Scholarship Winners

David Arnold is the son of 798 Welder member Doy and Annette Knight and Gene and Tammy Arnold.  He graduated from Pangburn High School in 2008 and quickly began work as a welder’s helper, becoming a member of 798 later that summer. He alternated between working pipeline and going to school at Arkansas State University-Beebe, where he first met his wife. In the spring of 2010, he joined the US Army as a helicopter avionics, electronics, and armament repairman. David went to basic training that September followed by AIT until July of 2011. He served a total of six years in the Army, separating as a Sergeant, spending time stationed in Virginia, Hawaii, North Carolina, and one-year deployment to Afghanistan in 2012-2013.  He began dating his wife in 2014 while stationed in North Carolina. The couple got engaged on July 4, 2015, and married on April 29, 2016. He separated from the Army on August 16, 2016, and drove 15 hours to begin classes at the University of Central Arkansas on August 17. In August 2018, David graduated summa cum laude with his bachelor’s degree in health science. He was accepted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and began graduate school that same month. He plans to graduate in August 2021. He has an interest in orthopedic physical therapy with a goal to specialize in that setting in the future. While he was in the military, he earned the Army Achievement Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, graduated from Air Assault School, and received the Kiowa Warrior Maintainer Bronze Award from Bell Helicopter. He is a member of Alpha Chi Honor Society. David says his biggest accomplishment to date is convincing the love of his life to spend the rest of her life with him.

Jacob Bieri-Brintnall is currently finishing his junior year at Michigan Technological University where he is pursuing a degree in chemical engineering. He lived in the Traverse City, MI area until he transferred to Michigan Tech in the spring of 2019. His family has a strong affiliation with unions as his parents, aunts, and uncles are members of unions for their respective professions. Much of this belief in unions can be traced to his grandfather, Stanley Bieri, who was a member of Pipeliners Local Union 798 from 1951 until his passing in 2016. Jacob has maintained high grades throughout his academic career, graduating as valedictorian of his high school class and making the Dean’s list every semester he has been in college. He was captain of his robotics team in high school and received the CRC Press Excellence in Chemistry Award last year. Over the years he has belonged to the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Currently he is involved with the Michigan Tech Chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Over the next year he will be doing a co-op/paid internship where he will be able to apply the knowledge he has learned so far and pick up a bevy of new skills. Jacob will be taking online courses during this time as well to stay on schedule for graduation. Once his co-op is finished, he will complete his senior year and graduate. Once he finds employment, he plans to be the best engineer he can be, be financially secure, and give serious consideration to starting a family.

Hannah Chapman is the daughter of 798 Welder member Robert Chapman and Lynne Chapman. She is also the granddaughter of the late Philip Chapman and Busta Chapman. Robert has been a member of Local 798 for 28 years, and Philip was a 40-year-member before his death in 2015. Hannah is a 2019 summa cum laude graduate of Arkansas High School in Texarkana, Arkansas. During high school, Hannah was lieutenant of her dance team, a member of the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Students, and participated throughout her community with Habitat for Humanity, Race for the Cure, and much more. Now Hannah attends the University of Central Arkansas and is majoring in elementary education. At UCA, Hannah is a member of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, and is a committee member for the UCA Dance Marathon for Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Ava Durina is the granddaughter of Michael W. Tunnel, a 53-year Welder member of Local 798. She graduated from East Lake High School with a 4.5 GPA. In high school Ava was captain of the varsity cheerleading team, an officer in the National Honor Society as well as the Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society). In addition, she also volunteered at a local hospital and an assisted living facility. Ava is currently a sophomore at the University of Florida with a 3.8 GPA.  At UF, Ava is majoring in health education and behavior and plans to attend physician assistant school upon graduation. On campus, Ava is a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Honor Society, the Pre-Physician Assistant Association, and the organization Hearts for the Homeless. Ava holds the position of vice president of the Hearts for the Homeless, a club that offers free blood pressure screenings to the local homeless population. In addition, she volunteers at a gymnastics gym for children with disabilities.

Caitlyn Hamby is the daughter of Local 798 Welder member Jesse R. Hamby.  She is currently a second semester sophomore at Arkansas State University. She works as a resident assistant for the Honors College and in a research division of their library called OBRE that takes survey data. She comes from a small town called Bradford in Arkansas and grew up in Judsonia, where she attended and graduated from White County Central for elementary, middle, and high school. She is a current member of the Honors College at Arkansas State University where she has participated in multiple volunteer experiences, social events, and educational events. Caitlyn is the president of Arkansas State’s “Red Wolf Space Program,” the Secretary of Student Union for Progress, and a member of the Honors College Association. She maintained a 4.0 GPA her first semester of college and was on the Chancellor’s list for the fall semester her freshman year of college. As an undergraduate psychology student, she takes a special interest in mental health and plans to be an Occupational Therapist and specialize in mental health which will require three to four years of graduate school. She looks forward to this opportunity to pay of some of her loans and apply this scholarship to fees and textbooks for next fall.

