Each recipient will be awarded $500 toward public affairs and visual information professional education that will advance their careers in service to the Army and the nation. These monetary awards can be used for online or in-person opportunities.
Program guidelines and application information are available on the association website at http://www.apaa.clubexpress.com/ . Application deadline for the inaugural Class of 2024 is May 15, 2024.
In addition to being known for his determination and success in making the Army’s newspaper and command information programs world class, Carr also equally emphasized continuous professional development in all areas of public affairs. His dedication ensured generations of public affairs and visual information specialists were “the best that they could be.” He retired from a lifetime of official service to America after more than 42 years combined service as an Army Public Affairs leader – an Army master sergeant and Department of the Army civilian. His last official assignment was as the Director of Public Affairs at Fort Belvoir, Va., an Army community he grew passionate about during his time there. Following Carr’s full retirement, he continued to serve by tirelessly pursuing his lifelong passion of mentoring and coaching Army public affairs and visual information professionals. Carr was the recipient of the association’s Joe Galloway Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and was inducted into the Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame that same year.
“Our family is extremely grateful to everyone in the Army Public Affairs Association for keeping my father's memory alive,” said Ranee Elter, Carr’s daughter. “Words cannot express how much it means to us that this scholarship was created in his honor. We hope this scholarship continues my dad’s legacy by ensuring his dedication to his storytelling craft lives on.”
“Don Carr is an icon of the Army Public Affairs community. His passion for telling the Army story, and the stories of Soldiers’ and Families’ selfless service and sacrifice, is renowned across the career field and across generations of Army PAOs,” said Rebecca Wriggle, president of the Army Public Affairs Association. “He was always generous with his experience and counsel, and always for the betterment of all of us who serve our Army as communcators. We could not imagine a more appropriate way to honor his legacy than to support the professional development of our public affairs and visual information community in this way. This has been a long held aspiration of the association, and I am so thankful and honored for the good fortune of timimg to be the one on behalf of so many to bring it finally to life.”
The scholarship program is made possible by its founding sponsor, DCG Communications of Washington, DC. (https://dcgcommunications.com/). DCG Director and Program Manager Tom McCuin offered on behalf of Adam Clampitt, DCG CEO, and everyone at the company, that they could not be more delighted to sponsor this program with the association.
“DCG is proud to be the founding sponsor for the Donald Nathan Carr Memorial Scholarship for Public Affairs Excellence,” McCuin said. “We know this investment in the Army’s public affairs and visual information community will both honor Don’s legacy and ensure his brand of excellence is carried forward for generations to come. DCG shares Don’s values of excellence, commitment and giving back in return. We are very excited to be a founding part of this program,” McCuin added.
"We could not be more grateful for DCG's support,' Wriggle added. "This program is even possible because of DCG's generous sponsorship which truly reflects their core values and corporate ethos. Our partnership with DCG will make a meaningful difference for Army public affairs and visual information professionals in the years ahead. In this way, we'll make a meaningful difference together for Don's beloved career field and for our Army."
Those interested in expanding their public affairs or visual information career and experiencea are encouraged to apply for the Donald Nathan Carr Scholarship for Public Affairs Excellence. Selectees will be notified by email following association Board selections in mid-June.
Anyone interested in making a donation to the Donald Nathan Carr Scholarship for Public Affairs Excellence fund may do so in any amount also through the website at the Donations tab. Each $500 in collected donations will add a scholarship to the program. The APAA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
For questions or more information, contact any board member, or email Wriggle at president@armypublicaffairsassociation.org.
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