“The Pat Tillman Foundation is closely monitoring the tragic events that occurred today at the Boston Marathon. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families in the wake of this horrific incident. As we move forward for the 9th Annual Pat’s Run, the Tillman Foundation is working closely with the City of Tempe and Tempe Police, Arizona State University, Arizona State University Police Department and additional security to ensure the safety of all our runners and supporters on the ground this weekend. Increased security measures are being put into place as we move forward with the race.”

If you are member of the media seeking comment, please contact Michelle McCarthy at mmccarthy@pattillmanfoundation.org or (201) 675-1063.

Bright and early, the Tillman Class of 2012 scurried over to Longfellow Elementary Schooll in Mesa for the awaited Basketball Beyond Barriers Event. BBB was a success! Approximately 90 students attended the camp and they were more excited than ever. The Tillman Scholars arrived promptly at 7:30 am to begin the set up. Basketball camp was to be held from 9 am to 4 pm with a huge lunch break at noon. The camp was divided into two sessions, K-3rd grade in the morning and 4th –6th grade in the afternoon. One by one, a mix of rowdy and excited students presented themselves. Although, basketball was the main focus, the Scholars tried to incorporate a life lesson throughout the day. Respect and bullying in schools was the core and the main theme of the event. For the primary levels, the children’s book, Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon was read to the youngsters as this book explored the uniqueness of a child. In the afternoon, the older students were involved in large group discussions and made, “Who I am” posters. At the end of the day, parents and students appreciated the effort of the team.  A very special thank you to Longfellow’s Principal Mr. Christensen, as he was a valuable asset to the event. We could not have done it without him!

2012 Tillman Scholars-ASU: (front row) Dorian Sanchez, Scott Bohmke, Monica Burba, Betsy Donahue; (back row) Chip Sarafin, Mark Sackley, Allie Oaks, Jenna Smith, Alex Zabaski, Connor Udasco and Gopi Karunamoorthy.

Last week I participated in the 3rd annual Pat Tillman Leadership Summit, a three-day program designed to introduce new Tillman Military Scholars to the Tillman Community, in College Park, Maryland. The first day of the Summit allowed new Scholars to meet one another, as well as Network Scholars and the staff of the Pat Tillman Foundation. Marie Tillman welcomed us that first evening and shared with us her story of how Pat’s death while serving in Afghanistan inspired her to create the Pat Tillman Foundation. Day one was especially important to the new Scholars because we were able to get to know one another and learn each other’s stories of service, sacrifice and triumph. It was truly humbling to be among such a remarkable group of people, and each Scholar that I spoke with thought the same thing I did: how did they pick me from this group of amazing people?

The second day opened with a panel on the Community Blueprint Network, and then the group split between a Veteran Entrepreneurship Panel and a Career Marketing panel. I attended the Career Marketing Panel and learned how to tell the story of who I am and what the military taught me and how that can be translated onto a resume. In a chance set of events, one of the panelists at the Veteran Entrepreneurship Panel was a gentleman that I served with in the Army. It was great to see him again and do some networking with him and the other panelists. For the remainder of the second day, the Scholars volunteered in a Day of Service in the Washington, D.C. area. My group spent several hours with the residents of Vinson Hall discussing health care and technology. Vinson Hall is a retirement community supported by the Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation in McLean, VA. The residents we spoke to were great people, and I enjoyed hearing their life stories and learning their views on issues that we all face in today’s world.

The third day of the Summit was spent on Capitol Hill visiting Congressional leaders. I was lucky enough to lead the Arizona delegation on Capitol Hill in a meeting with Senator John McCain. Meeting Senator McCain was a lifelong dream come true. As an Arizona native, I have followed his political career since I was about 16. I have always admired war heroes and politicians, and Senator McCain is both. He served in the U.S. Navy as an aviator during the Vietnam War and was captured as a Prisoner of War in 1967. He remained a POW in Hanoi until 1973. He moved to Arizona in 1981 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona’s First Congressional District in 1982, and then to the U.S. Senate in 1986. He is currently the senior United States Senator from Arizona and the ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee.

Tillman Military Scholars from Arizona State University and University of Arizona with Senator John McCain.

