The advisory committee of the OOIDA Mary Johnston Scholarship Fund recently released the names of the top five scholarship recipients for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year.

OOIDA Mary Johnston Scholarship Chairman Bill Rode said that of the more than 90 applications the committee received this year, it was hard to narrow the field down to the five winners who were chosen.

“Every year, these young people continue to impress me with their work ethic and commitment to their studies in whatever they want to do,” Rode said.

During the past 14 years, the committee has helped 71 students achieve their dreams of going on to college or trade school.

Tony “Derek” Patrick of Danielsville, GA, is this year’s winner. He receives a $2,000 scholarship for his first year of school, which he can renew for another three years for a total amount of $8,000. He is the son of OOIDA Member Tony D. Patrick, of Danielsville, GA. He plans to study diesel equipment technology at Athens Technical College in Athens, GA.

The committee also awarded four $1,000 scholarships this year.

Cherise Cerocke of West Brooklyn, IL, was awarded one of the $1,000 scholarships. She is the stepdaughter of OOIDA Member Mark F. Mortell. Her intended major is pre-architecture at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL.

Nereida Herrera of Panorama City, CA, was also selected for one of the $1,000 awards. She is the daughter of OOIDA Member Gustavo Herrera. Her intended major is Applied Mathematics/Physics at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA.

Another $1,000 scholarship winner is Coral Lindenberg of Jonestown, PA. She is the granddaughter of OOIDA Life Member H. Glenn Winebarger Jr., of Jonestown, PA. She plans to major in nursing at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD.

Tyler Wolfe of Palm Desert, CA, was also named as a $1,000 recipient. He is the son of OOIDA Senior Member John E. Wolfe Jr. His intended major is plant science at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA.

They will all receive $1,000 awards that can be renewed for up to four years.

This year’s runner-up recipient for the $1,000 scholarship is Desmond Decker of Waukon, IA. He plans to major in mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville, WI. He is the grandson of OOIDA Life Member Wayne Howe.

Students who are eligible for the scholarships include the children, grandchildren and legal dependents of dues-paying OOIDA members.

Shell Rotella donated $10,000 to the scholarship fund for the third year in a row.

“We deeply appreciate all of the support we have received for our scholarship fund,” Rode said. “Helping our nation’s young people is a project we value highly. These students we have chosen are all so deserving.”