2025 Slattery Detachment Scholarships Granted
Five 2025 Slattery Scholarships of $500 each were awarded at the detachments monthly meeting in August. The scholarship is available to selected qualifying high school seniors and ongoing students in higher education studies at a college, university, or trade school. Eligibility is limited to members, spouses of members, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of a Marine Corps League Slattery Detachment member in good standing. Applications for the scholarships included their latest transcripts, a list of their extracurricular activities providing evidence of community involvement and leadership, along with letters of recommendation.
All 5 recipients excel in their studies and are busy in their communities!
GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
ERICA ZON
PHOTO (L to R): Commandant Jim Koons, Erica Zon, Stanley Zon, and Dr Jan Smiell
In the category for Graduating High School Seniors pursuing a post-high school (higher) education, one award went to Erica Zon. She was sponsored by her father, Stanley Zon.
Erica graduated from West Essex High School. At the time of her application, she had a 4.3+ GPA in a College Preparatory Program that included several Advanced Placement courses. Her experience included work as a veterinary assistant and an EMS First Responder with the West Patterson First Aid Squad. Her involvement with her community included participation in charitable fund-raising events, camp counselor roles, and elder-care assistance. Other extra-curricular activities in the arts involved her musical talents Choir/Band/Orchestra Honors Society), sports abilities (track team) and culinary expertise (meal prep and service for needy and elderly).
Erica will be a freshman at Rutgers University majoring in Nursing this fall.
CURRENT ENROLLED HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS
Four students who are continuing their college educations received scholarships for Current Enrolled Students.
CORINNE CAMPBELL
PHOTO: Commandant Jim Koons presenting a certificate to Don Campbell, Corinne’s sponsor.
Corinne Campbell is entering her senior year at Colgate University majoring in Molecular Biology and Spanish with a 3.93 GPA at the time of her application. Don Campbell, her grandfather, is her sponsor and received the award on her behalf as she attended the meeting on Zoom.
Corinne received the Dean’s Award with Distinction for Academic Excellence All Semesters at Colgate. Her academic performance qualified her for entry into the Phi Eta Sigma and the tutoring (Spanish) National Honor Societies with a course load that included Genetics; Organic Chemistry; Molecules, Cells, and Genes; Stem Cell Biology; and Biochemistry.
Corinne’s university experience included an immersion program in Madrid to learn the language and culture while living with a host family in Spain.
Many of her extracurricular activities deepened her understanding of medical, physical, and social care of people of all ages: shadowing pediatricians in the treatment of sick children, assisting in activity of daily living for those in need to improve their quality of life, and making connection with elderly members of the local community near her school for conversations and social activities.
Additional activities that expanded Corinne’s experience: group leader in the Colgate Shock Dance group, tutoring students in Spanish, Public Relations Director of her Sigma Delta Pi Honor Society chapter, hosting at a restaurant, and membership in a Buddies Club to interact with adults in a Disability Home.
Following graduation, Corinne is considering a career in medicine.
MATTHEW FREDA
Matthew C Freda received a scholarship for Current Enrolled Students and his grandfather and sponsor, Frank Possert, was able to participate in the meeting on Zoom.
Matthew received his Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from Sussex County Community College (SCCC) in May 2025 where he was on the Dean’s List all four semesters and graduated with high honors. He will be attending Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania in the Sports Management program this Fall to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport Management.
Matthew’s love of baseball is evident in his career choice and list of activities. He was the starting second baseman on the Sussex County Community Baseball Team, earned membership of National Junior College Athletic Association Second Team Academic All-American, played in the Metropolitan Collegiate Baseball League for 3 years and is already playing with the Bloomsburg University Baseball Team. Matthew also worked with a fundraising team at SCCC as a parking attendant at multiple large-scale events and venues.
I expect that we will see Matthew in the Major League Baseball world in a few years.
DYLANA McGINLEY
PHOTO (L to R): Commandant Jim Koons; Dylana McGinley; her sponsor and father, Patrick McGinley; and Dr Jan Smiell, Scholarship Committee Chair.
Dylana McGinley received a scholarship for Currently Enrolled College Students. Her father, Patrick McGinley, is her sponsor. Dylana attends the University of Miami majoring in Marketing with minors in Strategic Communications and Business Law.
Dylana participated in the Women in Business Club and is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. Dylana interned with a marketing agencies in Miami and San Diego to expand her knowledge of the business. She served as a Social Director for a sorority in which she was a member and took on the responsibility of being a brand manager for a major event with the group.
Dylana has a variety of interests to fill any down time: skiing, music (piano), and competitive Irish Dancing. She also enjoys good food and travel.
KARYN WINAKER
PHOTO: L to R: Commandant Jim Koons, Paymaster Jonathan Winaker, Karyn Winaker, Dr Jan Smiell
Karyn Winaker, wife of Jonathan Winaker, her Sponsor and our Paymaster, also received a scholarship for Current Enrolled Students.
Karyn is a mother of 4 children. Additionally, she worked in the medical field in several hospitals as a Unit Secretary, EKG Monitor Tech, Certified Nursing Assistant and Licensed Practical Nurse. She was forced to retire due to a disability and after raising her 4 children while earning an Associate Degree, she found the time and energy to return to college at SUNY New Palz in a Liberal Arts major (Education, English, and History) and maintains a GPA of 4.0.
Karyn volunteers with the Goshen Ecumenical Food Pantry and has been very active in Temple Beth Shalom where she is a member of the Sisterhood. She worked on numerous committees organizing, financing and catering fundraisers, social gatherings, school events, and congregational celebrations. Karyn is an Associate Member of the Slattery Detachment.
Karyn encouraged everyone in attendance at the meeting to continue learning.
Applications for 2026 Scholarships will be available under the “CONTACT” list on this website
