ROTC event to memorialize Capt. Russell, award scholarship

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University's ROTC program has established an endowed scholarship in the name of Capt. Drew Russell, a WMU graduate who was killed in Afghanistan, and plans to hold a memorial service for him Tuesday, March 20.

Russell, a lifelong resident of Scotts, Mich., graduated from WMU in 2008. He was killed in October in an attack by insurgents in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan.

A fallen soldier ceremony for Russell is planned for 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at the Activity Therapy Building on WMU's Oakland Drive Campus, which houses the ROTC program. The ceremony will include a final roll call and playing of taps. At that time, program coordinators also expect to announce the recipient of a new endowed scholarship established in Russell's name.

A campaign to raise money for the scholarship began in November, primarily through word of mouth and networking on Facebook and other social networking sites.

The University requires scholarships to raise at least $10,000 before they are endowed and can be awarded to students. The scholarship in Russell's honor recently received a large anonymous donation that allowed it to reach the required level.

"This never would have happened without the dedicated effort of our extraordinary alumni. Two in particular who really made this happen are Capts. Michael Hoffman and Andrew Bond (both 2007 alumni)," says Brett Johnson, WMU ROTC's scholarship and enrollment officer."