TIFTON--Charles Crosby from Tifton is the first recipient of the Harold Bascom “Pinky” Durham Jr. Endowed Scholarship at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Created by the family and friends of Durham, the scholarship provides support for veteran students at ABAC. Durham was an ABAC alumnus who was killed in Vietnam while serving in the United States Army. For his heroism on the battlefield, he was named a posthumous Medal of Honor recipient.
Dr. Deidre Martin, ABAC’s Chief Development Officer, said that ABAC students who receive this scholarship must possess the qualities Durham embodied such as courage, sacrifice, devotion, and duty.
Stephen M. Orlofsky, one of Durham’s classmates in Officer Candidate School, said, “Pinky Durham would be proud to know that Charles Crosby is receiving a scholarship in his name. Charles is a worthy recipient of this scholarship, having served in the military with distinction.”
Crosby is an Army National Guard retiree who served in Iraq. He received his associate degree in nursing from ABAC in May and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing at ABAC. His goal is to become a nurse practitioner and practice in rural South Georgia.
In his scholarship essay, Crosby wrote, “I’ve always wanted to do work that I felt had meaning. ABAC has been great at helping veterans transition to college life. I am very impressed by the value that ABAC places on programs for veterans.”
Durham’s life is captured in detail in the Freedom Gallery exhibit located in Tift Hall on ABAC’s campus. His Medal of Honor is the centerpiece of the display. The Freedom Gallery is free of charge and open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
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