Inaugural Cooper Scholarship Awarded

Annville, PA (01/30/2019) — Dr. Gabriela McEvoy, chair of languages and associate professor of Spanish, announced that Julia Seltzer '21, an exercise science major and Spanish minor from Hummelstown, Pa., has been named the inaugural recipient of the newly created Captain Charles Thomas Cooper III Don Quixote Endowed Scholarship award. Capt. Cooper's wife, Sheila Roche-Cooper '77, and their son, Connor Cooper, established the endowed scholarship in August 2018 in honor of the late chair of the LVC Foreign Languages Department. The inaugural gift from the scholarship, which will provide support in perpetuity, enabled Seltzer to study in Valladolid, Spain, this semester.

"I am beyond grateful for this scholarship for many reasons, primarily because it contributes to my goal to become bilingual," said Seltzer. "Captain Cooper demonstrated that language should not be a barrier between worlds, but rather as a passageway to connect and learn from each other."

The Captain Charles Thomas Cooper III Don Quixote Scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need; provides evidence of academic excellence; and exemplifies strong character and leadership. This scholarship was created to enhance the student's non-English language skills in their mission to become an ambassador of goodwill in making our world a better place.

Capt. Cooper lived his life as an ambassador of goodwill. Throughout his career as a naval officer, professor of Spanish, and citizen of the world his character, courage, honor, and commitment to service exemplified his belief in true human goodness, valuing everyone he met and every experience in life. It was his belief that his time on earth should be characterized by the positive imprint he left behind. This is epitomized by his leadership on the battlefield, his dedication to his students in the classroom, his generosity and kindness toward others, and his love of family, friends, and life. He believed firmly for one to achieve true success you must leave your comfort zone and embrace the adventures and challenges of life with hope, hard work, kindness, and optimism.

Captain Charles T. Cooper III served as a World War II naval officer before teaching Spanish at LVC for 14 years, where he also served as chair of the Foreign Languages Department. Before LVC, Capt. Cooper was chair of the Foreign Languages Department at his undergraduate alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy.

During his quarter century of military service-which spanned World War II (naval officer), the Korean War (submarine commander), and Vietnam War (instructor for future officers and submarine officers-Capt. Cooper served on several ships during the second World War, including the Hornet when it sunk at the Battle of Santa Cruz, the Washington at the Battle of Savo Island, and as gunner officer, engineering officer, executive officer, and ultimately commander of the USS Spikefish, which sank the last Japanese submarine of the war.

"The language faculty are very grateful for the generosity of the Cooper family," said McEvoy. "This gift will help students with financial need achieve dreams never imagined; studying abroad in an LVC sponsored or supported program where French, German, or Spanish languages are studied."

A beloved and respected educator and leader, Capt. Cooper was memorialized by a faculty colleague after his death in October 2017.

"As department chair, Charlie gave us full responsibility for developing our curricula," said former colleague Dr. James Scott, professor emeritus of German. "He encouraged experimentation while holding fast to the conviction that we were to teach language, culture, and the literary tradition in every field."

Learn more about how gifts expand LVC's educational and social impact.

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