CAP RANGER SUCCESS STORY: ROBERT ELL ACCEPTED TO IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITY

CAP RANGER SUCCESS STORY: ROBERT ELL ACCEPTED TO IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITY

MANHASSET, N.Y., July 10, 2017 —

Robert Ell, who served in the Ranger 1st Battalion, has been accepted as a transfer student to Columbia University. Upon enrolling in the fall semester of 2017, Ell plans to join the Columbia
Against Modern Slavery Organization. This group was formed by students to combat the estimated 20.9 million instances of human trafficking worldwide by organizing fundraisers and raising awareness on campus.

Ell has also stated his desire to serve as a resource to his fellow Rangers by continuing to work with the Collegiate Access Program (CAP) of Lead The Way Fund (LTWF). CAP is dedicated to helping Rangers
utilize their ingrained skills by empowering them to thrive in careers and at top Universities around the country. Ell says his desire to give back to LTWF is inspired by how the program helped him towards
his goal of earning a degree in Political Science from Columbia.

Long Island Street to be Renamed After SGT James J. Regan

Long Island Street to be Renamed After SGT James J. Regan

Senator Elaine Phillips (R-Manhasset) announced that the Governor has signed legislation she sponsored honoring Army Sergeant James “Jimmy” Regan, a veteran from Manhasset who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.

Chapter 147 of the Laws of 2017 designates the section of Port Washington Boulevard between Northern Boulevard and Crabapple Road in Manhasset as “Sergeant James J. Regan Boulevard.”

“Sgt. James Regan is a true American hero and role model.  He volunteered to serve our country and did so with honor, courage and distinction during four overseas combat tours.  This honor will help ensure that his memory, heroism and ultimate sacrifice in service to our country will always be remembered,” said Senator Phillips.

“Sergeant James Regan was a true hero; he lived by his actions and unselfishly decided to serve and defend his country.   I am pleased this legislation was signed into law to honor his memory,” said Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso.

“We are truly humbled by this tribute to our son Jimmy,” stated Jim and Mary Regan. “Jimmy was a special young man who touched the life of so many Long Islanders. We strive to honor his life and legacy every day and we are extremely grateful that those who will now drive along ‘Sergeant James J. Regan Boulevard’ will have a daily reminder of the selfless sacrifice Jimmy made serving and defending our country,” the Regans added.

Sgt. Regan was an outstanding student and All-American lacrosse player at Chaminade High School who went on to star as a member of Duke University’s lacrosse program.  Deeply affected by the terror attacks of 9/11, which killed many people from his hometown, he volunteered to serve in the US Army after his college graduation, passing up lucrative Wall Street job opportunities and law school scholarships.

He excelled in the military as well, graduating first in his basic training class, receiving the distinction of “Soldier of the Cycle” and later earning a spot in the elite Army Rangers.  Sgt. Regan was a fire team leader who served two tours in Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq.

Sgt. Regan made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country on February 9, 2007 when his vehicle was targeted by an IED in Northern Iraq.  He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal for his brave and heroic service, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

A dedication ceremony will be held later this year in Manhasset.

CAP SUCCESS STORY: THOMAS BASSETT ACCEPTED TO HARVARD

CAP SUCCESS STORY: THOMAS BASSETT ACCEPTED TO HARVARD

MANHASSET, N.Y., July 21, 2017—Thomas Bassett, who formerly served with the 1st Ranger Battalion, will enroll as a freshman at Harvard University in the fall of 2017.
His admission to Harvard comes after attending the Warrior Scholar Project seminar hosted by Princeton University and working with Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund’s
Collegiate Access Program throughout the application process.

Bassett will pursue a degree in Economics and also plans to join the Harvard Rugby Football Club, which is the oldest rugby club in the United States.
He also intends on becoming a member of the Harvard Model Congress (HMC) team upon enrollment. The HMC team is comprised of 150 Harvard undergraduates
who volunteer to organize conferences for high school students that offer engaging discussions of political issues, opportunities for public speaking
on policy matters, and lifelong memories for their participants.

In addition, Bassett plans on remaining an active participant in LTWF’s Collegiate Access Program since his plan after undergraduate study is to apply
to Harvard’s JD/MBA program. He has stated that LTWF was a crucial resource in preparing for an academic career after military service and expects
it will continue to provide vital academic assistance in the future.

Soldier for Life: Ranger veterans cultivate network at Columbia University

Soldier for Life: Ranger veterans cultivate network at Columbia University

Participants of Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund’s Collegiate Access Program Gain Acceptance to Prestigious Academic Programs

MANHASSET, N.Y., June 26, 2017 — Mike Nolin and Levi Schmitt, two participants in Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund’s Collegiate Access Program (CAP), have been accepted to attend Columbia University’s undergraduate program. In addition, both Schmitt and Nolin have been invited to take part in the prestigious Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) before enrolling at Columbia. Nolin, who is a Purple Heart Recipient, will be attending a WSP course hosted by Texas A&M in the Spring. Schmitt will be attending a WSP course at University of Michigan this Fall.

The WSP empowers enlisted military veterans by providing them with a skill bridge that enables a successful transition from the battlefield to the classroom and increases the confidence they will need to successfully complete a rigorous four-year undergraduate program at a top-tier school.

Schmitt and Nolin credit Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund with providing the resources to encourage and assist their academic trajectories. CAP is designed to help Rangers returning from active duty as they navigate through the reintegration process. Ultimately, the central mission of CAP rests on providing the professional and academic support needed to ensure that Rangers have a rewarding and prosperous civilian life.

“This is a great result for our guys. We’re always excited to help Rangers seek out new opportunities,” said Myles Grantham, who coordinates the Collegiate Access Program (CAP). “And even as they start their academic careers, Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund will continue to help them achieve their goals.”

Upon completing the WSP course and enrolling at Columbia, Nolin says he hopes to join either the Columbia golf team or football team. Meanwhile, Schmitt says he is eager to gain access to the Columbia engineering department’s MakerSpace and become more familiar with the technology of 3D printing. He is also looking forward to joining the Columbia Against Modern Slavery Club so he can coordinate the group’s efforts with those of the HERO Corps program to combat human trafficking on a wider scale.

For more information on our CAP program please visit our website at www.leadthewayfund.org or email [email protected] with questions.

Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund, Inc., A 501c3 Non-Profit, Is An Active Duty, Casualty Assistance, Recovery, Transition And Veterans Organization That Provides Financial Support, Beyond What The Government And Veterans Affairs Can Offer, To U.S. Army Rangers And The Families Of Those Who Have Died, Have Been Disabled Or Who Are Currently Serving In Harm’s Way Around The World.

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