Paul and Jane Butler and Francis and Irene Morris Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Veteran Student Life

Charles Castelly is a U.S. Army Veteran passionate about having an impact at scale. Before enrolling in the MBA program, he was a Financial Analyst at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, where he helped secure $90M of commitments for financial institutions in emerging markets. Currently, he is the president of the Finance and Venture Capital Association, the graduate assistant for SmithVets, and the healthcare analyst for the Mayer Fund, an $8M student-managed fund. When he isn’t at school, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, a good book, and great food. 

David Tyler Soper is from Mount Airy, Maryland and served four years in the United States Marine Corps. He primarily served as a financial accountant who oversaw and managed the funds associated with countless military aircraft, and deployed to Spain as part of an African crisis response force in 2021. After his service ended in 2022, he started attending the University of Maryland in pursuit of a finance degree, and was admitted to the Robert H. Smith School of Business in the summer of 2023.

Travis was born and raised in Norwalk, Connecticut where he became a first chair tuba player for the national and international award-winning Norwalk High School marching band. Travis then joined the United States Army as an Infantryman at the age of 17 where he earned his Expert Infantryman Badge and served as a team leader of a light machine gun team.

John Sines is a five year veteran of the US Marine Corps having served one deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A junior, John is majoring in Finance at the Smith School of Business. Inspired to join by his uncle and a neighbor who was a decorated WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veteran, He hopes to pursue an MBA after he graduates.

Abby Malchow is a 2017 MBA Candidate at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. She currently serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve and served on active duty from 2001 to 2009. She deployed twice to Iraq and once to Japan supporting humanitarian relief efforts. She is a frequent volunteer for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) as a veteran advocate. She received her B.B.A. from the University of San Diego.

Stephanie Thompson is a senior Finance major in the Smith school. She served 7 years active duty in the Navy and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal and the National Defense Service Medal among others. She joined the Navy when she was 17 right before graduating from high school! She credits her Navy experience with opening her eyes, allowing her to travel and broadening her horizons. As a first generation college student, Stephanie hopes to finish her Bachelor's degree this spring and to eventually earn her MBA in International Relations. When she graduates in May, she will be commissioned as an Ensign and will be assigned to Rhode Island to attend Supply Corps school. Eventually she hopes to work in anti-human trafficking which has become an interest and passion of hers.