Tuskegee Airmen Announce 2025 Award Recipients

WAPPINGERS FALLS – An Off-Broadway performance of “Black Angels Over Tuskegee” will highlight a night of festivities at the 27th Annual Major General Irene Trowell-Harris Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Tuition Assistance Gala on February 1, 2025. The Gala event will be held at Villa Borghese, Wappingers Falls NY at 6:00-11:00PM.

Tickets can be purchased at the chapter website www.tai-ny.org

On the evening, nine local high school seniors will be awarded nine Tuskegee Airmen Endowment Fund Scholarship. 2025 Recipients are: Tyler Cloidt-Minisink Valley HS, Salome Vergara-Poughkeepsie HS, Madison Kiley- New Paltz HS, Joshua Meekins- Cornwall HS, Abigail Fontana- Washingtonville HS, Cole Garvey- Newburgh Free Academy, Hannah Johnson- Fallsburg HS, Quillar Baidy- Middletown HS, and Mahogany Jean-Charles- Poughkeepsie HS.

All scholarship recipients will be honored at the gala event with $1,000.00 or $2,000.00 designated named scholarships from the endowment host, the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan.

During the night’s festivities, two members of the Hudson Valley Community will be honored for their commitment to youth. Father Mark Connell will receive the Major General Irene Trowell-Harris Leadership Award on behalf of San Miguel Academy and Harold Rayford of Newburgh Zion Lions, will receive the chapter’s Mentor Award.

The Major General Irene Trowell-Harris Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen 27th Annual Tuition Assistance Celebration highlights the outstanding achievements of the hardworking and dedicated students of the Hudson Valley and beyond. The chapter wants to make sure that tuition award opportunities remain available for college bound or technical school high school seniors. The chapter, which was chartered as the 42nd chapter of the famed Tuskegee Airmen national organization in 1998, annually award tuition assistance for the purpose of keeping the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen alive. The chapter has awarded over $350,000.00 to more than 330 students since the chapter was chartered. “The Tuskegee Airmen Legacy Provide a bright path for our Youth” will be the theme for the evening. The Tuskegee Airmen will be honored with a special “Lonely Eagles Ceremony”.

Chapter Goals support and are inspired by those of the national Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. The chapter promotes the interest and honors the memory of the historic men and women who served in the Army Air Corp at Tuskegee, Alabama during the 1940s. The chapter supports the programs of the Lee A. Archer Jr. Red Tail Youth Flying Program and RedTail Flight Academy.

The Chapter highlights include top nationally recognized awards; the 2022 Aviation Week Network Grand Laureate Award, 2024 Stinson Award and the 2024 Brewer Trophy award. “We tell the story of the aspirations, frustrations and, most importantly, the successes of these pioneering men and women, everyday, in every forum possible,” says Duane Ware, chapter president. “Their history and legacy provide the vehicle to motivate our youth towards aviation and aerospace careers.”