Recently, Sovereign Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, received several personal letters of thanks from students attending The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., on Scottish Rite Scholarships. The following excerpts demonstrate how the Scottish Rite's support has allowed worthy students to accomplish life goals that, without our Order's assistance, would have been impossible.

Let me begin by saying I would not have attended The George Washington University if it were not for the generous scholarship provided to me by your organization. I cannot imagine having spent the last four years of my life anywhere else. GW has provided me with countless, invaluable experiences and contacts, not to mention friends and education. Receipt of this award has raised my awareness of your organization. In fact, I have become so interested over the past two years that I have read and purchased a number of books detailing your organization's history and mission. I hope one day to have the opportunity to become part of what you stand for and so carry on the Masonic tradition my grandfather started for my family. Jeffrey Easterbrook

Through the generosity of the Scottish Rite, I will be graduating with a Bachelors of Business Administration, specializing in Informations Systems. I am a STAR (GW campus tour guide) and a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After graduation, I will be working for SRA International, a technology-consulting firm in Virginia. Thank you for helping me attend GW. I really enjoyed it, and I am sad to leave. Stefany Needel

I cannot thank you enough for the Scottish Rite scholarship. Without this award, I would not have been able to attend George Washington University. Because of its diversity, rigorous education, and the Washington, D.C., environment, GW has given me opportunities unlike any other university. I am majoring in biology, serving as an officer in a chemistry fraternity, and volunteering at a local hospital. I was just accepted into the honors program. Upon graduation, I plan on attending medical school to become a pediatrician. I would not have been able to accomplish anything without the Scottish Rite scholarship, and, again, I can't thank you enough! Leah Sag

I don't know quite how to express my gratitude for your generous scholarship award—only to say that it has completely changed my life! Now I am a junior Political Communications major, and I plan to go on to graduate school at GW's School of Political Management. This is the perfect city (and school!) to be in for politics, and I owe that to the Scottish Rite scholarship. It also means so much to my family to know that this organization which my grandfather, Bill Brannon (Scottish Rite, Little Rock Arkansas), loved so much is helping me in this way. He would be so proud. Thank you so much for all the doors you have opened for me, and for all the doors in the future that will open because of what your organization did for me. Kristi May

Because of the Scottish Rite's benevolence, I will graduate in 2002 with a major in Marketing and an Electronic Media minor. I am a member of SNAP (Student Network Admissions Program) where I call prospective students to discuss GW, and I was recently elected historian of the University Singers. I wanted to come to GW because of all the opportunities it offers, and now that I've been here for two years, I feel that, due to the kindness of the Scottish Rite, I have made the most of my time. Thank you so much! Jocelyn Needel

I chose GW because I am majoring in International Affairs, and there is no city better than our nation's capital for that subject. In addition to classes, I have had two internships, one in Senator Joe Lieberman's office and the other at the American Academy of Diplomacy. I would like to thank you for the Scottish Rite scholarship which has allowed me to study at this prestigious university in this great city. Matthew Farber

During my fall semester, I earned a 4.0 GPA with a 16-credit workload in my double major, Biology and Spanish. I am currently involved in the College Republicans, the American Medical Students Association, the National Society for Collegian Scholars, Phi Eta Sigma (a co-ed national honor society), and I am also a GW tour guide and peer advisor to next year's freshmen. Without the help of the Scottish Rite scholarship, I would not be able to attend GW. I deeply appreciate it! Thank you so much! Deanna McCullough