You “Stand at the Threshold of the Infinite” and “the choices made propels you through the doorway to your destiny” was the advice given to local high school students by guest speaker Colonel (Ret) Larry Watson as the members of the Southside Virginia Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) gathered to honor the 2008 Roper Memorial Scholarship winners. Participants in the competition must be the child or grandchild of a former military service member in order to qualify for entry.

Each student is judged by a chapter scholarship panel on their academic and community service accomplishments, along with endorsements from their mentors/advisors. The Southside Virginia Chapter is comprised of active duty and veteran officers from all the Armed Forces; widowed spouses are welcomed as auxiliary members. Southside has been awarding $1,000 academic and ROTC scholarships within their region for the last eleven years in the pursuit of providing educational opportunities for the military family. Individuals interested in competing for the next academic year can contact the chapter at P.O. Box 2222, Petersburg, VA 23804.

L-R: Lindsay Piper (Clover Hill), Molly Cihak (Thomas Dale), Miranda Lojek (Thomas Dale), Stephanie Spence (Governors School), Sandra Wilson (Petersburg), Christian Brown (Petersburg), Vincent Michels (L.C. Bird); missing is Emily Bacon ( James River)