Gotta Brag on My Kid for a Minute

[massphatness]

My son Tony is a high school senior, and has been involved in his school's Navy Jr. ROTC program for the past four years. Tony has always been a very good student, but I credit the JROTC program with teaching him to focus and developing him as a student leader. It also opened him up to the idea of a military-funded college education.

As one of the students who's "into" the whole JROTC program, I've become used to seeing Tony garner several commendations at each end of year awards night. However, this past Friday's award ceremony was particularly special because the Navy sent an officer to present Tony with a four-year full-tuition scholarship to WPI, a highly competitive poly-tech college in MA where he will pursue a degree in chemical engineering.

We've known for a while the scholarship was his, but the presentation was fairly dramatic. Seeing all the zeros on the check really hit home.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/5742272559_a1f0a42005.jpg

Needless to say, I am tremendously proud of the boy. And I would be remiss if I didn't also give credit to my ex-wife for working together with me to always keep what's best for our kids ahead of any disagreements the two of us may have had.

[jwillm]

That is so excellent!!! You have every reason to be proud, and so does he!

[GrumpyOleTroll]

Vin,


THAT IS AWESOME!!!!

I got 3 boys of my own and through all the bs I we have been through this past yr the 2 who live with me are both A students.

It feels good to see all our direction help lead our kids to a path of success.

again Vin THAT IS AWESOME!!!


Enjoy the feeling my friend!



Shawn

[E.J.]

NICE!!! That is really cool. Congrats to Tony and congrats to you, Vin. I am sure you are filled with pride.

[secretsquirrel]

That great. You have all the right to brag.

[ahc4353]

What can one say?

Give him a hug from me.

WOW, just wow.

[Ogre]

Thats AWESOME!!! Congrats to everyone.

[maninblack]

That is great news and very worthy of commendation!! Congrats to your son!

[hscmit]

very awesome

congrats

[kelmac07]

Congrats Vin!! :tu :tu

[jonumberone]

Very awesome!!!

Congrats to you and your boy! :tu :tu

[Gophernut]

That's awesome! COngrats to your son Vin! Quite an accomplishment.

[muhren]

That is AWESOME! Congrats on a wonderful job as a dad and congats to your son for such hard work!

M

[jesseboston81]

Congrats to both your son and you, Vin!

[DMK]

Congrats Anthony !
:noon

[marge796]

Congratulations to your son!

[Thaplumbr]

Awesome news, congrats to you and your son!!!:tu

[Don Fernando]

awesome Vin, congrats.

[Remo]

WOW!! That is great :tu Get an education and help mom and dad out by paying for it himself, congrats to you and your son.

[RevSmoke]

Wow! Congratulations to Tony!

Kudos to his Pop!

[CasaDooley]

Congrats to the both of you! Bravo Zulu! :tu

[mariogolbee]

Wow. That's quite the scholarship. Congrats on this to you and your son, Vin. Good stuff.

[taltos]

He's a great kid Vin. The award is well deserved.:tu

[chippewastud79]

Congratulations Tony! :tu

[EricF]

Vin, that is great news!!!!!

Congrats to you and your son!!!!!!!!!!!

[Starscream]

That is awesome, Vin! Congrats to you and your son.:tu Well done:tu

[MedicCook]

Congrats Vin. That is awesome.

[Bageland2000]

Congrats to him, hopefully I'll meet him as a Navy officer sometime!

[G G]

Yall have def done a fantastic job with raising him, and he has kept the bar high by applying himself. Congrats to him and all of you.

[issues]

Congrats Vin!!!

His first name alone makes him awesome!

[Tio Gato]

As you know in Mass we say "That's wicked pissa!" What a great early Father's Day present. Be proud. Victory Cigar Bar on parental visits?:D

[galaga]

Salute! That is a lot of zeros, isn't it?!

[Old Sailor]

THAT IS AWESOME!!!!:tu

[TBone]

Congrats Vin, it would seem you both did a fantastic job raising him and the pay off is huge...I wish him all the best....Does this mean he'll be joining the Navy upon completing his degree?

