria Zacherl is the recipient of the Camaraderie of Courage Scholarship. Alexandria is the daughter of a current 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment "The Ghost Squadron" soldier. Alexandria is currently pursuing a Computer Science degree at Old Dominion University. Throughout high school, Alexandria maintained an A-AB average while being on her high school’s cross country team and being a member of the JROTC program. So far, during her freshman year of college, she has maintained an A-AB average and made the Dean's List.
