Rear Admiral Sumner Shapiro Scholarship Program

Connor Aeschbach is a rising sophomore at Oregon State University on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship, where he is pursuing a degree in civil engineering with a minor in naval science. In addition to his academic studies and ROTC commitments, Connor rows crew for Oregon State. Notably, he was recognized with an NROTC Academic Achievement Award this past year. Upon completion of his college studies, Connor is looking forward to serving as a U.S. Navy officer, either as a SEAL or a naval flight officer (NFO). Longer term, he is interested in applying his education in civil engineering to the formation of new and improved infrastructure essential to securing American national security.

*This is the second consecutive year Connor has won this scholarship.  

Sponsor: Vice Admiral Kelly Aeschbach, USN, Commander, NAVIFOR

Matthew Verich is a 2022 honor graduate of West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia and will begin studies in the fall leading to a degree in neuroscience. He’s interested in investigating the biology of human behavior, with particular application to the field of information warfare. As co-founder of a 501(c)3 organization called The Disinformation Project, Matthew worked to raise public awareness of the threat of disinformation in social media. His high school career featured membership in the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, the Science National Honor Society, and designation as an AP Scholar with Honor. He earned all these honors while playing First Chair trumpet in both traditional and jazz settings, lettering in both varsity tennis and swimming, and serving as his senior class vice president. Matthew intends to seek a commission in the U.S. Navy after college, where he hopes to apply what he learns through neuroscience studies to advancing and integrating the psychology and technology of information warfare.

Sponsor: Captain Matt Verich, USN (Retired)

Michael Himes is also a 2022 honor graduate of West Potomac High School, Alexandria, Virginia. He will be attending the University of Pennsylvania on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship where he intends to study bioengineering. Michael is intrigued by advances in bioengineering and related technologies, and the challenges they present to national security. Through his high school career, Michael was a member of the National Honor Society, Technology Student Association, and Future Business Leaders of America, and he lettered in varsity soccer, cross country, and track. He was captain of his soccer team junior and senior years and was named West Potomac High School male Scholar-Athlete for the spring of 2022. He looks forward to participating as a midshipman in the ROTC prgoram at the University of Pennsylvania, preparing him to serve as an officer in the U.S. Navy, preferably as a SEAL or a JAG.

Sponsor: Captain Josh Himes, USN, Chief of Staff, Commander, Tenth Fleet

Grace Damato is a 2021 graduate of Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, finishing with a 4.375 GPA and recognition as a National Merit Scholar. In addition, she lettered in varsity cross country and track and field. A member of the National Honor Society, Grace participated for four years in Junior ROTC and intends to pursue a commission in the U.S. Navy through the Reserve Officer Training Program at Florida State University. She plans on studying bioengineering or biochemistry, which she intends to apply through service as a surface warfare officer. Notably, she was recognized for her JROTC service with the American Legion ROTC Scholastic Medal, and an award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Sponsor: Commander David Damato, USN, Information Warfare Training Group

Evan O’Connor, a graduate of DoDEA high school in Naples, Italy, is a rising senior at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in nursing. He is a member of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps with a four-year commitment to the Nursing Corps, but his ambition is to pursue a career in medical intelligence, possibly at the National Center for Medical Intelligence (NCMI). To support his intelligence ambitions, Evan has studied Mandarin for eight years and is earning a minor in East Asian languages and civilizations with a concentration in Chinese. Evan was the 2020 and 2021 winner of the Commander Dan F. Shanower Scholarship and used his award to attend a language immersion program at Tamkang University in Taipei.

Sponsor: Commander Sean O’Connor, USN, National Intelligence University

Ethan Husmann, a rising senior at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, is pursuing a major in aerospace engineering major, with a minor in computer science minor.  He also has an interest in computing, networking, and software execution within a cyber security context. As an undergraduate researcher in Raytheon Technologies Fellowship Program, he has been gaining hands-on experience using python and MongoDB to build a database, and Proxmox as a virtualization platform to set up secure virtual machines to interact with potentially malicious software in a secure environment. He also participated in Virginia Tech’s Rocketry Club, where he worked as CAD Design Lead and Vehicle Systems Engineer to develop a solid propellant rocket that competed at the Spaceport America Cup competition. He has begun the process to obtain a TS/SCI clearance and intends to transition after graduation next spring to full time work with Raytheon. 

*Ethan is a three-time winner of the Vice Admiral Donald D. Engen Scholarship, and the first winner of the CWO4 (Ret) Gene and Kimberly Maguire Scholarship.

Sponsor: Captain Greg Husmann, USN, OPNAV