Rachel Johnson is the daughter of Local 798 Welder member Levi Johnson. She is an early childhood education major with a dance minor at the University of Central Oklahoma. Rachel plans to use her passions and education to become a kindergarten teacher and teach dance in a studio. Rachel has achieved many accomplishments including Miss America organization titleholder, Overall Physical Fitness Winner, Top 10 Interview, and placed in the Top 10 at the Miss Texas competition. She is on the Dean’s Honor Roll at UCO, a member of the Kaleidoscope Dance Company, and attended the National Dance Educators Conference in Miami, FL on a scholarship through UCO to help pursue her studies. In June of 2019 Rachel was also honored with membership in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Marisa Lambert is the daughter of Jason Lambert, a Welder member of Local 798 for 11 years. She is from Holdenville, OK where she graduated from Moss Public Schools with a 3.8 GPA. Marisa was involved in FFA for five years where she showed goats for three years and was also a member of the National Honor Society. She is currently a freshman at Seminole State College and was on the Fall Honor Roll by having all A’s in the fall semester. Marisa is pursuing a physical therapy assistant degree and plans to attend the University of Oklahoma and graduate with a bachelor’s in physical therapy.

Elisa Langone is the daughter of Anthony Langone, a five-year Welder member of Local 798. She graduated with a 4.14 GPA at Higley High School in Gilbert, AZ. Throughout high school, Elisa participated in the varsity tennis team, as well as numerous competitive dance teams. She was a member of the Conservation Club, National Honor Society, and volunteered at her local church’s weekly youth programs. Following high school graduation, Elisa spent the summer in Texas where she worked as a counselor in addition to teaching tennis classes at an all-girls summer camp. Currently, she is a freshman at the University of Arizona where she was awarded a four-year merit-based scholarship. She is studying animal science with a focus on biomedical and comparative sciences, and plans to attend veterinary school upon graduation. Elisa is a member of the AZ Alpha chapter of Pi Beta Phi, where she participates in philanthropy events held by the fraternities and sororities on campus, in addition to volunteering for the charity “Read Lead Achieve.” During her first semester at the University of Arizona, Elisa had a GPA of 4.0 and strives to maintain that average through the rest of her college career.

Whittney McMurry is the daughter of Brandon K. McMurry, a 12-year Helper member of Local 798.  She graduated from Fouke High School, and is currently attending the University of Arkansas at Hope-Texarkana (UAHT). She has been awarded the UAHT Honors Scholarship and made the Vice Chancellor’s list last semester. Recently, Whittney became a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She plans to graduate from UAHT with an associate of arts degree and then transfer to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (U of A) to pursue a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Following graduation, Whittney plans to attend Texas A&M University College of Dentistry and graduate with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. Whittney plans to work as a general dentist. After gaining experience,  she plans to pursue a certificate in pediatric dentistry in order to work as a pediatric dentist.

Ethan Poland is the great-nephew of Buddy Rutledge and the grandson of Glen Green; both are Lifetime members of Local 798. They have been members for a combined total of over 120 years. Ethan was born in Bossier City, Louisiana, but currently lives in West Monroe, LA and is a junior at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. At ULM, he received an academic scholarship for exceptional ACT scores and high school GPA. In addition, he was awarded the Forensic Speech and Debate Forum Scholarship by ULM’s Communication Department for marked performance in public speaking and communication classes. Every semester he has attended ULM, he has made the Dean or President’s list for outstanding GPA. Furthermore, Ethan is a member of several honor societies including Phi Alpha Theta, Sigma Tau Delta, Psi Chi, and Phi Kappa Phi. He is also involved in campus life, working as a student worker in ULM’s admissions department. He also volunteered at ULM’s student-run radio station 91.1 KXUL, and now volunteers at the Ronald McDonald Charity House in Monroe, LA. Ethan is majoring in psychology and is hoping to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in the next year. Upon graduation, he plans to immediately apply to Ph.D. programs in either counseling or clinical psychology. Ethan is interested in studying depression and other related mental disorders, practicing as a psychologist, and teaching psychology at a university. This would allow him the opportunity to do what he is most passionate about: helping others through the struggles of their life.