NEW SCHOLARSHIPS HONOR MEMORIES OF THREE ALUMNI

MAJ MATTHEW M. WIEGAND ’08, USMC ADM WILLIAM DEE SMITH ’55, USN (RET.) CAPT WILLIAM P. “PAT” DONNELLY ’65, USN (RET.)

Thanks to the generosity of U.S. Naval Academy alumni along with their families and friends, Athletic & Scholarship Programs regularly expands its assistance opportunities with new scholarships. Often, these scholarships honor the memories of late alumni, as is the case with this year’s new scholarships. Below, we share a look at the individuals these scholarships are inspired by. Beginning this year, we have three new scholarships that honor Academy graduates and support future midshipmen.

The new scholarships honor:

MAJOR MATTHEW M. WIEGAND ’08, USMC Matt was born into a Navy family that moved many times. While his father was Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station JRB Willow Grove, the annual airshows were a highlight for Matt and his buddies, thus sparking an incredible passion for aviation. As part of the flying club at the naval air station, Matt started flying the T-34 with his dad at age 11.

A graduate of Hatboro Horsham High School in Horsham, PA, Matt earned varsity letters in lacrosse, golf and ice hockey. Matt attended Wyoming Seminary, an Athletic & Scholarship Programs participating prep school in Kingston, PA, prior to attending the U.S. Naval Academy. While at the Naval Academy, Matt was a Philly sports fan, a talented lacrosse player and golfer and loved playing guitar.

After graduating from the Academy in 2008, Matt became a U.S. Marine Corps pilot. He would log nearly 2,000 hours in the air, participating in operations in Japan, the Philippines and South Korea and receiving multiple commendation medals. As a MAWTS-1 instructor, Matt truly enjoyed flying with and working beside many of his closest friends. It has been said that he filled the office with his vibrant personality, pranks and enough homemade food to feed the entire building. Sadly, Matt was killed in a night training accident in Yuma, AZ, in March 2019.

His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award.

“We knew we wanted to establish a meaningful tribute to our son Matt at USNA,” said his parents, Margaret and Skip. “And we wanted to contribute in a way that would be flexible, hopefully grow over time and be a direct service to a recipient. Sponsoring a bench on Stribling Walk or the like was not what we had in mind. A Foundation scholarship was foremost in our thoughts as Matt was a Foundation scholar. In addition, Matt was a club lacrosse player while at USNA and we support the team through donations to the Foundation. Matt’s teammate and great friend Colin Smith ’09 is now the club team’s coach and the team dedicated their 2019 national championship season to Matt.”

The first Major Matthew M. Wiegand, USMC, USNA ’08 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Tanner Russell from Kalispell, MT, who attended Northwestern Prep.

In addition to his parents, Matt is survived by his beloved wife and best friend Katrina, their sweet dog Charlotte (call sign “Charlie”), lifelong friends Jeff and JD and a band of brothers and sisters from the U.S. Naval Academy, the Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army.

ADMIRAL WILLIAM DEE SMITH ’55, USN (RET.) Bill was born in Denver, CO, in 1933. He excelled in sports and academics leading to his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in the summer of 1951. While at the Academy, Bill was in the fourth company and ran cross-country and track, captaining the cross country team his first class year.

Upon graduation Bill served on BACHE (DDE 470) and DELONG (DE 684) prior to attending Submarine School. He then served on TINOSA (SSN 606) followed by five SSBN submarines. He was the Commanding Officer of HENRY L. STIMSON (SSBN 655). He served on the staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, as Deputy then Senior Member of the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board. After a tour as Director of Nuclear Power Personnel, he became Squadron Commander, Submarine Squadron Fourteen, in Holy Loch, Scotland. His next assignment was as Director, Naval Communications Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He then served as Commanding Officer, Submarine Group Eight, before being assigned as Op-90, chief program and budget officer for the Navy. His final active duty assignment was as the U.S. Representative to the Military Committee of NATO. Bill retired in 1993 after 38 years of naval service. His many decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal w/Gold Star, the Legion of Merit w/3 Gold Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal w/Gold Star and the Navy Commendation Medal. Upon retirement Bill formed a consulting company, Heisler Corporation, and became a full time Senior Fellow at both the Center for Naval Analyses and the National Defense University.

Admiral Bill Smith was a classmate and friend. He had a long and distinguished naval career, becoming the last classmate to retire from active duty and one of the highest-ranking naval officers in the class. He passed away in September 2020.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sabra (Harrington) Smith, and a daughter, Evangeline Quinn. He was predeceased by a son, Frederick W. “Fritz” Smith ’87.

Sabra Smith established this scholarship in honor of her husband’s life and service to his country. She also wanted a deserving and motivated young person who needed another year of post high school academic preparation prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy to have that opportunity. The first Admiral William Dee Smith ’55 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Sean Ostrowski from Virginia Beach, VA, who attended the Salisbury School. Admiral and Mrs. Smith created a scholarship in memory of their son, who was a Foundation student at Mercersburg Academy and varsity swimmer. CAPTAIN WILLIAM P. “PAT” DONNELLY ’65, USN (RET.) Pat lost a courageous, nearly 10-year long battle with Alzheimer’s on 24 July 2020. Pat was an outstanding two-sport scholar-athlete and leader. In football, Pat started at fullback for three years and in 1963 scored three touchdowns against both Notre Dame and Army. He was selected to play in two post-season All Star games including one against the NFL Champion Cleveland Browns. In lacrosse, despite never having played prior to entering the Academy, Pat went on to make first team All American and won the Schmeisser Award as the top defenseman in the country. Academically, Pat graduated number 20 out of 802 Class of 1965 classmates. During his Navy career in the Civil Engineering Corps, he earned two post-graduate degrees at Cambridge University in England and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, MA. He was also the first class president of the Class of 1965.

“Pat may have been the most tremendous natural athlete I’ve ever seen. He could have played any sport and been highly successful,” said Dennis Wedekind, starting goalie for the Navy lacrosse team from 1963 through 1965.

“Pat Donnelly was a great athlete and an even greater person,” classmate and A&SP Trustee Skip Orr ’65 said. “If you look at four qualities: athleticism, intelligence, character and kindness—there was no one better. You then add humility and friendship on top of that.

“There is nothing you can say about Pat Donnelly that people did not like. In fact, it was impossible to not love Pat Donnelly.”

His survivors include his widow, Mary-Anne “Missy” Donnelly, and two sons who both attended the Academy: Captain William P. Donnelly Jr. ’89, USN, and Sean Donnelly ’92.

“Pat really was the most amazing man—everything that everyone says about him is absolutely true,” Missy Donnelly said. “We had the most wonderful marriage, the most adventurous marriage, everything you could ever want for a marriage. He was just an amazing life partner.”

Missy Donnelly, her family and Pat’s many friends, teammates and classmates established the Captain William P. (Pat) Donnelly Memorial Scholarship. The first recipient is Gabriel Spencer from Kansas City, MO.