ARLINGTON, Va. - As far back as she can remember, Jacqueline Ray-Morris knew of the famous Tuskegee Airmen and their legacy to black Americans. In her case, she considers herself a key example of how the nation's first black fighter pilots opened educational opportunities for thousands.
"I'm a key example because they broke down so many barriers in my education," said Ray-Morris. "Now, I'm giving back to an organization that really helped me get where I am."
Ray-Morris was appointed Scholarship Selection Committee chairperson for the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation (TASF).
She learned of her appointment after receiving a Jan. 10 letter from the foundation's president, Jerry Hodges.
It's a volunteer position, which she accepted, but did not apply for. Her best explanation for the appointment is that her position as minority college outreach manager for the National Guard Bureau, and her work with other community-based and black organizations, was noticed and appreciated.
Now, she is the first African-American female to serve as the committee's chairperson.
She will work with its members in their grant selections as well as assist its national chapters.
The TASF provides scholarships to high school seniors in partnership with the 52 chapters of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. As of 2007, the foundation's grants totaled more than $1.2 million for 882 scholars.
"There are a lot of people who are not aware of who [the Tuskegee Airmen] were, what they did and their accomplishments," said Farrell Chiles, a TSAF board member, and Army Reserve warrant officer, who recommended Ray-Morris.
Past and present Tuskegee scholars, Tuskegee University and the TASF are united by the historic actions of the nation's first black Airmen to serve in the Army Air Force. Nearly 1,000 of them trained at Tuskegee Airfield, Ala., in 1940-1946 to earn their silver pilot wings and fight the German Air Force, as well as battle stereotype, inequality and racism. Of their many awards and distinctions, a recent highlight was receiving the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush in 2007.
"A purpose of the scholarship is to maintain that legacy by investing in the future," said Chiles.
By volunteering with the TASF, Ray-Morris said she will not only honor the Tuskegee legacy but will play an important role this year in awarding 41 TASF scholarships for $1,500 and one scholarship for $20,000.
"That money helps an awful lot," she said. Especially, she added, for low income students with great grades but who may not have the money to attend college.
Ray-Morris knows firsthand the challenges that face minorities in higher education. She is a college graduate from Hampton University; a historically black college.
For the Guard, Ray-Morris travels to historically black, Latino and other minority colleges. In those visits, she joins local Guard recruiters to build relations with college administrators and speak with students about careers available in the Department of Defense; not only in the military, but in civil service.
She admitted that speaking with students is a favorite part of her job, and she speaks to them as a whole, not just minority students.
"When historically black colleges and universities were organized back in 1869, all that went there were African Americans, and it's the same with other minority-serving institutions," she said. "But these organizations of higher learning now have all cultures," she said.
Ray-Morris said she is "just grateful to be able to make a difference in students' lives."
"I've looked at avenues that I was able to use," she said, "and here is another avenue that I am able say 'there's a door open now, do you stand in front of it, or do you walk through it ... hey, let's walk through it.'"