Darold S. Kemp, president of the VAAA and chairman of the Virginia Apprenticeship Council, recently announced that Donald Edward Rickerson III, an apprentice graduate in marine design in the Class of 2008, is the first recipient of a VAAA scholarship; the scholarship program was initiated this year. Don will attend the prestigious Webb Institute of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in New York. (http://www.webb-institute.edu/) Don begins his studies next month. The $1,000 award will help Rickerson meet housing and textbook expenses, since his acceptance at Webb includes a full-tuition scholarship.

Don began his apprenticeship in the sheet metal trade and was later selected for, and transferred into, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Apprentice School's marine design program. At graduation, he was recognized for his outstanding work, receiving the Charles F. Bailey and G. Guy Via Awards for academic excellence. Among his most recent assignments, Don developed hull outfitting construction drawings with the CVN 78 Propulsion Plant design team (the new Gerald R. Ford class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers). Don has taken educational leave from Northrop Grumman to pursue his education full-time.

Don is pictured with Darold S. Kemp, president of the VAAA and chairman of the Virginia Apprenticeship Council, and Dr. Jim Hughes, manager, Training (Academics) for The Apprentice School and chairman of the VAAA Scholarship Committee.