Seventeen scholarships were recently awarded to high school and college-bound students by the Lt. Col. John A. Dowd Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Woodbridge, Va. During the past fourteen years, the AOH has awarded $127,000. in scholarships to 139 students through a fund established in 1996 by Hibernian John F. Kane in memory of his parents.
Erin Cushing, an honors graduate this spring from Gettysburg College now enrolled in a master’s degree program at George Mason University and winner of AOH scholarships to Bishop Ireton High School in 2002 and to Gettysburg in 2006, thanked Kane scholarship directors for their support. She advised this year’s recipients to make the most of their learning opportunities during these important years of their lives.
Barbara Tivnan, president of the Ladies AOH Division and scholarship director, presented awards to the following high school students: Ryan Bradley, Christine Conner, Julia Ranieri, Mikayla Sherman, Reniah Carlos, Alec Polansky, Kenneth Diaz and Cameron Kotwicki, all headed to Pope John Paul the Great High School, and to Timothy Loiseau for Pope Paul VI High School.
Receiving college scholarships were Jennifer Nussio for Christendom College, Nicholas Velesz for George Mason University, Aaron Bradley for Virginia Military Institute, Thomas Kiesner and Meghan Nagle for Old Dominion University, Nicholas McGovern for Mary Washington University, Allison Gottman for Lynchburg College, and John A. Dowd for Miami University of Ohio. Mr. Dowd is the grandson of Lt.Col. John A. Dowd USMC for whom the AOH division is named. Lt. Col. Dowd was killed in Vietnam in August of 1969 while leading his battalion in combat and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for heroism.
Scholarship Awardees
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the U.S. Military Services recently celebrated the first Mass in the new Semper Fidelis Chapel at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, Va. Concelebrants were Navy chaplains Father Michael Duesterhaus and Father John Hannigan. The Mass was sponsored by the Lt. Colonel John A. Dowd USMC Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Woodbridge, Va.
Lt. Colonel Dowd was killed August 13, 1969 while leading his 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment in battle against North Vietnamese forces about 20 miles southwest of Danang. He left his wife Barbara and six children. Barbara is active in the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in Woodbridge.
Patrick T. Cushing, president of the Hibernian Division, and Margie Madsen, one of Colonel Dowd’s children, were readers at the Mass. Her daughter, Kiersten, now a Marine 2nd lieutenant in The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course at Quantico, brought up the gifts, along with 2nd Lt. A.J. Ghongkedze. Music was provided by Jennifer Nussio, Frances Sullivan and Kimberly Zarnick. John Schlageter was master of ceremonies.
Special guests included retired Marine General Carlton Fulford, Colonel Mike Riley USMC, Francis X. Riley, AOH president emeritus, and Colonel Rick Nussio, USMC.
Following the Mass, a reception was held in honor of the Archbishop at the Globe & Laurel Restaurant in Stafford.
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio processing to begin the Mass
