Fort Stewart campus student wins Col. Charles E. McGee Scholarship

Columbia College-Fort Stewart

May 23, 2013

President Brouder speaks at Military Recognition Day ceremony at main campus, Columbia, Mo., May 23. Sirissa Galarza, vice president for the Columbia College Student Veteran's Organization, left, accepted the scholarship on behalf of recipient Marilyn Smith.

Columbia College recently named the 2013 COL Charles E. McGee Scholarship recipient. Ms. Marilyn Smith, from the Fort Stewart campus, was selected by the scholarship committee to receive this honor.

COL McGee was a Tuskegee Airman and is a 1978 graduate of Columbia College. The scholarship recognizes the efforts of a veteran student who embodies the spirit and courage of COL McGee as he/she served our country and now is pursuing a college education.

COL McGee met with Ms. Smith in a video conference just prior to the Military Recognition Day ceremony at the main campus May 23. The current Columbia College Student Veteran’s Organization Vice President, Mrs. Sirissa Galarza, will accept the scholarship on behalf of Smith. Sirissa is a five-year veteran of the United States Navy and a sophomore at the main campus pursuing a bachelor’s degree in art design with a major in graphic design.

Smith currently is employed as a licensed practical nurse at the Richmond Hill Medical Home Clinic, serving an enrollment of over 7,000 dependent and retired military beneficiaries.

Smith is a native of St. Louis, Mo. She is working on a bachelor’s degree in human services with minors in psychology and sociology from Columbia College at Fort Stewart.

She retired from the United States Army in 2004 after serving more than 20 years. Her last four years were served at Fort Stewart working as an assistant operations sergeant in the Emergency Operations Center for the 3d IN Div. (Mech), with a rapid deployment mission and an installation mobilization station mission. She was responsible for initiating and monitoring mobilization and deployment activities, monitoring unit training, and providing critical information to the Division Command Group concerning all aspects of Division operations.

Smith’s significant award and decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and an Expert Field Medical Badge.