Claremore Daily Progress

Education

Related Photos

  • PHOTO PROVIDED

    images_sizedimage_138130051
May 18, 2009

2009 Bluejacket Memorial Scholarship awarded

May 17, 2009 — What began as a coffee shop conversation decades ago has become a legacy gift for Claremore High School seniors.

This year’s Bluejacket Memorial Scholarship recipients are Jeffrey Szcinski, front from left, Blaire Hines, Brittney Wilson; Brittany Pepper, middle row from left, Kelsey Heidlage, Bailey Topper, Zachary Gunkel; and Alex Schroeder, back row from left, Joshua Webster, Richard Starr, Caleb Newman, Jacob Daniel.

Many years ago Donald Bluejacket expressed a desire to give back to Claremore in ­a meaningful and lasting way. After Donald’s death in 1991, Estelle Bluejacket contacted local attorney A.G. Murray, who helped make their wish a reality.

Murray helped her include a provision in her will to create the Bluejacket Memorial Scholarship Fund. After Mrs. Bluejacket’s

death, what remained in her estate was given to the Claremore Public Schools Foundation to be invested for future generations of Claremore students. In 2007 Sam and Hazel Lessley added to the Bluejacket Scholarship endowment with a substantial contribution.

In the past three years, the Bluejacket Memorial Scholarship has given $40,000 to 31Claremore High School college-bound seniors.

This year’s recipients were honored with a luncheon at First United Methodist Church.

During the luncheon, A.G. Murray spoke about the Bluejackets’ service to their country.

Donald Bluejacket retired from the Army as a Lt. Col. after nearly 23 years. He had seen duty in Europe during World War II and in Korea. Estelle Bluejacket moved to California during World War II to help build airplanes for the war effort. After their retirement the Bluejackets moved back to Claremore to live out their remaining years. Having no children

of their own, the Bluejackets arranged to leave a lasting gift to Claremore students.

Text Only
Education