MARSHALLTOWN – The Eugene E. Weatherly Post #1 of the Marshalltown Legion of Guardsmen was started in 1946 by Paul G. Norris for soldiers serving or having served in the Armed Forces or National Guard. When the Legion of Guardsmen disbanded in 2010 they decided to put their funds to good use by establishing an Endowed Scholarship fund with the Marshalltown Community College Foundation.

Awarding scholarships to MCC students isn’t a new venture for the Legion of Guardsmen. They began giving scholarships in 1991 using the proceeds of their BINGO nights. Pete Menzel, Quartermaster, and the last few members of the Legion of Guardsmen, made the decision to continue scholarships for MCC students by creating an endowed scholarship with money from the sale of the LOG building on 13th Street, and a checking account, totaling more than $34,000. This endowment will generate interest for future scholarships.

Criteria for the LOG Scholarship includes: students with family affiliated with the Marshalltown LOG will be considered first, then other students with Armed Forces or National Guard affiliation. Students need to complete MCC’s General Scholarship application, provide the name of the family member on that application and note it is for a Legion of Guardsmen Scholarship. Other criteria are: Marshall County resident or contingent county resident and a U.S. citizen; 2.0 GPA or higher; financial need considered but not receiving full Federal Aid.

The MCC Scholarship application is available at www.MarshalltownCommunityCollege.com , at the MCC Financial Aid Office, or call 641-844-5707. There are two $684 scholarships available for the 2011-12 academic year. Students are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible; MCC fall classes begin August 29.

Barbara Beichley, Executive Director for the MCC Foundation, notes the Legion of Guardsmen truly want to help students afford a college education and support members of the Armed Forces and National Guard. “This is an example of giving back to the community when faced with disbanding their own organization,” says Beichley. “That is the true face of philanthropy!”