Announcing the Open Application Period for the LeBleu, McKeehan, Williams & Willis Scholarship – March 1, 2018 to June 1, 2018.
In keeping with the pledge to never forget our fallen brothers and sisters and with the stated objectives of the ATF Association Foundation, the foundation’s board of directors are pleased to announce the establishment of the LeBleu, McKeehan, Williams & Willis Scholarship recognizing the ultimate sacrifices made by ATF Special Agents Conway C. LeBleu, Todd W. McKeehan, Robert J. Williams and Steven D. Willis at the Branch Davidian Compound located near Waco, Texas, on February 28, 1993.
In general, the LeBleu, McKeehan, Williams & Willis Scholarship will be awarded to a deserving and needful student sponsored by an ATF Association Member in good standing.
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE LEBLEU, MCKEEHAN, WILLIAMS & WILLIS SCHOLARSHIP.
Eligibility: The awardee must be the child, grandchild or great grandchild of a member of the ATF Association and be a High School Senior or post graduate starting college for the first time during the 2018-2019 School Year.
Application: Please provide a written composition between 300 and 500 words that best answers the following two questions: a) Why do you believe that you deserve the scholarship? and b) How do your accomplishments thus far exemplify some of those achieved by the men after which this scholarship is named?
Your full name, address, telephone number.
The name of the ATF Association member sponsoring you and your relationship to that person.
The name and address of your high school and your anticipated graduation date.
The name of the college/university you will be attending, your starting date and your major course of study if selected.
Award Process: Applications will be reviewed by three members review board consisting of members of the ATF Association. The awardee(s) will be selected based on the quality of the responses provided to the questions posed above in a and b.
What is the ATF Association Foundation?
The ATF Association Foundation is a tax-exempt IRS 501 (c) (3), charitable organization. As a public charity, it can accept donations from individuals and/or corporations.
Who established the ATF Association Foundation?
The foundation was established by the ATF Association (ATFA), a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of Iowa, consisting of former and current employees of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in 2012. [www.atfassociation.org].
Why does the ATF Association Foundation exist?
The Foundation was established to provide aid and financial assistance to ATFA members in need, as well as survivors of members in times of stress, financial difficulty or impoverishment. The Foundation also aids dependents of deceased law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the enforcement of federal, state or local laws. In addition, scholarships may be offered to members and the children and grandchildren of members based on financial need, academic achievement and leadership qualities, however, none of the criteria is weighed more than another by the Foundation’s board members in determining grants.
How can YOU help the ATF Association Foundation?
Contributions and donations are the keys to its mission and continued success. Funds are needed to respond to a need which may arise suddenly without warning and to sustain the Foundation’s scholarship program.
On Saturday, October 7, 2017, ATF Special Agent Mike Namey of ATF Pittsburgh Group I, was involved in a serious accident in Altoona, PA. Mike was flown by Life Flight twice, first from the crash site to Altoona Hospital, and then again to Alleghany County General Hospital (AGH) in Pittsburgh, PA. An AGH trauma surgeon conducted an initial assessment of Mike's injuries and determined he has a traumatic brain injury, fractured ribs, fractured clavicle and scapula, pneumothorax and hemothorax. AGH neurosurgeons took aggressive measures to stabilize his broken bones and reduce his fever. The neurosurgeons are closely monitoring his intracranial pressure every hour. At this time, his intracranial pressure is stable and his temperature is being maintained by a cooling blanket. Mike is currently intubated and doctors anticipate a long road to recovery. Doctors remain hopeful for a full recovery.
Mike and his wife Brittani have two little girls, Ebbie and Addie, ages 4 and 6. Mike has only been in the field for approximately two years. Due to his amount of time on the job, he does not have a significant amount of sick or annual leave built up. Mike is being enrolled for leave donations but he will likely have to exhaust his sick and annual leave first.
Whenever someone in our Federal Law Enforcement family needs help, there has always been an overwhelming response to contribute somehow. In lieu of collecting donations for flowers or a gift, a GoFundMe page has been created for Mike and his family. The GoFundMe page contains a photo of Mike and his family. Mike is a very proactive agent and has a long career ahead of him. The first names of Mike, his wife and their children were intentionally kept out of the GoFundMe story in an effort not to compromise the safety of Mike or his family with that type of digital footprint. All contributions will be sent directly to the Namey Family. I encourage you to share this email and the attached link with your fellow agents and our local, state and federal partners.