Two Marine Corps combat veterans have received Reynolds Veterans Association (RVA) scholarships for the spring semester at the University of Georgia.
The scholarships are provided by a $100,000 endowment established by the RVA. The endowment is funded through contributions of Reynolds Lake Oconee residents who are veterans and by local businesses. These awards are the 16th and 17th given since the endowment was established.
The awards were announced by Ted Barco, director of the UGA Student Veterans Center, retired Air Force officer and Reynolds resident.
“At UGA university administrators, faculty, staff, community groups and businesses have joined together to create an integrated approach to helping student veterans succeed,” said Barco. “UGA continues to be recognized as a leading college for veterans by publications such as the U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of best colleges for veterans, Military Times magazine, the Victory Media’s ‘military friendly’ ranking and Military Advanced Education magazine.”
Though nationally student veterans often struggle in college (54% graduation rate) at UGA they graduate at rates consistent with the overall undergraduate rate of 85%.
Kyle Harper, an Athens resident and native of Jacksonville, NC served in Helmand Province, Afghanistan and as a team leader and embassy guard in Tripoli, Libya. In Libya he led convoy operations to evacuate over 100 embassy staff members during the 2014 diplomatic crisis. He also oversaw the destruction of highly classified materials and equipment at the embassy during evacuation operations. Harper is a financial planning major and former treasurer of the Student Veterans Association.
Joseph Millunzi, a Watkinsville resident and native of Lodi, CA served in various global locations during a nine year career in ordnance operations. Selected to the rank of Warrant Officer he was recognized as Instructor of the Year for 2015 and 2016 and Aviation Ordnanceman of the year in 2015. Millunzi, a senior in business management, has also served as president of the UGA Student Veterans Association.
The Reynolds Veterans Association was one of the early supporters of UGA’s Student Veterans Center
Since 2014 the group has assisted the center by establishing the scholarship endowment, providing a discretionary fund to help students with urgent financial needs, funding for an annual Veterans Day program and holiday gas cards enabling students to visit distant families.
“We are grateful to the area businesses in Lake Oconee, Greensboro and Athens who have supported these programs through the years,” said Larry Hone, RVA president, “and to the nearly 300 veterans living at Reynolds who served our country and who are the foundation of our association.”
Photo: Marine veterans Kyle Harper (left) and Joseph Millunzi (right) were 2019 spring Reynolds Veterans Association $1000 scholarship winners. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Ted Barco, UGA Student Veterans Resource Center director (center) and Reynolds resident, announced the scholarships
Pictured left to right: Joseph Mullunzi, Bill Knight, Ginny Dornheggen and Kyle Harper.