Newman's Own Award

Last updated Aug 14, 2008

"Newman's Own" Award Fosters Scholarship Program

Leatherneck, August 2003

Re-printed with permission of Leatherneck Magazine

The Lucius Scholarship Program, sponsored by the United States Marine Corps Food Service Association (USMCFSA) received a coveted grant from "The Newman's Own Awards for Military Community Excellence".

This is the fourth year that Newman's Own, Fisher House Foundation and Military Times Media Group have jointly sponsored the program, which seeks to reward the ingenuity and innovation of volunteer organizations working to improve military quality of life. This year the program awarded $50,000 in grants to 14 volunteer organizations during a July 22 ceremony at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.

The Scholarship program, which was the only Marine Corps-affiliated organization to receive a grant, honors Colonel Willis R. Lucius, the first Director of Marine Corps Food Service, by awarding college scholarships to family members of Marine Corps Food Service Professionals. All donations are awarded as scholarships since administrative costs are borne by the association.

Established in 2000, this is the first year there is enough money in the fund to award a scholarship. The first recipient is William Shane Thurston, who was presented with a Lucius Scholarship during the Food Service Association Convention in New Orleans this past summer. Thurston, a Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Student who received Second Team All-District honors as a member of his high school football team and also is a member of a Masonic youth organization, plans to attend Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va.

The USMCFSA represents more than six generations of past, present and future active-duty, Reserve and retired U.S. Marine Corps Food Service Professionals. As a nonprofit, all volunteer, war veterans organization, USMCFSA is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Marine Corps' Food Service Professionals, as well as conducting educational programs and providing social and recreational activities for its members.

(Click photo to enlarge).

First USMCFSA Lucius Scholarship recipient,

Shane Thurston (left), celebrated

his award with his grandfather, Maj.

Donald Ritenour, USMC (Ret), and

Col Willis R. Lucius (seated), in whose honor the scholarship in named.

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