RENO, Nev. – Liam Browning, who has spent over 260 hours spanning a five-year period volunteering at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, has been awarded $5,000 by DAV (Disabled American Veterans) to pursue his goal of studying neurogenic disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The 19-year-old is the recipient of the Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship, which is awarded annually to the top youth volunteers in the DAV Voluntary Services program. Named after former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jesse Brown, it honors the memory of a DAV leader dedicated to serving veterans through recognition of those who carry on his legacy of service. The scholarship is open to volunteers age 21 and younger who have contributed a minimum of 100 hours credited through DAV or DAV Auxiliary.
The scholarship will be presented to Browning at the DAV and Auxiliary 97th National Convention July 14 in Reno, Nev.
“Liam is a dedicated and determined volunteer,” said DAV National Voluntary Services Director John Kleindienst. “He began his volunteer career escorting patients to and from appointments within the center. He took the time to learn about the veterans and listen to their stories. Many of those veterans suffer emotional and mental injuries. His experiences working with veteran patients inspired him to dedicate his life to studying and treating PTSD.”
“Liam is the epitome of an outstanding volunteer,” said DAV National Adjutant Marc Burgess. “His commitment to serving veterans and hearing their stories inspired him to become a medical doctor with the goal of helping find answers and treat PTSD. He’s already assisting in the fight as he does research as part of his volunteering. Liam is a great asset to the veteran community.”
About DAV:
DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; providing employment resources to veterans and their families and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a non-profit organization with more than 1 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932.
