FAIRFAX, Va./EWORLDWIRE/Nov. 29, 2007 --- The AFCEA Educational Foundation is pleased to announce a generous $60,000 contribution from the AFCEA Hawaii Chapter (AFCEA Hawaii) to launch and endow the new LTG Thomas Rienzi, USA (Ret.), Scholarship Fund.The AFCEA Hawaii LTG Thomas Rienzi, USA (Ret.), Scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior or current undergraduate student for consistent academic excellence, leadership performance and community involvement. Each scholarship award is $3,000. Candidates must graduate from high school in Hawaii and must be planning to attend or be currently enrolled at an accredited college or university in the State of Hawaii. Students must be studying an eligible hard science or technical field. Applications are due no later than May 9, 2008, and the Award will be announced by May 30, 2008. Applications are available at 'http://www.afceahawaii.org'.
The Rienzi Scholarship honors LTG Thomas Rienzi, USA (Ret.), who devoted a lifetime of service to improving the military communications landscape, particularly in the Pacific region. He was an Army parachutist, Signals officer, electronics engineer, and in his last assignment, served as Deputy Director General, Chief of Staff and Chief Engineer of the NATO Integrated Communications System Management Agency in Brussels, Belgium. Author of the book Communications in Vietnam, his awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Award and the Meritorious Service Medal. After retiring from active duty in 1979, General Rienzi returned to the Hawaiian Islands to serve in parish ministries with the Catholic Diocese of Hawaii. He is a life member of AFCEA and is an active member of AFCEA Hawaii.
AFCEA Hawaii strongly supports education. Last year, the Chapter presented twenty-two $2,000 scholarships tohigh school graduating students and students already enrolled in college. Dick Macke, president of AFCEA Hawaii, also said, Honoring LTG Rienzi is the right thing to do. He is a great Signal Officer, superb soldier, dedicated citizen and exemplary American.
"Education is AFCEA's number one priority," comments Kent Schneider, President and CEO, AFCEA International. "We are committed to increasing the number of students graduating in the hard science and technical fields, and we are excited to partner with AFCEA Hawaii to make this happen."
The AFCEA Educational Foundation promotes excellence in education with scholarships, awards, grants and prizes, awarded annually to students studying the scientific and technical disciplines that support the information technology, communications, and intelligence needs of our military and national security agencies. In fiscal year 2008, the AFCEA Chapters and Educational Foundation together will award more than $1.5 million dollars in scholarships and awards. For more information on the work of the AFCEA Educational Foundation, visit 'http://www.afcea.orgeducation/scholarships'.
AFCEA International, established in 1946, is a non-profit membership association serving the military, government, industry, and academia as an ethical forum for advancing professional knowledge and relationships in the fields of communications, information technology, intelligence, and global security. For more information, please visit 'http://www.afcea.org'.
AFCEA Media Contact
Tobey Jackson
(703) 631-6189
tjackson@afcea.org
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