JOHNSTOWN, PA, April 20, 2026 – Veteran Community Initiatives, Inc. (VCI) is pleased to announce and congratulate this year’s Tom Caulfield Veterans Remembered Scholarship’s award winner, Autumn Walz, of Windber, Pennsylvania. Walz, currently a Windber School District Senior, has enlisted to serve (8) years with the Air National Guard after graduation. Daughter of Navy veteran Charles Walz, and granddaughter to Gerald Stone, Army veteran, Walz felt called to serve in the military as her family has before and has fostered the “commitment to serve” mentality through her studies, work, volunteering, and extracurricular activities. She shared, “It is an honor to be given this award not only for my educational benefits, but as a reminder for our veterans. Tom Caulfield’s mission to improve the lives of our veterans and veteran communities is beyond appreciated by many.” Her plans after service are to study Environmental Science, either through Lock Haven University or Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
A private ceremony and press conference is scheduled for Thursday, May 14th, 2026, at the Veteran Community Initiatives office, where VCI and the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies will present Walz with a $1,000 award towards her future studies.
The essence of this scholarship is to continue the mission of service to God, country, and community through civic engagement and volunteerism as is the legacy of Mr. Tom Caulfield, Army Veteran and President and CEO of VCI. Caulfield started VCI to assist the Veteran community with various social and economic needs. Programs, offered at no cost, range from Cambria County Veteran Treatment Court, financial hardship assistance, Together with Veterans Cambria County, Veteran Rural Outreach Programs, aging services education, Veteran benefits assistance, and occupational support and training services. More information can be found on VCI’s website.
Through this scholarship, VCI seeks to contribute to the development of future leaders and professionals who will make meaningful contributions to society by honoring our men and women in uniform. The Tom Caulfield Veterans Remembered scholarship is available by applying through the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies website. Applicants must have a military affiliation whether they themselves are a veteran or are the dependent of a servicemember. For information regarding the scholarship and how to apply, please visit https://www.cfalleghenies.org/scholarships/.