Date posted: 11/21/2008*

In March of this year, Raytheon Chairman and CEO Bill Swanson traveled to The Citadel military college to announce the establishment of the Raytheon Scholars Fund. Raytheon’s $500,000 partial endowment supports scholarships to women and minorities in the engineering and science fields.

The first four beneficiaries of the Raytheon Scholars scholarships — cadets Susan Durso, Jordon Gilmore, Eugene Quarshie and Katherine Hardina — were introduced during a donor recognition event at the school on Nov. 6. Each student received $5,000 earlier in the academic year to help offset their tuition costs.

Durso is one recipient for whom the scholarship will pay major dividends. “I’m from a low-income family of seven from Utica, N.Y.,” she said. “The Raytheon scholarship, in conjunction with my Naval ROTC scholarship, has allowed me to pay for this academic year with minimal student loans.” Durso is an electrical engineering major and a squad corporal in the Corps of Cadets. She has dreams of becoming a naval aviator.

Gilmore, a junior from Belmont, N.C., is a cadet staff sergeant majoring in electrical engineering. He is a defensive co-captain on The Citadel’s football team and a member of the team’s leadership council. “This scholarship makes me very proud to be a minority in a field that is so relevant to today’s society,” said Gilmore. After graduation, Gilmore aims to pursue a career in power engineering.

Quarshie, a biology major in his junior year, was born and raised in Ghana. He moved to the United States in 2003 to further his education. “I intend to go to medical school upon graduation,” said the cadet. “Thanks to [Raytheon’s] generous donation, I did not have to depend solely upon loans to return to The Citadel. This helped to relieve some pressure off of my family and me.” Quarshie holds the rank of Cadet sergeant first class and also plays soccer on The Citadel’s club team.

A native of Fargo, N.D., Hardina is a sophomore double majoring in chemistry and French. She’s a member of the varsity golf team as well as the American Chemical Society. “I am so grateful for this scholarship,” said Hardina. “It has helped me to come back to The Citadel this year, and to continue my education towards a degree in chemistry. It has also given me a better outlook into the opportunities available after college.”

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