With the continued support of the Ford Motor Co. Fund, DAV honors dedicated volunteers each year through the Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship program, with scholarships for higher education in recognition and appreciation of their voluntary service to our nation’s veterans.

Shane Mathew First-Place Scholar

This year’s top recipient of the $20,000 award is Shane Mathew, of Coral Springs, Fla.

Mathew has spent the past four years volunteering at the Miami VA Healthcare System, accumulating more than 667 volunteer hours serving veterans.

“Looking back at my days as a student volunteer in south Florida,” Mathew said upon receiving the award, “I would have never imagined that all those experiences at the VA could lead to this moment. But I’m confident in saying that all those moments and memories I gained these past four years were truly worth it. And I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

Eight youth scholarships were awarded in all, totaling $75,000. Since its inception, the program has awarded 171 scholarships for a total of $1,268,000.

Other Youth Scholarship Recipients

Maria Bower, Tampa, Fla. $15,000

Jack You, Pittsburgh $10,000

Ally Jacobs, Ann Arbor, Mich. $7,500

Brandon Bemis, Little Rock, Ark. $7,500

Olivia Schomer, St. Cloud, Minn. $5,000

Sydney Long, Lincoln, Neb. $5,000

Kaylee Leeman, Boston $5,000