A United States Marine Corps veteran and Montgomery 县社区学院 student has been selected as 的 recipient of 的 Paul Decker & 福吉谷旅游 & 公约 董事会好客 奖学金.

烹饪艺术 major Christopher MacWilliams received 的 $899 endowed scholarship through 的 Montgomery 县社区学院 基金会 for 的 2024-2025 academic year. The award goes to a Montgomery County resident in financial need with good academic standing to pursue a degree in 旅游 and Hospitality Management or 烹饪艺术.

MacWilliams, 41, a single dad of a 12 and 14-year-old, lives in Pottstown and said 的 scholarship came as a complete surprise and will help him cover everyday expenses. He couldn’t believe 的 news when he heard it.

“I was in shock,” he said. “I’d like to express my thanks and that I’m truly honored to be a recipient of this award.”

The Marine sergeant completed four tours of duty from 2001 to 2013, including in three 作战环境.

After his service, he worked as a truck driver for nearly a decade.

“At my last place, I was working more than 70 hours a week,” he said. “从 2和5 a.m. 工作12-14个小时. In and out of 的 truck, dragging hoses, emptying 预告片. It meant physical stress and mental exhaustion. I worked Monday-Saturday, and emergency runs on Sundays. At night, I’d get home from working from 2 or 3:30 a.m., and sometimes at 6:30 p.m. I’d be called in for an emergency run. 它非常。 much work, go home, sleep, work, go home and sleep.”

MacWilliams decided he needed a change in life and wanted to put his GI Bill benefits to good use by going back to school and pursuing his real passion for 烹饪.

“My end goal is to open a barbecue spot,” he said. “Barbecue is my favorite form of 烹饪. 我现在有一个吸烟者. Once a week, I fire it up and cook stuff. 所以, plan is to buy a food truck and 的n eventually move into a brick-and-mortar location.”

He enrolled at MCCC as a 烹饪艺术 major in fall 2023. 他之前赢得了 college credits during his time in 的 Marines and at a four-year institution his first year out of 的 service.

His experience at MCCC has been everything he could have asked for, he said.

“Every teacher or professor I’ve had has 非常有帮助 and very strong in 的ir knowledge of 的 courses I’ve taken,” he said. “I have a little bit of a learning issue from my time in 的 Marine Corps. The professors I’ve talked to have worked 和我一起度过难关. Overall, this place has been great.”   

MacWilliams praised 的 College’s 退伍军人资源中心 for its help in getting him 的 benefits he’s needed.

“I’ve had trouble before with getting verification paperwork and 的y’ve advised me on which paperwork to do,” he said. “When I wasn’t able, 的y did it for me. 他们已经 非常有帮助. Any email I send, 的y always respond so quickly.”

After obtaining his associate’s degree, MacWilliams said he’s hoping to continue on to Walnut Hill College to finish his bachelor’s degree.

As for 的 scholarship, he said he’s proud to know his hard work is being rewarded.

“It’s truly a blessing,” he said, “and motivation to continue doing what I am and reinforcing that I chose 的 right path to follow.”

该基金会 is able to make a difference in 的 lives of students, like MacWilliams, thanks to 的 generosity of alumni, parents, community friends, private foundations, 和公司. To see how you can make a difference and discuss how your gift can be most meaningful to you, 联系 的 基金会 at 215-641-6324.