COLD SPRING, Ky. — Jonathan Lee, of Brookfield, has spent a total of 730 hours spanning a five-year period volunteering at the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and has earned a $20,000 scholarship toward his life dream of becoming a physician.

The 18-year-old is the recipient of DAV’s (Disabled American Veterans) Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship, which is awarded annually to top youth volunteers in DAV’s Voluntary Services program. The scholarship is open to volunteers 21 or younger who have contributed a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer service credited through DAV or DAV Auxiliary.

The scholarship will be presented by DAV National Commander David W. Riley July 29 at DAV’s 96th National Convention at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside hotel. Jonathan will receive his scholarship three years after his older sister, Leah Lee, won a $10,000 Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship for her volunteer work at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and the same day his father, Kenneth Lee, will receive the charity’s Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year award.

Kenneth, who deployed as the commander of the Army’s Company B, 118th Area Support Medical Battalion, was injured in November 2004 by a suicide car bomber in Iraq. Both Jonathan and Leah hope to ultimately serve veterans as physicians through the VA.

“Jonathan is a remarkable young man and very deserving of this scholarship,” said DAV National Voluntary Services Director John Kleindienst. “Jonathan and Leah saw firsthand the impact of war when their father was injured in Iraq, but neither Jonathan or Leah allowed that to interfere with their plans. Much like their father, they persevered and brought a true sense of dedication and understanding to their volunteer work at the medical center. The Lee family has had a positive and life-changing impact on a countless number of veterans — it’s humbling to be in their presence and they certainly deserve this recognition.”

“Jonathan is an exceptional young person with a great future ahead of him,” said DAV National Adjutant Marc Burgess. “He truly honors veterans with the same esteem and kindness the VA employees at the Milwaukee clinic do and has a devout eagerness to serve veterans. He has my appreciation, my respect, and I believe he is well on his way to becoming a gifted doctor.”

Other scholarship winners include:

Sindhu P. Muppala, of Silver Spring, Md.                 $15,000

Mee’Shaunda Roody, of Country Club Hills, Ill.      $10,000

Emily N. Hinton, of El Cajon, Calif.                              $7,500

Makiyah S. Cheeks, of Northport, Al.                          $7,500

Ja’Nya R. Nickerson, of Hephzibah, Ga.                     $5,000

Kyle D. Breault, of Indianola, Pa.                                 $5,000

Caleb Campbell, of Greenville, Ill.                                $5,000

 

Photos from the event may be made available to interested media upon request.

About DAV:
DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; providing employment resources to veterans and their families and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a non-profit organization with nearly 1.3 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at www.dav.org.