VFW Post 981 awards 2024 scholarships

Arlington VFW Post 981 has awarded the 2024 Wally Luettschwager Memorial Scholarship grant and the Bob Henderson Scholarship to Ava Harwood and Brian Cantieri respectively. Both scholarships were each worth $3,000.

Ava Harwood, a resident of Arlington Heights, graduated from Hersey High School this May. She is looking to major in business at university this fall. While at Hersey she played in three sports — basketball, lacrosse and volleyball — as well as participating in service opportunities like Peer Tutor and Service Over Self. She is also active in her church, St. James, volunteering in 2023 on a summer mission trip to Puerto Rico. Both her grandfathers served in Vietnam, one in the Army and the other in the Navy.

Brian Cantieri is a resident of Mount Prospect and graduated in 2024 from Prospect High School. He played three varsity sports there — golf, basketball and track — as well as other academic and leadership achievements like Peer Tutor and Knight’s Way Leadership. He is an Eagle Scout. He will be attending university in the fall, majoring in systems design and engineering. His grandfather served in the Army during World War II. By the way, his brother Kevin won the Wally Leuttschwager scholarship in 2022.

Wally Luettschwager and Bob Henderson were Army Korean War veterans and Post 981 members. Bob received a Purple Heart for wounds received. Wally was a lifelong resident of Arlington Heights, who came home and was an active member of Post 981 for over 60 years in many capacities including commander. His bequest funds the annual award given in his honor. Lynn Munson, Bob’s daughter, donates in Bob’s memory to support his scholarship.