Illustrious Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, 33°, Grand Cross, President of The George Washington University (GW), Washington, D.C., and Sovereign Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, are not only the best of fraternal friends but also very strong supporters of the Scottish Rite Scholarship Program at GW. Thus, it is a particular pleasure to them to receive letters of thanks from Scottish Rite scholarship recipients. The following comments are extracted from six of the thank-you notes received from eight 2000–2001 scholarship recipients. They are representative of the gratitude felt by the many students supported by Scottish Rite scholarships across the Southern Jurisdiction.

"I am a freshman recipient of a Scottish Rite Scholarship. I came from Nashville, Tennessee, to study international relations at GW. Presently, I am studying Italian, International Relations, Human Geography, Religion (Western and Eastern), and Comparative Politics. I hope to pursue a career in the U.S. State Department after graduation. I want to thank you for myself and for my family. My parents are currently sending two other children to college, which makes Scottish Rite support even more appreciated!" Elizabeth Patton

"For the past two years, I have received a Scottish Rite Scholarship at GW. This has allowed me to pursue a double major, Biology and Spanish, as part of my plan to enter medical school when I graduate in 2001. I have made the Dean's list every semester and maintained a 3.95 grade point average. In addition, I have enhanced my educational experience by working part-time on campus and, during the summer, at Martele Biosciences Corporation in Columbia, Maryland. My extra curricular activities include volunteering at the GW Hospital's Oncology Department, being an officer of GW's American Medical Students Association, and participating in the GW Peer Advisors Program. My father is an active member in the Valley of Baltimore, and, like me, he really appreciates the Scottish Rite assistance I am receiving." Deanna McCullough

"As a recipient from Orange, Connecticut, of a 2000–2001 Scottish Rite Scholarship, I want to thank you for awarding me this honor. My majors in International Affairs and Political Science involve classes in U.S. foreign policy, Spanish, Economics, and Music. As a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, I give campus tours and work in the GW Student Alumni Society. Following some years in the Foreign Service of the U.S. State Department after I graduate, I hope to run for an elected office in government. Thank you for this scholarship and for giving me the opportunity not only to study at The George Washington University but also to be of service to my country." Matthew Farber

"The generosity of your organization is deeply appreciated. Without support from the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, I could not pursue my double major of Environmental Studies and Geography. Attending GW is very challenging and exciting. I cannot wait for the start of my senior year, which I hope to complete as successfully as my first three years at GW." Alyssa Campbell

"My mother's father, William Ledewitz, is a member of the Scottish Rite. He, my parents, and I are very grateful for the Scottish Rite support I have received in my freshman year at GW. I am extremely interested in my majors, International Affairs and Political Science, and I hope to study abroad during my college career. My special interest is International Law, and there is no better place, in my opinion, to study these subjects than in our nation's capital and at GW. I thoroughly enjoy representing GW at rugby matches and at tournaments around the country. In fact, we are the proud winners of our most recent tournament, the Rocky Gorge Cup, defeating, among others, Johns Hopkins University. I sincerely appreciate the Scottish Rite scholarship. It has made my college experience that much better." Ariel Haendler

"I am from Massachusetts, but decided to come to the nation's capital and to GW for the demanding educational experience and the internship possibilities the city offers. I will be graduating this year with a Bachelor's in Business Administration and a major concentration on Environmental Policy and Management. My hobbies—scuba diving, photography, golf, and marine research—relate to my majors. During my four years at GW, I have been able to secure several related internships as well as a two-year stint as a member of the GW golf team. Attending GW has provided me with significant steps toward my life aspirations of entering the field of environmental consulting. Thank you!" Edward W. Zalewski