Jordan Harper was born March 30th, 2004 while her father, Maj (ret.) Darin Harper, was stationed at Fort Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.  From there, her father was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served with the 506th.  After moving a total of 3 more times around the country, Jordan and her family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 2013 where her father retired from the Army and her mother, Jessica, attended medical school.

Since moving to Lincoln, Jordan has become very involved in her community and her extracurricular activities, such as choir, band, showchoir, cross country, unified bowling, and a myriad of clubs offered at her school.  Jordan graduated Summa Cum Laude in May of 2022 from Lincoln Southwest High School, and was on the honor roll for all eight semesters of her high school career.  Jordan is attending the University of Nebraska Lincoln in the fall and will be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in English, with which she hopes to achieve a career in publishing.

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The following letter is from Jordan:

Dear 506th Scholarship Committee,

I deeply thank you for the honor of receiving this scholarship. Having been raised as a true army brat, I have dealt with a unique set of obstacles during my adolescence. With this funding being put towards my undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, the obstacle of financial shortcoming seems much less daunting now. My family and I are highly appreciative of the 506th association’s continued generosity.

Jordan

Carson Seiber

Winner of the $2,000 NAVILLUS Foundation Award

Carson Seiber, born April 26, 2004, is the son of Heather Seiber and Retired Colonel Patrick Seiber. His dad served with in the 4thBrigade, 101st Airborne Division, 506th Infantry Regiment (Currahee) from October 2007 to June 2009. He served as the Brigade Public Affairs Officer during that time, which included a 13-month deployment to Afghanistan, and he was known as “the voice of Currahee”. Carson was born in Bryan, Texas, and lived in College Station, Texas for a short time. In his early years, Carson lived in Texas, Kansas, Tennessee, and multiple locations in Virginia. Carson’s military brat experience came full circle when he moved back to College Station, Texas before his sophomore year of high school.

Carson, who graduated in the top 10% from A&M Consolidated High School in May 2022, was known for his vast involvement in his community, his school, and in his church. Firstly, he played 4 different sports whilst in high school, and he was in several different music groups. He was a TMEA All-State choir member in 2022. He danced competitively across the United States with the Elite Wranglers, who are based in College Station. Carson also was involved with various school events, such as tutoring services, musicals, fashion shows, and many other events. Carson was highly involved with leadership organizations too, as he was a member of BETA club, NHS, Junior Leadership Brazos, and was an American Legion Texas Boys State Delegate (Elected Lieutenant Governor).

After a summer of working and volunteering, Carson will attend Texas A&M University in the Fall 2022 semester to study engineering and will join the Corps of Cadets as a member of Squadron 17. He wants to use his engineering degree to work on military technology.

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The following letter is from Carson:

Dear 506th Scholarship Committee,

Thank you so much for your generous contribution to my next steps of education. I am deeply honored to be selected to represent the future of the United States. I promise that these funds will prove to be worthwhile in my journey to serve my country, my community, and my family. I appreciate the committee, the donors, the veterans, and the current service members that have sacrificed a lot in order to make this scholarship a reality. I will strive to represent 506 to the best of my ability in the next four years!

Most Graciously,

Carson J. Seiber

Ciara McKinney

Winner of the $2,500 John and Marcia Lally Service Award

Ciara McKinney, daughter of Heath and Traci McKinney, was born on October 10th, 2003, in Athens, Ohio. She grew up in Nelsonville, Ohio. Ciara is the granddaughter of Dale Perry, who served in the Army, 101st Airborne, 506th Infantry in the Vietnam War. He earned a Bronze Star medal, a National Defense Service medal, an Army Commendation medal, a Vietnam Service medal, a Vietnam Campaign medal, and a Combat Infantry medal. Ciara is a 2022 graduate from Nelsonville-York High School, where she graduated as the Salutatorian of her class. She was involved in various activities, including varsity volleyball, S.T.E.M Club, Quill and Scroll, being Secretary of National Honor Society, Vice President of Student Council, President of Student Government, and Class President. Ciara led her volleyball team to three sectional titles her sophomore, junior, and senior years. She earned 28 college credits while attending high school. Ciara is attending Belmont University in the fall, as an Honors student majoring in Publishing with a minor in Studio Art. 

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The following letter is from Ciara:

Dear 506th Scholarship Committee,

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for selecting me as the $2,500 scholarship recipient for 2022!  I am extremely grateful  for your financial assistance with my higher education.  The funds will enable me to pursue my goal of becoming a book editor. It is an honor to both my grandfather and I to be recognized by the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association. I would also like to thank all veterans, especially those who served with my grandfather in Vietnam.  

Many thanks,

Ciara

Dustin Simmons

Winner of the $1,000 SPC Edwin Roodhouse Memorial Scholarship Award

Dustin was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan where he resided until enlisting in the US Army at seventeen years old.  Dustin served with the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell from the uncasing of the colors in 2005 until the completion of his contract in 2009.  He deployed to Iraq in 05-06 and Afghanistan in 08-09.  While serving with the 506th, Dustin earned the parachutist badge, air assault badge, and was awarded the combat infantry badge for his efforts overseas.  After completing his enlistment, Dustin attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he earned a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology.  He is currently working towards a master's degree in health and human performance from the University of the Cumberlands and plans to continue his education after completion. 

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The following letter is from Dustin:

Dear 506th Scholarship Committee,

I am thankful and humbled to have been chosen as the recipient of your $1000 scholarship.  This money will assist greatly in helping further my education.  Serving with the 506th taught me the importance of responsibility and teamwork.  I have taken these principles and used them as I propel my career forward.  I was once told that I would never amount to anything more than an infantryman and should reenlist because no one in the civilian world would want me.  I have used that as motivation to achieve my academic goals and build my own business from the ground up.  Earning a master’s degree in health and human performance is the next goal I have placed in front of myself, and this award will help greatly in making that goal a reality.  

Again, thank you for choosing me and I will not let you down!  

Currahee!  

Dustin Simmons

Aaron Eads

Winner of the $1,000 Gene Overton Memorial Scholarship Award

Aaron Eads is the son of James and Rhonda Eads.  LTC (Ret) Eads served with Headquarters Company 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment at Camp Greaves, South Korea.  He was a SGT and served from 1990-1991 as a sniper squad leader in the scout platoon.  Aaron was born October 19, 2003, at Madigan Army Medical Center, Ft. Lewis, WA.  He currently lives in Westfield, Indiana with his parents, and 2 older siblings, Alex & Abby.  They are very proud of the time that they spent as a military family.  After leaving the military, they moved to Westfield, Indiana. 

Aaron attended Westfield High School in Westfield, Indiana. He was a proud, faithful, and committed four-year member of the Westfield Marching Band; The Pride of Westfield!  During his senior year, The Pride of Westfield won the Scholastic A State Band Championship.  Aaron took 4 Advanced Placement classes, 3 Honors classes, and achieved a grand point average of 3.65/4.0.  He graduated with Academic Honors in May 2022.  He will attend Indiana University at Bloomington in the Fall 2022, where he will study Computer Science at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.

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