Albert D. Austin Jr. Memorial Scholarship

The Albert D. Austin Jr. Memorial Scholarship was established to assist students who reflect the heritage, the values, and the aspirations that we attribute to and associate with our brother, Albert D. Austin Jr. who we affectionately called “Butchie”. He was a young 25-year-old Hispanic man, respectful and considerate. He was a talented mechanic with a high school education seeking to expand his horizons and his opportunities as an automotive technician through education and on-the-job experience. Butchie was proud of his country, and, in 1967, he decided to delay his enrollment into Mesa Community College’s Vocational program to enter the Army. He chose to serve his country as a helicopter mechanic for the US Army where he could further develop his technical skills. In 1968, after completing his training, he was assigned to Vietnam as a Helicopter Crew Chief. He was stationed on the front lines during heat of the 1968 Tet Offensive. The conflict was intense and in April 1968, he was killed in action while engaged in a reconnaissance mission. We miss him dearly!

While Butchie was not able to complete his dreams, we are delighted to give others an opportunity to pursue their aspirations with the support provided by a scholarship that was established in his memory.