Holt Logistics Awards Scholarships to Four Gloucester City Students
GLOUCESTER, N.J. – Leadership and military veterans from Holt Logistics Corp, as well as Gloucester City Mayor William James and city officials, gathered today to present four graduating seniors from Gloucester City with $500 scholarships each to be used for their matriculation to the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Naval Academy in Annapolis in the fall. Three of the students, Nicholas Marks, Brandon Wethman and Devin McCall, are graduates of Gloucester Catholic High School andrepresent the first time in Gloucester Catholic history that three seniors were simultaneously accepted into the prestigious military academy in West Point, NY. The fourth scholarship recipient, Brett Kraft, is a graduating senior at Gloucester City High School and will be matriculating to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
“The sons and daughters of Gloucester City have answered the call of service to their country dating back to revolutionary times,” said Gloucester City Mayor William James. “It is no surprise our city schools produced this quartet of fine cadets to join the ranks of the storied West Point and Naval Academies. On behalf of the residents of Gloucester City, we wish these four students all the best in their endeavors and thank them for their commitment to honor the virtues of our country.”
Each of the four scholarship recipients exemplify the physical, mental and social prowess needed to be accepted into the prestigious Military and Naval Academies, and all shared a goal of entering into military service from a very young age.
Nicholas Marks is a dedicated swimmer, participating in both the Gloucester Catholic High School swim team and a private club team. After making the New Jersey state finals last year, he was approached by a recruiter from West Point and, after making one visit to the campus, committed to the program on the spot. He capped a busy senior year of community service, school and swim with a return trip to state finals, where he took home 1st place in the 100m Fly and 2nd in the 50m Freestyle. He plans to enroll into the JAG program at West Point.
Brandon Wethman was a varsity lacrosse starter and captain of the varsity football team at Gloucester Catholic. Yet he also showed a strong academic commitment, serving as most recent president of the Marian chapter of the National Honors Society, Gloucester Catholic History Club and finishing in the top 10 percent of his class with a 4.3 GPA. His extensive community involvement includes serving as first sergeant of the Gloucester County Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, volunteering with the St. John of God School and the Camden Cathedral Soup Kitchen. He plans on majoring in military history or defense and strategic studies at West Point.
Devin McCall carried a 3.9 GPA during his time at Gloucester Catholic while also breaking several school records on his way to being voted High School MVP for the Gloucester Catholic swim team. He made several trips to the New Jersey State Swimming Championships and was named to the USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Team this past year. McCall also regularly volunteers with the Cathedral Soup Kitchen in Camden, Gloucester County Chapter of the Red Cross and helps coach a local youth swim team for children 8 and under.
Brett Kraft was a member of the Gloucester City High School varsity soccer, swim and track teams and served as class president for all four years of high school. He was nominated by U.S. Congressman Robert Andrews (D-1) after writing to the congressman in March 2012 to request consideration. Brett will be pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and, upon graduation in 2017, will be an Ensign in the Navy, and Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps – where he will then serve five years.
“As a former military officer and 2001 graduate of West Point, it is an outstanding day to see the long gray line extended to these three future leaders of America's sons and daughters,” said PJ Inskeep, Manager of Operations for Holt Logistics Corp. “The journey and eventual responsibility these young men will have while leading soldiers in combat exemplify the selfless servants that make the United States military the absolute best organization in the world. Holt Logistics Corp is proud to support these young men who embody the pillars of duty, honor and country.”
The scholarships are a first for Holt Logistics Corp, which has a long history of hiring returning veterans, beginning with the late Tom Holt Sr., who began work with the company immediately following a seven-year stint in the US Naval Reserve with active duty in Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The company had been seeking ways to further support local young adults that choose to serve their country. When President Leo A. Holt happened upon an article profiling the three boys and their unique circumstances for being accepted to West Point, he immediately reached out to Stephan G. Murphy, State Coordinator of the United States Military Academy, to contact the students and arrange for the scholarship donation. The students will apply their scholarship towards books and school supplies as they begin their first semester this fall.
About Holt Logistics Corp.
Holt Logistics Corp. is a technology, marketing and corporate service organization. Holt Logistics Corp. provides transportation and logistics management solutions in dynamic segments of the transportation industry such as truck and rail transportation, marine terminal services, warehousing and logistics management. The philosophy of Holt Logistics Corp. and its client companies is to provide the safest, highest quality, and competitively priced cargo movement solutions for targeted market niches.