The 2024 scholarship recipients were recognized for their achievement during the Legion’s Washington Conference.
Lincoln Brown recalls how his great-grandfather loved to cook and shared that passion with his American Legion post by leading the fish fry’s up until he was 87 years old. Now, it’s his great-grandfather and The American Legion he shares thanks to for being a 2024 recipient of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship.
“I want to thank my great-grandfather, who served in the Korean War, and The American Legion for giving me this opportunity,” said Brown of Johnstown, Colo., who will use the scholarship to study mechanical engineering at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, this fall.
Brown is one of nine recipients of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship who were honored for their achievement in Washington, D.C., Feb. 23-26, in conjunction with The American Legion’s 65th Washington Conference. Their time in the nation’s capital consisted of touring the National Mall, a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, and a special recognition dinner with National American Legion Commander James LaCoursiere Jr., National Sons of The American Legion Commander Joseph Navarrete, and Auxiliary President Trish Ward, and other Legion dignitaries.
The scholars were eligible for the Samsung American Legion Scholarship for their participation in either American Legion Boys State or Auxiliary Girls State in 2024, being the direct descendant (or legally adopted child) of a U.S. military veteran, and for their academic achievement and community service.
“I want to thank Post 15 from Loveland that helped sponsor me to attend Boys State. I definitely recommend it to any (rising high school senior) student,” said Brown, who attended Colorado Boys State and was elected governor. “That was awesome to serve my peers as their governor for that week. What I loved about Boys State is how it showed my generation how to be patriotic, and what it means to be an American citizen. Boys State taught us why people give their lives for this country, and it was really significant to be part of that discipline through our flag ceremonies. By the end of the week at Boys State, everyone had a new respect for their country and each boy had been changed by their time there.”
Evan Fitzpatrick has been familiar with Boys State and the Samsung American Legion Scholarship – his older brother Owen is a 2022 Massachusetts Boys State alum and scholarship winner. Therefore, he always knew he wanted to attend Boys State. To ensure that opportunity, Fitzpatrick emailed his Post 414 in Sutton, Mass., asking to be sponsored to Massachusetts Boys State.
“I was fortunate they said yes. Attending Boys State and becoming a Samsung scholar has changed my life. I am honored to be the second Samsung scholar in my family,” said Fitzpatrick, who comes from a long family history of American Legion members. His great-grandfather served as a post commander in Dorchester, Mass., following his service in World War II.
“The humility and mutual helpfulness and upholding the sanctity of freedom embodied by The American Legion is ingrained in me, and the wooden desk that my great-grandfather stole from Boston College when he left to fight in World War II is my beacon and where I study at night.”
Community service is part of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship eligibility and for Fitzpatrick, giving back has played an important role in his life ever since his local community supported his family during his mother’s battle with stage 4 cancer two years ago. As a global ambassador to Ukraine with Soles4Souls, he has personally collected, cleaned and shipped over 3,000 pairs of gently used shoes to Ukrainian refugees in Poland since the outbreak of the war with Russia.
Community service is also a significant part of Oliver Burke’s life. As president of the Dallas Children of the American Revolution chapter, Burke promotes patriotism and honors veterans through annual flag and wreath-laying ceremonies.
“I have been raised in a patriotic family,” said Burke of Dallas, Texas, whose grandfather served in the Air Force during the Korean War. “And I am humbled to receive this award and attend (Texas) Boys State. There were a lot of chances to learn (at Boys State) and for that I cannot thank The American Legion enough.”
Burke helped with writing legislation at Texas Boys State, was part of the band, and will be returning to the program this summer to serve as a counselor.
“(As a counselor) I hope to give others what I got from the experience, and I hope to help others learn to lead and write legislation, and to understand what the American government is, what the Texas government is,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that the past few days in Washington, D.C., with his fellow scholars has reinforced what Boys State taught him.
“I’ve loved talking with my fellow scholars the past couple of days. This trip has truly reminded me of what brings this nation together … its values.”
The 2024 Samsung American Legion Scholarship recipients each received $10,000 for higher education. They are:
Brynn Burton (IN)
Meredith Clark (WI)
Jessica Jensen (MN)
Lincoln Brown (CO)
Evan Fitzpatrick (MA)
Nathaniel Goldschmidt (CT)
Andrew Behrmann (SC)
Oliver Burke (TX)
Claire Frank (OR)
Eli Pugliese (CA)
- Washington Conference