McDowell enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was 17 and attended Marshall University on the G.I. Bill before receiving both academic and ROTC scholarships to the university. He graduated from Marshall and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army in 1991. He went on to attend law school before entering into active duty, where he served in Korea, Germany, and Ft. Riley, Kansas.
McDowell said the goal of this scholarship is to assist a rising sophomore with good grades, who participated in ROTC classes as a freshman, to encourage them to sign for their junior year and to become an officer in the United States Army.
“I decided to provide a scholarship at Marshall University for a ROTC cadet because I wanted to give back to the two institutions that have helped me the most in life,” McDowell said. “My advice for today’s students is work hard and do something you love.”
Students interested in applying should contact Marshall University Army ROTC department at https://www.marshall.edu/rotc/contact-us/.
——–
Photo: The Christopher R. McDowell ROTC Scholarship was recently established at the Marshall University Foundation. McDowell enlisted in the Army when he was 17 and attended Marshall University on the G.I. Bill before receiving both academic and ROTC scholarships to the university.