Among CFMV’s 2024 scholarship recipients is Jackson-Milton High School valedictorian Aiden Cole, who is enrolled in Dartmouth College’s Philosophy, Politics and Economics program. He received the Purple Heart Gary Gutelius Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to veterans who have received the Purple Heart or their descendants; Cole’s great-grandfather received the honor.
We recently posed a few questions to the new scholarship recipient, and below are Aiden’s thoughts on his great-grandfather’s military service, the impact of the scholarship he received and his future education and professional plans.
What are your goals/plans for the future in general?
In the future, I hope to have a career that leverages my innate skills and also builds on the knowledge I gain while attaining a bachelors degree. I feel like law and law school come very naturally to me, and I have a desire to be in the courtroom, where I can argue my cases and become notorious for high quality legal work. Some of my other general goals include being the first person in my family to graduate from college and earn a bachelors degree, and subsequently become the first person in my family to earn a professional degree as well. Furthering my education beyond a bachelors degree is something I am already thinking about because of the opportunities it will afford me.
Can you summarize your education plans and goals?
As the valedictorian of Jackson Milton High School and proud member of Dartmouth College’s Class of 2028, I hope to pursue an inspiring career in legal services. After attending college as a first-generation student, I hope to pursue a career as a public defender.
As I continue to make grand strides towards my goals, I am continuing to look for more ways to further serve my community. Almost all of Ohio’s counties, especially rural ones, are in desperate need of young, talented lawyers. I take a great sense of pride in saying that I am working to be one of those future talented public servants— one who can contribute to my community as an outstanding citizen while providing excellent legal services.
Ohio will soon be offering a rural practice incentive, which offers law school tuition reimbursement for lawyers serving rural Ohio. As someone who was raised and currently lives in rural Ohio, coming back to be of service to my community after receiving a stellar education both at Dartmouth College, and at Yale Law School (which I hope to later attend) will be a symbolic moment of pride in both myself and my community. This full circle moment will come with the reflection of all the support my community has given me, and how they have propelled me to this point.
My career in law will be both personally and professionally fulfilling, while remaining challenging enough to keep me engaged and satisfied. I eventually want to open my own law practice after my time as a public defender in rural Ohio. Offering these much-needed legal services to my community is critical to the function of the justice system at all levels.
A career in law will be no easy feat. I know I have many more steps to take, and goals to achieve before it is a real possibility. However, I have shown personal and academic success thus far and believe that a successful career as a lawyer is bound to happen if I continue to work hard to achieve my goals. Being able to attend an Ivy League college as the first member of my family to attend college is just one example of my ability to not just succeed, but to succeed with passion and excellence. To me, practicing law is more than just making an excellent case, it is about making a difference in my community, both for the lives of individuals and for the greater good.
Why did you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics? Why at your particular university?
I chose the PPE Program because of the rare opportunity to study multiple subjects under one umbrella major. I believe that this well-rounded approach will serve me well in the legal field. As for why I chose Dartmouth, they are well known for their prestigious undergraduate focused liberal arts programs, and strong social sciences. I also loved the tightly knit campus culture, rural setting, and how I felt welcome on campus despite feeling like such a prestigious college was beyond me and my means. Their generosity in making Dartmouth the most affordable school in the world for someone in my income bracket also made my college choice abundantly clear.
Why do you believe education is important? How do you hope to use your education now and into the future to benefit your community?
Education has been the propellant of my success in life thus far. Education has allowed me to have experiences I would never have had otherwise. Education has allowed me to change in meaningful ways and become the best version of myself. It taught me to work hard and accept the consequences of my actions. My education will allow me to impact my community when I come back home after receiving a world class education at Dartmouth, where I will then be able to represent those in my community who cannot represent themselves.
What has been the most challenging aspect of your education journey so far? How about the most rewarding aspect of your education journey so far?
Attending an Ivy League institution comes with its own set of challenges, namely imposter syndrome. I can sometimes feel like I don’t deserve a place on campus because I don’t have as many achievements or accomplishments as some of the others in my class and I wonder what I did to deserve a spot in the classroom. But in those doubts also comes the rewarding aspect: that my high school career and all the effort I put in to excel both in and outside of the classroom for those four years was seen by Dartmouth and valued. That is truly rewarding.
How do you foresee your scholarship award from the Community Foundation contributing to your college experience?
This scholarship means so much to me both financially and emotionally. Knowing that our nations wounded combat veterans have put their faith in me and my education is inspiring and I cannot wait to show them that they made a good decision in doing so. I also am excited to carry a piece of my community with me to college, knowing that I have the full support of my community to follow my dreams. Financially, the scholarship funds are instrumental in helping me to afford the things that Dartmouths aid does not cover, such as books, flights, transportation, and other expenses that quickly add up. Having the Community Foundation cover the last weight off of my chest means that I can fully focus on my coursework and make the most of my time as a student.
As a recipient of the Purple Heart Scholarship, please describe what the sacrifice of the veterans that served mean to you, and how do you believe that you do or can, honor that sacrifice today?
I never met my great grandfather. His sacrifice is something that is only an echo in my grandmothers home. As his daughter, she passes on memories of him to me and his other great grandchildren. Her dad would never talk about the war. He would always get upset when his own grandfather would ever talk about the war. He kept his war experience to himself, as it was very traumatic to him. He had been shot in the foot during a battle. After he came home, the war continued to haunt him through PTSD. During storms, he would often dive under tables because of the crack of thunder. He was a very kind person, but the war changed him.
My grandmother said he always wanted his children to be good people. That was something his service taught him. He was such a hard worker, and passed that onto his children, including my grandmother. These qualities have been passed down through the generations, all the way to me.
A veteran I did meet, however, was my grandmother. While she never won any award for combat, she did serve during WWII. She was a part of WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), which was the Navy’s program to fill empty spots in the Navy with women. She holds the distinct honor of being one of the first women to serve in the Navy.
She holds a special place in my heart. Her service meant that she paved the way for women to work in the service. Today, everyone is able to serve their country because of her sacrifice. We honor her service everyday. I am so thankful for the work she did to preserve our community and country. My ancestors served our country for our families and our communities, and I hope that I can honor our legacy by being an upstanding citizen everyday.