The Tailhook Educational Foundation
2018 Scholarships
The Tailhook Educational Foundation (TEF) is a California based 501(C)3 nonprofit organization. TEF’s charter is to educate the public on United States Navy carrier aviation and its importance to our country's national security.
TEF awards over 100 scholarships annually ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 per year. A number of our TEF grants are awarded to students pursing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math) curriculum. All TEF grants assistNaval Aviation legacy undergraduate students obain a higher education.
TEF scholarships are only made possible by the continued generosity of our individual and organizational donors. All donations to TEF are fully deductible as charitable contributions.
The TEF Tax ID is: 33-00487778
In 2018, TEF awarded 107 scholarships to our brightest Naval Aviation legacy students.
2018 Scholarships
CAPT MICHAEL “SCOTT” SPEICHER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Benjamin Ingalls
Christoval, Texas
Texas A & M University
Sponsored by
Tailhook
LCDR DAVID WOOSTER “WOOT” TAYLOR JR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Nicholas West
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sponsored by
His son, CAPT David Wooster Thornhill, USNR(Ret)
CDR CLYDE RAY WELCH AND NANCY MACDONALD RODGER WELCH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Oskar Searfus
Durango, Colorado
University of New Mexico
Sponsored by
Captain Rodger Welch, USN(Ret), Mr. Scott Welch and family friends
CAPT RICHARD J. JENSEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Jonah Weddle
Bogota, Columbia
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Sponsored by
Tailhook Washington D.C. Ready Room
CDR DEAN “DIZ” LAIRD, USN (Ret) SCHOLARSHIP
Jack Hanke
Cheshire, Connecticut
Rutgers University
Sponsored by
Donations from Hook 2012 Reunion Attendees
CDR JOHN “BUG” ROACH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Meredith Hansen
Reno, Nevada
University of California, San Diego
Sponsored by
The Nugget Casino Resort - The annual host hotel for the Tailhook Reunion
CDR WILLIAM H. SEARFUS AND STANLEY A. SEARFUS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Jake Wilson
Virginia Beach, Virginia
United States Naval Academy, Annapolis
Sponsored by
Tailhook
CDR FRANCIS MARTIN DOBBERTIEN SCHOLARSHIP, No. 2
Madison Ronchetto
San Diego, California
Washington University St. Louis
Sponsored by
Francis Martin Dobbertien
CAPT LOU & JANE KRISER
Leah Hannum
Spring, Texas
Southern Methodist University
Sponsored by
Captain Lou Kriser USN(Ret) & Jane Kriser
ADM TIMOTHY “TIMBO” KEATING SCHOLARSHIP
Lauren Krotz
Douglasville, Georgia
Furman University
Sponsored by
Family, friends and 2011 Tailhook reunion donors
KIM “SALES” WOODY AND LIANA ROBERTS TAILHOOK SCHOLARSHIP
Kathryn Green
Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Marquette University
Sponsored by
Friends and by Tailhook
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR + HONOR AND TRIBUTE TO THE RETURN OF OUR POWS & MIA SCHOLARSHIP
Matthew Creasey
Fairfax Station, Virginia
University of Alabama
Sponsored by
Hook 2013 Reunion Attendees
LCDR KIERON “TATER” O’CONNER, BLUE ANGELS, MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Kylie Ostermeyer
Papillion, Nebraska
Truman State University
Sponsored by
Jon R. Winthrop, Chairman and CEO, The Air Group, Inc., Van Nuys, California
THE “SWEET DENYSE” DAVIS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP
Austin Silveria
San Juan Capistrano, California
California Polytechnic State University
Sponsored by
Captain John Davis USN(Ret)
CVW-2 SCHOLARSHIP
Eric Schnell
Coronado, California
California Polytechnic State University
Sponsored by
The entire Carrier Air Wing