The Trine University student who won the General Lewis B. Hershey Scholarship last
fall spoke to veterans during the 59th American Legion Washington Conference in February.
Alexander Fox, a junior from Plymouth, Indiana, majoring in biomedical engineering,
received the Hershey Scholarship during halftime of Trine’s Oct. 27 football game.
After reading his thank-you letter and a packet of information sent by the university,
the Legion invited him to Washington, D.C., to speak at the ANAVICUS (Army, Navy,
Air Force Veterans in Canada – United States) breakfast on Feb. 25 at the Washington
Hilton.
“I mostly spoke about what the Hershey scholarship has allowed me to do, what I do
at Trine — including marching band and Christian Campus House — and I talked about
earning my Eagle Scout rank,” Fox said.
The Legion flew Fox and his mother, Yvonne, to Washington for the event. Prior to
the Monday breakfast, they were able to spend the weekend visiting monuments and museums
around Washington, D.C., including the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, all
the war memorials and several of the Smithsonian Institution museums.
“I liked the National Postal Museum the most,” he said. “I wanted to just go there
because I thought it would be funny to go look at stamps, but it was actually super
cool, even the stamps.”
After the ANAVICUS breakfast, Fox spoke with Robert Newman, National Internal Affairs
Commission chairman for the American Legion, who presented him the Hershey award in
October, as well as Rodney Strong, Indiana state commander for the American Legion,
and several other American Legion members.
“Overall, it was an amazing experience. I was really glad that I could go,” he said.
The General Lewis B. Hershey Scholarship was established in 1988 by ANAVICUS to honor
General Lewis B. Hershey, Trine University alumnus and former director of Selective
Service for the United States. The recipient is to be a Trine University sophomore
or junior who has demonstrated academic achievement (minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA)
and leadership potential.
Top: Alexander Fox speaks at the ANAVICUS breakfast in Washington, D.C.