The Arizona delegation met with Senator McCain for nearly an hour. Just being in his presence was awe inspiring; I was definitely star struck. Senator McCain invited us into his office, congratulated us on being chosen as Tillman Military Scholars and asked us to sit in the chairs and couches in his office. He spoke to us for 20 minutes about current policy and issues and then asked us to introduce ourselves. When I introduced myself and stated that I was studying law, I discovered that the Senator has a sense of humor. After jokingly stating that the world doesn’t need more lawyers, he asked what the difference is between a lawyer and a catfish. The answer, of course, is that one is a scum-sucking bottom feeder and the other is a fish. After introductions and brief discussions about our areas of study, Senator McCain invited us to ask questions of him. The immediate questions were about his stance on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and SB1070. Senator McCain spoke very candidly about both issues; he did not offer canned responses. I worked in the Arizona Legislature and I am very familiar with SB1070 and all of the issues surrounding it, but Senator McCain offered an explanation that included ideas I had never heard before. He also spoke about Maricopa County, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Sheriff Arpaio is usually a taboo subject in Arizona politics, but again, Senator McCain spoke openly about his thoughts on the Sheriff. All together, we spoke with the Senator for about an hour. That hour reinforced my confidence in him as a U.S. Senator, and as my hero.

Guest Blogger: Chad Waltz, Tillman Military Scholar Class 4, Arizona State University

TMS Chad Waltz takes a break during the 2012 Arizona Coalition for Military Families Veteran Symposium.

TMS Chad Waltz sits in an F-16 Flight simulator.

Service and Awareness Events

New York City

New York City Tillman Military Scholars joined with MissionServe, Bank of America and HBO, along with PTF staff members, to prepare emergency packets for homeless veterans in the city. Before the project, they also braved the cold to talk about their efforts on Good Morning America.

TMS Rudy Rickner (right) joins fellow Veterans Day volunteers on Good Morning America.

People Magazine Photo Shoot

NYU TMS Korey Calloway and Lyndsey Anderson joined PTF President Marie Tillman for a People Magazine photo shoot for a “Heroes Among Us” article.

TMS Korey Calloway and Lyndsey Anderson with Marie Tillman.

Blue Bloods Set Visit

PTF Program Coordinator Cara Hammer joined Team Tillman and PTF partner veterans on set in Brooklyn with Donnie Wahlberg, Tom Selleck and Bridget Moynahan.

PTF Program Coordinator Cara Hammer with Tom Selleck and PTF veteran supporters.

San Diego

Robin, Yana and her husband Arthur prepared lunch and dinner for the residents of the Veterans Village of San Diego while they marched in the San Diego County Veterans Day Parade. When the residents returned, TMS served lunch to over 300 residents and family members alongside some of VVSD’s current residents. Later, there was a brief ceremony/celebration of the Marine Corps’ 236th Birthday with Arthur being asked to help cut the cake as he was the youngest Marine on site. For those not familiar with Marine Corps Birthday tradition, the oldest Marine and youngest Marine take part in cutting the birthday cake.

TMS Robin Williams (middle left) and Yana Mukvich (right) with Yana's husband Arthur.

Los Angeles

Along with other volunteers, TMS Nicole Hart, Peter Thomas and Tristan Dyer planted approximately 40 Valencia trees at the VA Westwood campus in Los Angeles. As Nicole states it, “The energy of the day was rich with the willingness to serve; to give back to those, past and present, who have given so much to this country. It was an honor to be a part of such a day!”

TMS Nicole Hart, Peter Thomas and Tristan Dyer (with friend).

Tampa Bay

A week prior to Veterans Day, TMS Dave Warden, Grey Leonard and Josiah Hill rehabbed stables and riding areas for the Quantum Leap Farms, an equine therapy center serving disabled children and military in the Tampa area.

TMS Dave Warden and Josiah Hill.

University of South Florida

TMS Grey Leonard was the Master of Ceremonies as members of the Special Operations Parachute Demonstration Team kicked off the second annual Veterans Week Celebration at the University of South Florida Tuesday with a drop on the green next to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza.

TMS Grey Leonard.

Michigan

University of Michigan-Flint TMS Kyle Caywood and Tiffany Johnson were recognized by their Chancellor at the Veterans Day program – where Kyle served as MC. Later the next week, they met up with University of Michigan TMS John Shriver and Lindsay Compton to discuss Pat’s Run in April 2012.

Michigan TMS Kyle Caywood, John Shriver, Tiffany Johnson and Lindsay Compton.

Baltimore

TMS Rich Blake spoke with WYPR – Baltimore’s local NPR station – about Veterans Day and the work he and fellow veterans are conducting in local Baltimore neighborhoods. Listen to Rich’s interview.

TMS Rick Blake (2nd from left) in studio at Baltimore's WYPR.

University of Maryland

TMS Shelly Burgoyne spoke at the University of Maryland’s annual Veterans Day celebration.

Look for her at the end of this video.

Harvard

Harvard Business School’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, spearheaded by TMS Danny Cho, welcomed 300 people to the HBS’s Armed Forces Alumni Association “Leadership Through Service” celebration and reception. Danny gave the welcoming speech, followed by Ian Walsh, SVP of Textron Systems and the club’s founding member, and Charles Bolden, the current NASA Administrator spoke about their views on what it means to be a veteran and what value veterans bring to the workforce.

