For Immediate Release Contact:
Daphne Larkin
July 17, 2012
802-485-2886
or 595-3613(m)
or on Twitter @NorwichNews
NEWS RELEASE
Norwich raises over
$68k towards scholarship in alum and Navy SEAL Brian Bill’s name
NORTHFIELD, Vt.
– The
inaugural golf tournament fundraiser held on June 14 at the Sterling Farms Golf Course
in Stamford, Conn., as a memorial to NU alum Brian R. Bill’01, raised a net
amount of $68,757, all of which will go to the Norwich
scholarship created in Bill’s name.
Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Brian Bill was born
on August 23, 1979
in Stamford, Conn. and graduated from Norwich University in 2001. He was
a highly decorated combat veteran with numerous awards and commendations. On August 6, 2011, a Chinook helicopter,
call sign Extortion 17, was shot down by enemy fire in Afghanistan taking
the lives of 38 people on board. Brian was one of 17
SEALs aboard that helicopter. This tournament was established to celebrate his
life and generate financial support for the scholarship established in his name
at Norwich University.
The golf tournament included 110 players and over 200 people at the lunch. Dozens of individuals donated to the auctions and raffles, and the event received wonderful community support from the CT National Guard, Freedom Riders, NU Color Guard and other organizations. Special guests included NHL great Jeremy Roenick and former NHL player and referee Paul Stewart, who was the MC for the day.
The featured luncheon speaker was New York Times
best-selling author Eric Blehm. His
luncheon presentation focused on “Fearless,” his newest book which takes readers
deep into SEAL Team SIX and straight to the heart of one of its most legendary
operators, Navy SEAL Adam Brown. Blehm had the rare opportunity to interview
Adam’s teammates in preparation for this book. In the days following the
mission in which Osama bin Laden was killed, he made his way around the country
to talk with the men who wanted Adam’s story told. Brian Bill was among those
interviewed. Blehm was the last journalist to interview Brian.
The Brian R. Bill Memorial Scholarship, which is endowed at
Norwich and will be awarded for
the first time in the coming academic year, was specifically
created to benefit the sons and daughters of US Navy SEALs or those who have
served in the US Armed Forces Special Forces.
“Brian Bill was
passionate about the SEALs, and the scholarship created in his honor will be a
great benefit to many in that extraordinary community,” said President Richard
Schneider.
˜˜˜
Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that
educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as
civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and
distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University
was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army.
Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States
of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
(ROTC). www.norwich.edu
