BOWIE, Md. — U.S. Army ROTC cadets from Bowie State University were honored Tuesday evening with scholarships provided through a fund that honors the memory of slain cadet Richard Collins III.
Collins was stabbed to death on the University of Maryland College Park campus by a student, and the fund was set up in his honor to help cadets accomplish goals that were part of the young man's path to success before his death.
Army LTC Wesley Knight, head of the BSU Department of Military Science, said the cadets receiving the scholarship represent some of the most engaged members of the Bulldog Battalion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he said Bowie State students need this scholarship now more than ever.
“I believe this scholarship provides an opportunity for Bowie State students to continue their education with the ultimate goal of furthering their commitment to service as an Army officer,” said LTC Knight. “These scholarship recipients have made a significant impact on the program. They are showing great potential for making Bowie State proud and becoming fantastic officers in the future.”
The ceremony also marked the posthumous promotion of Collins to the rank of first lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
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The 34 scholarship recipients are: Lateefat Afolabi, Kiyah Barnes, Elijah Bossiwa, Lakayla Bostick, Destiny Brevard, Alaija Burton, Olivia Chapman, Thomas Cragg, Cameron Cuevas, Oluwafadekunmi Fajemisin, Rodney Gainous III, Justin Godley, Tianna Jackson, Isaiah Jones, Diamond Hodo, Khalil Hitt, Christopher Lee, Dawud Liggans, Amber Minor, Gejad Molina, Ted Nguasong, Favour Oladoyin, Eniola Olawunmi, Savannah Proctor, Emani Reid, Morgan Scott, Deneisha Stroman, Angelica Tiwaa, Kyle Tunstall, Chidimma Ugorji, Eberechukwu Ugorji, Samantha Young, Miles Walton, Timeria Wright