Ernest M. Willcher Veterans Scholarship Fund

Robert Moore is currently pursuing his Executive MBA at the University of Maryland, where he’s had the chance to connect with incredible peers and grow as a leader. Robert’s time in the Navy taught him the value of teamwork and resilience, and he’s carried those lessons with him through roles in firefighting, community service, and coaching for the Special Olympics. Giving back is a big part of who Robert is, whether it’s through volunteer firefighting or mentoring others. Being at Maryland has deepened his commitment to serving others and growing as both a leader and a person.

As a graduate student specializing in Performance Studies at Maryland, Eran Eads’ research focuses on the intersection of private life and performance, exploring how these domains shape artistic expression. Eran brings a diverse background in teaching, technical writing, and military service, where he honed skills in communication, leadership, and academic rigor. His time at Maryland has been deeply rewarding, allowing him to contribute to both the academic community and the development of future leaders. 

Jaehong Kim is currently a senior at the University of Maryland College Park majoring in computer science. He had the opportunity to gain leadership experience in the military as a squad leader and NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge) of a budget shop. He loved working with soldiers because of the teamwork and the opportunity to mentor them to successful paths. Jaehong learned that a lot of software engineers work together as a team, which allowed him to grow a strong passion for this academic field. He feels very fortunate to study at UMD because he has had an opportunity to meet great friends, who are always willing to help or seek help when in need, which has helped him adapt to academic life.

Devin Cobbs is a junior at the University of Maryland and is a Kinesiology major. He is also a part of the Gymnastics Club at Maryland. After graduation, he plans to go to graduate school and commission upon completing the Physician's Assistance Program with the U.S. Air Force. 

Steven Painter grew up in a small town outside of Indianapolis, IN and joined the U.S. Navy when he was 18 years old after completing high school. He served 22 years as an analyst in the U.S. Navy and spent 18 of those years overseas in Scotland, England, Japan, Colombia, Djibouti, Afghanistan, and Yemen to name a few. He is three semesters away from completing his Bachelor's degree in Geographical Science.

Austin Burch is attending the University of Maryland this fall after serving a six year enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as an aerospace maintainer while he was in the military and enjoyed learning all the moving parts in how an aircraft operates. During his free time, he taught himself how to code and has taken a passion to programming. His goal is to get a B.S. in Computer Science with plans to graduate in 2022. When Austin isn't not coding, his other hobbies are running, exploring the local restaurant scene, and reading.

Melissa Zachery served five years in the U.S. Navy in support of Operation New Dawn and Enduring Freedom. She is currently drilling out of NOSC Washington DC, Navy Reserves. She will graduate in Spring 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in Biology, specializing in Physiology and Neurobiology. She hopes to be accepted into dental school and eventually return to active duty as a commissioned officer. She is a mother to 10-year-old Abbigail and 6-year-old Gabriel and wife to Miguel who also serves in the U.S. Navy on active duty at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Igor is a veteran of the U.S. Marines having served five years with five deployments (Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Japan, and Russia). He was serving in Afghanistan when Osama Bin Laden was killed and witnessed the troops leaving Iraq while he stayed back with 22 other Marines. Igor is working on his Bachelor’s degree in International History and would like to work for the State Department. He currently works as an outreach consultant for a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of those less fortunate.

Randy served for 11 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and earned several honors including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a team leader for Embassy Security in Amman, Jordan; Cairo, Egypt; and Athens, Greece. He also served as a security specialist in Ecuador and as a case manager at the Naval Medical Center. Working to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Ecological Science and Technology, Randy is also very involved in TerpVets and Terrafins (Scuba Club). Married with two young children, Randy also volunteers for The Mission Continues.

Lindsay Clark served almost five years in the U.S. Army and is currently a senior majoring in Biological Sciences with the dream of attending medical school. A self-professed Army brat, Lindsay will combine her interest in the intersecting fields of health and environmental justice and hopes to one day work in the infectious disease area. Lindsay stated, "I want to be part of a positive solution in helping to improve the lives of people both in this country and around the world who face obstacles beyond their control, especially those based in economic inequality."

Jennell is working on her Bachelor's degree in Community Health Services with the goal of studying to become a nurse. She served 5 years in the U.S. Air Force where she developed a passion for nursing and received training as a Medical Technician. As a medic in the National Guard, she has spent months of training in the Emergency Room and has seen how important having a trained and caring professional can be in helping people through medical emergencies.

Aaron Anderson is a 7 year veteran of the U.S. Army and was deployed to Iraq for the better part of a year. It was after that deployment that he decided he wanted to use his language skills to help solve problems before military action is required. He graduated from the University of Maryland last spring with a degree in and a certificate in the Persian Flagship program. He also has earned a graduate certificate in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language). He is currently working on his Master's degree in Public Policy. He hopes to combine these two passions to work as a global language professional with the ultimate goal of becoming a Foreign Service officer.