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North Fulton County beautification group names new director
PROVIDED
From left, Retired Col. Rick White, Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame director and chairman of the board, stands with scholarship recipients Joshua Acklen and David Blackwell in front of The Wall That Heals at Newtown Park in Johns Creek Aug. 2. At right, is retired Col. Rick Stepat, JROTC senior army instructor at King’s Academy.
Military Veterans Hall of Fame awards scholarships By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame (GMVHOF) held their ROTC Scholarship Certificate Presentation Aug. 2 in a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Walk in Johns Creek’s Newtown Park. Roughly 35 people attended the morning event held in front of The
Wall That Heals, a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Two scholarships of $4,000 each were presented, one to Joshua Acklen of Roswell, the other to David Blackwell of Marietta for their involvement with the JROTC Program at The King’s Academy in Woodstock. Both graduates are entering freshmen and ROTC cadets at the University of North Georgia. Scholarships are
provided through donations from individual veterans and veterans organizations awarding $4,000 each to accomplished ROTC cadets. “The feedback was highly positive, and they were deeply touched by the entire GMVHOF ROTC Scholarship Presentation Ceremony,” said Col. Rick White
See MILITARY, Page 6
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Keep North Fulton Beautiful announced Ryder Leary as its new executive director, who brings 16 years of experience from his time at the YMCA. Leary will oversee LEARY all operations and community relations for Keep North Fulton Beautiful (KNFB), an environmental nonprofit that provides education and conservation programs to the communities of Johns Creek and Sandy Springs. The organization also operates the Sandy Springs Recycling Center on Morgan Falls Road. Leary has made significant contributions to various YMCA chapters, according to the KNFB, including the YMCA of Central Florida and the YMCA of Florida's First Coast. For the past six years, Leary has been an integral part of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, the organization said, where his dedication to its mission and expertise in fundraising has supported numerous programs and initiatives promoting healthy living and social responsibility. Born and raised in Fernandina Beach, Florida, Leary developed a deep appreciation for nature and the environment from a young age and is a proud graduate of the University of Florida, where he earned his degree.