LCpl Leon B. Deraps Memorial Scholarship Fund

Added February 5, 2016

On May 6, 2006, Lance Corporal Leon B. Deraps of Jamestown, Missouri made the ultimate sacrifice for his country while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

To honor Leon, his family (longtime Marine Parents pack day volunteers), along with the Moniteau County C-1, Jamestown-area high school FFA, set up a scholarship fund in his name in late 2006. Since its foundation, the fund has awarded $1,000 scholarships to more than 30 Jamestown high school graduates.

Money for the scholarship fund is raised through an annual 5 mile walk/run/ride held in early May. First held in 2009, 2016 marks the event's seventh anniversary.

It appears the LCPL Leon B. Deraps Memorial Scholarship Fund is no longer active. We will provide updates as new information is acquired.

Sgt. James McIlvaine Memorial Scholarship Fund

Added April 28th, 2010
Mr. David Strong, a teacher at Massanutten Military Academy and a Marine, will be running the Marine Corps Half Marathon on May 16th, 2010 to raise more money for the Sgt. James McIlvaine Memorial Scholarship Fund. The scholarship will be used for a young middle schooler or high schooler who needs to get their life back on track, but the parents may not be able to afford the school.

Sgt. McIlvaine died April 30, 2009 in Iraq while supporting combat operations in Anbar province, the Pentagon said. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Twentynine Palms, CA.

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Cpl. Joshua C. Watkins Memorial Scholarship

Added December 29th, 2008
Joshua was an ROTC student attended the University of North Florida for 3 years, before joining the Marines. he served two deployments in Iraq and was supposed to go a third time, but he was killed 9 days before he was to come home from his second deployment.

Jacksonville, Florida has several military bases. The scholarship is set up for military only; honorably discharged, active duty, reservists and ROTC students. We are currently funding 5 students: one is a 12 year veteran who is working full time and going to school full time, one served in the Navy for four years and is currently out and going to school full time, one is an ROTC student who is graduating 12/08 (this month) and has been accepted into an elite Navy SEAL program, one is an active duty Marine Sgt. (whose name happens to be Joshua), and one is an active Air guardsman. The last two mentioned have both served two tours in Iraq.

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LCpl Drew Weaver Memorial Scholarship

Added December 17th, 2008
It has been nine months since a gunman's bullet took the life of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Drew Weaver. His memory will live on for far longer.

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LCpl Christopher Dyer Memorial Scholarship

Added November 20th, 2008
Lance Corporal Christopher J. Dyer, a 2004 graduate of Princeton High School (Cincinatti, Ohio) was killed in Iraq on August 3. 2005, while a member of 1st squad, 3rd platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. John and Kathy Dyer and their daughters Sarah and Laura presented the first scholarship in May, 2006. Sarah was in Marine Corps Bootcamp at the time of the presentation.

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Captain Philip J. Dykeman Memorial Scholarship

Added November 14th, 2008

I am not a Marine but I run for one. Andrew Bateman

These are the words of Andrew Bateman. His friend and cousin Captain Philip J. Dykeman USMC was killed in Iraq June 26, 2008. Phil died at the young age of 38 leaving behind his wife of almost 10 years, 3 children - Austin, 9; Emilee, 6 and Ashlee, 6 - and an extended family stretching across the country that miss him dearly with every passing day. 'Captain Phil', as his troops called him, served as a Marine for 17 years. His service took him to over 20 countries across the world. Captain Dykeman gave his life for our Country and now it is time to give back.

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