1LT Omar Vazquez Term Scholarship

In May of 2024, Mr. Clayton Sembler announced to The Citadel Foundation the intention to establish the non-endowed 1LT Omar Vazquez Term Scholarship. Mr. Sembler gift is in honor of his friend Ryan James Guthrie, who respectfully deferred the honor gift to be in memory of a fallen soldier, 1LT Omar Vazquez. 1LT Omar Vazquez was a Field Artillery officer from Hamilton, New Jersey, who served with Fox Troop 2/3ACR. He and his gunner PFC Antonio Stiggins were killed in Al Kut, Iraq on April 22, 2011, when an EFP struck their vehicle. Lieutenant Vazquez graduated from Rider University with a BA and attended Rutgers University-Camden where he would join Army ROTC and graduate with a master’s degree in liberal studies. He overcame significant personal obstacles to fulfill his dream of leading soldiers. 9/11 was a critical event in his life and cemented his desire to join the Army and serve his country. He was well liked and respected by his peers and the soldiers he led. He was chosen to lead a Scout PLT due to his demonstrated leadership and tactical capabilities despite being an FA officer. The primary purpose of the non-endowed 1LT Omar Vazquez Term Scholarship is to provide financial resources to support cadets who have signed or intend to sign a contract with the United States military. To allow the most flexibility to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, the balance of the fund may be spent in one year or over the course of multiple years. The 2024-2025 academic year shall be the first year the scholarship will be available for spending, and the donor has the option to renew funding of the scholarship on an annual basis.