[RHNewfie]

I am so happy for you Vin!! That is no small a complishment!! I hope you smoke something stellar to celebrate!!

[Ahbroody]

Amazing Vin!
That is an awesome accomplishment.

[mfarre03]

That is freakin great, nice job!! Talk about a proud pappa.

[ArgusP2]

Congratulations to your son for an awesome achievement! and to you for reaising such a fine young man!!

[longknocker]

Congrats To You & Your Son, Vin!:banger:D:tu

[Coach Deg]

Congratulations to your son, to you, and the ex! That is a great accomplishment! As a teacher I have seen a few of these given out and they were all to great kids, with great parental support! Congratulations!

[Barcode]

Congrats to you and Tony

[Smokin Gator]

That is awesome Vin. There is just nothing like the pride you can feel for one of your children!!

[Ranger_B]

That is Awesome! Congrats Vin you and your wife must be super proud. Your son looks quite happy in the pic. It is nice to hear about young leaders getting ready to continue serving this great Country.

[jjirons69]

That's good stuff there, Vin! Congrats! Awesome job raising such a great kid!

[kugie]

Very Cool!
And Congrats! To your Son and You!:tu

[Trkdrvremt]

Congratulations to you both!!!! :tu:tu

[Skywalker]

Congrats to Tony!!!:dance:

Vin, Nothing wrong with being a proud Papa!!!:tu

[Mugen910]

:tu

[awsmith4]

Congratulations Tony and to you Vin!

[xlc12rf]

Congrats vin. You should be very proud!

[shilala]

Incredible.
God helps those that help themselves, yo, Stolo? :D

[14holestogie]

Mad props to Tony for the hard work and also to the proud papa for setting the example. :tu

[Fordman4ever]

Congrats. I was also in NJROTC and it taught me a great deal about leadership and respect. It was also one of the reasons I joined the Armed Forces. Its always great to see the future leaders of our military, communities, etc. get recognized.

[Drez]

Congrats man!! Very proud moment for you and your son!!

[DPD6030]

That's a ton of cigars Vin! Congrats to Tony and may those zeros bring him a great career!

[jwintosh]

"Awesome!!" <awesome> :chr

[HollywoodQue]

That is some of the best news I have heard in a long time and after my own Navy Jr. ROTC days. That's the same route I took over 20 years ago, 3 yrs in high school Navy ROTC, 1 year in the BOOST Naval Program, a 4 yrs program from the Navy, then 4 yrs active duty - 4 yrs reserve.

Congrats...Big Time.

[Salvelinus]

Congrats Vin! Scary how many zeroes are at the end of that check. Education doesn't come cheap these days.

[BigAsh]

Now that don't suck!!....Vin, congrats to you and Tony!!...Job well done!

[massphatness]

And so it begins. Just back from attending my son's Navy ROTC Indoc ceremony. Kinda' moving to listen to him take the oath and "swear ... to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic"

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/6041874869_d00e31b80a_z.jpg
(Tony's the middle kid in the photo - next to the young lady)

[jesseboston81]

(Tony's the middle kid in the photo - next to the young lady)

You didn't have to point that out--for better or for worse, he looks a lot like you! :r

Congrats again, this is really something special!

[Cigarcop]

Congrats to all Vin :noon

[Ahbroody]

Awesome Vin.

[cort]

Very cool, Vinny. Congrats to Tony and his proud Papa!

[hotreds]

Sorry I missed this until now. Big congrats to the Stolo family! And, best wishes to the officer in training!

[CigarNut]

Very cool Vin -- you should should all be very proud!

[Coach Deg]

Congrats!!!

[Aporschaguy]

That's fantastic. You must be very very proud. Good for him. It's nice to know some people raise there kids so well....

[Hippiebrian]

Sounds like an amazing young man! Congrats to the new midshipman! Next exciting moment...ensign bars!

[Kneo]

Congrats to your son and to you for raising an outstanding person.

[N2 GOLD]

:tu GREAT job... :noon

[tenbaseg]

That's awesome!! Congrats to all.