Air Force Association Announces the 2013 Ferretti Scholarship Recipient

The Air Force Association (AFA) today announced Brianna Bowen of Gilmanton Ironworks, New Hampshire, as the 2013 recipient of the Lt Col (Ret) Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship.

This year, the scholarship provided Ms. Bowen with $5,000 towards continuing her education at Keene State College in Biology and Pre-med studies. In high school, she participated in Student Council and was a member of the National Honor Society. Ms. Bowen was also the President of the Prom Committee, Editor of the Yearbook Committee, Manager of the Varsity Soccer team, and a New Hampshire State Scholar. This summer she was accepted into St. Paul’s School Advanced Studies Program to study Biomedical Ethics for six weeks at a college level.

“We are excited about Ms. Bowen’s academic future and we are honored to be able to help support her educational pursuits,” said Lew Ferretti, executor of the estate of the late Lt Col Romeo Ferretti and Josephine Bass Ferretti. “She continues to be an example of a motivated student who is dedicated to succeeding in a variety of areas. Her commitment to her education makes her a deserving recipient of this scholarship.”

This scholarship is made possible by a remarkable endowment that was established through a bequest of the late Lt Col Ferretti of Bourne, MA, and a personal gift from the late Mrs. Ferretti. The $250,000 endowment from the Ferretti estate, managed by Amy Mowbray and Col Lew Ferretti, USMCR (Ret), makes possible a yearly scholarship to minor dependents of active duty or retired Air Force, Air Force Reserve, or Air National Guard enlisted Airmen with consideration of both merit and need. The first scholarships were distributed in 2007.

“College expenses continue to increase each year, which can deter students from pursuing higher education goals,” said Amy Mowbray. “Ms. Bowen’s enthusiasm for academic growth proves that this scholarship will truly serve as an investment in a bright student’s future.”

The late Lt Col Ferretti and his late wife were long time supporters of AFA and advocates of education. Lt Col Ferretti served in the Air Force for more than 23 years, beginning in World War II with the Army Air Corps where he volunteered for flight training. He went on to fly in the P-61 Black Widow night-fighter. On Easter Sunday in 1945, he was shot down over enemy territory, but was able to parachute to safety and evade capture. After retirement in 1966, he became a stockbroker and financial planner.

Mrs. Ferretti was a secondary and high school teacher and retired after 30 years of teaching. While she and her husband were stationed at MacDill AFB, Florida, she taught Airmen from the base their General Education Degree program requirements as well as other courses. She said the reason for the scholarship fund is for children of Airmen, noting her husband Romeo did not have the money available to attend college and wanted to see more children have that opportunity. Originally from Opelika, Alabama, Mrs. Ferretti and her late husband had called Tampa, Florida, their home.

“The Ferretti Scholarship is one of the many programs that allows AFA to support students as they continue on the path to academic excellence,” said Jerry White, AFA’s Vice Chairman of the Board for Aerospace Education. “AFA genuinely appreciates the great generosity of the Ferretti’s, and their vision for establishing this longstanding support system for our young people.”
For more information on other AFA scholarship programs, visit http://www.afa.org/AFA/InformationFor/Military/Scholarships, or contact Lynette Cross at 703-247-5800 Ext 4807 or LCross@afa.org.