From left, Johanna Tate of the AVVBA Foundation Scholarship Committee poses with 2013 AVVBA scholarship recipients Eric Wilson, Kim Harris and Lorretta Arrington and with AVVBA Foundation Chair Bryan Tate. (Photo courtesy of Ron Sherman)

by Beverly James

Lorretta Arrington never met her father because he died in the Vietnam War when she was only 9 months old. So as a young woman, she honored him by joining the United States Army and serving 16 years.

After she left the armed services, however, Arrington found she had too much time on her hands. Her daughter had graduated high school, and her extended family had lost its business. Her thoughts turned to college.

“My father was an officer in the Army, and he went to college,” says Arrington, a civil engineering major at Clarkston Campus. “What better way to continue to honor him than by enrolling in Georgia Perimeter College?”

Arrington applied for a scholarship during her first year at GPC and crossed her fingers.

Recently, she and two other Georgia Perimeter College students were awarded the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association Inc. scholarship.

Arrington, Kim Harris and Eric Wilson each will receive a portion of $5,000 to be used for educational expenses. The scholarship is for GPC students who are veterans or current members of the armed services.

Harris, a pre-nursing major at Decatur Campus, served in the U.S. Army. The Desert Shield/Desert Storm veteran said the scholarship is a blessing.

“I really appreciate them for helping me fulfill the American dream of getting an education,” said Harris, who comes from a long line of military veterans. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to meet my goal of being a health professional.”

Wilson, who also served in the U.S. Army, hopes to earn his associate degree at GPC, attend seminary and then teach at the collegiate level.

“Having a degree will bring me a lot of joy,” Wilson wrote in his application. “Being able to provide a better life for my family and educating students will bring an even greater joy to my life.”

The AVVBA sponsors patriotic activities in the business community,  recognizes those who have served and honors those who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. It promotes a positive image of Vietnam veterans and their dependents and of the widows and orphans of deceased Vietnam veterans, said Bryan C.W. Tate, chairman of the organization’s veteran’s scholarship program.

“The AVVBA Veterans Scholarship Program, funded through our foundation, is a way for Vietnam veterans to help the next generation of veterans by assisting in their education so they can better support their families and make a positive contribution to society,” Tate says. “We hope that each generation of veterans will follow our example and help the next generation. The AVVBA chose to partner with GPC because of its existing outreach to veterans and the value of quality education it delivers. We are very pleased to provide this assistance to these three outstanding veterans who clearly represent the values of our organization.”

For Arrington, the scholarship is a bittersweet reminder of the father she never knew. “It’s ironic that I wanted to honor my father by going to college and am awarded the very first scholarship that I applied for,” she said. “I am more than honored to win this scholarship.

“To be surrounded by war heroes in class every day is amazing.” Arrington said, referring to the many veterans who have returned to school. “But to have the support that this scholarship provides allows me to focus on learning.”