TMS Danny Cho.

San Jose

Pat Tillman Foundation board member Alex Garwood participated in an honorary puck drop when the San Jose Sharks hosted the Phoenix Coyotes over Veterans Day weekend.

PTF Board Member Alex Garwood drops the opening puck. Pictured here with team captains Joe Thornton and Shane Doan.

Public Recognitions

Tillman Military Scholars were publicly recognized for Veterans Day on campuses across the country:

PTF Program Coordinator (center) with University of Maryland TMS Roel Mora, Kevin Kim, Josie O’Regan and Louis Thorne at the 4th Annual Veterans Reception.

San Diego State University TMS Yana Mukvich and Robin Williams recognized during the SDSU vs. University of Wyoming football game.

University of Oregon TMS Jeff Meray, Bryan Boender, Ryan Williams and Kelly Christensen recognized at the Veterans Day Ceremony.

Texas A&M University TMS Susan Stallings, Marisela Spangler and Cameron McCoy are recognized at the Veterans Day Brunch.

PTF Director of Programs Hunter I Riley alongside Mississippi State University TMS Mark Edwards, Janice Cunningham, Trish Pohlhaus, Ryan Bear, Samantha Hill and Catherine Turner at Veterans Day Scholarship Dinner.

University of South Florida TMS Josiah Hill, Dave Warden and Grey Leonard are recognized on the field at the USF vs. University of Miami football game.

University of Arizona TMS April Ellsworth, Martin Stahl and Matt Randle are recognized on the field at the Arizona State vs. Arizona football game (standing next to the PT42 gate).

To top off Veterans Day celebrations and events, NFL-Tillman Military Scholar D’Onior Felton will be recognized on the field at the December 11 Washington Redskins game.

Thousands of participants lined the streets of Tempe on April 16, 2011 for the 7th Annual Pat's Run.

7th Annual Pat's Run Race Start

Amongst the crowd in gold were 26 of 111 Tillman Military Scholars who made the trip to Tempe to participate in this year’s Pat’s Run.

Tillman Military Scholars Bonnie Contreras (with daughter Kenya) and Patrick Nelson hold the Finish Line tape.

Pat’s teammate and former ASU and NFL quarterback, Jake Plummer, was the official race starter and participants were thrilled to see him back in sunny Arizona.

Official Race Starter and Pat's former Sun Devil and Cardinal teammate, Jake Plummer.

The 4.2 mile run/walk ends on the 42-yard line of Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium, symbolic of the #42 jersey Pat wore while he was a Sun Devil football player. The event also featured a Kids Run where more than 2,300 children participated in a .42 mile race.

Pat's Run Kids Run Start

Through a partnership with the Arizona State University Alumni Association and with support from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, 4.2 mile Pat’s Run Shadow Runs were held in 21 cities spanning from San Diego, California to Washington, D.C. Over 1,200 Pat Tillman Foundation supporters joined across the U.S. to shadow the run in Tempe.

San Francisco Shadow Run

In addition, over a thousand servicemembers participated in casual Troop Runs coordinated and organized by U.S. military in Afghanistan, El Salvador, England, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.

Kandahar Airfield Troop Run

More than $1 million was generated at the 7th Annual Pat’s Run which will directly support the Foundation’s mission to invest in veterans and their families through education and community.

Currently, the Pat Tillman Foundation is reviewing 1,242 applications submitted by deserving servicemembers and dependents during the 2011 online application process. In June, the Pat Tillman Foundation will pledge over a million dollars in scholarship support to the third class of Tillman Military Scholars.

To date, the Pat Tillman Foundation has invested over $3.5 million in educational resources to support individuals committed to a life of service both in and out of uniform.

Estevan Astorga
Tina Cai
Tyler Eltringham
Brett Fitzgerald
Lauren Gillmore
Kathryn Gonzalez
Chris Gozo
Kira Hoover
Tyler Liss
Felicia Martinez
Ryan McCann
Kristell Millan
Praveen Nanja
Gunhee Park

The Tillman Scholars-ASU program celebrates Pat’s legacy and his extraordinary accomplishments and leadership as a student-athlete at ASU both on and off the field.

Over the next year plus, these students will take part in the Leadership Through Actionâ„¢ curriculum with Pat Tillman Foundation Distinguished Professor Michael Mokwa at ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business. Their course work focuses on three interrelated themes: personal development, everyday leadership and social action. This leadership development, service-learning and social entrepreneurial curriculum challenges students to become leaders and promote positive changes in their communities. At the end of an intensive course of study, students put their knowledge and skills into action through service projects in their community. This experience also exposes students to an array of business and civic leaders through group service projects and a network of mentors and role models.

Congratulations to the the 6th class of Tillman Scholars-ASU!