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Lint Center Awards Scholarship to Army Reservist and PhD Candidate at Virginia Tech

Lint Center for National Security Studies Announces 2010 Winner of the ‘Quest for Knowledge’ Scholarship, Honoring CPL Christopher J. Coffland

WASHINGTON, D.C., 6 November 2010 – The Lint Center for National Security Studies, a non-profit charity based in Aberdeen, Md., awarded the 2010 ‘Quest for Knowledge’ Scholarship to SPC Trevor Kennedy. This scholarship is dedicated to honor CPL Christopher J. Coffland, who was killed in action during Operation Enduring Freedom in Wardak Province, Afghanistan on November 13, 2009.  This scholarship aims to support undergraduate and post-graduate educational pursuits of scholars interested in Counterintelligence, Cultural Understanding, International Affairs, and National Security Studies.

The ‘Quest for Knowledge’ Scholarship provides $500 to cover educational expenses, a mentor from the Lint Center and a one year subscription to STRATFOR’s global team of intelligence professionals which provides an audience of decision-makers and sophisticated news consumers in the U.S. and around the world with unique insights into political, economic, and military developments. 

“It is a great feeling to be recognized and awarded a prestigious scholarship from the Lint Center for National Security Studies,” said SPC Trevor Kennedy, US Army Reservists at the National Ground Intelligence Center and PhD Candidate in the Business Information Technology department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. “It is a particular honor to receive a scholarship named after a fellow soldier, CPL Coffland, whose service, passion, and ultimate sacrifice embodies the ethos of every citizen soldier serving in America’s armed forces. This scholarship has a profound legacy and I will do my utmost to ensure that I live up to the standards set by CPL Coffland.”

“SPC Trevor Kennedy deserves the mentoring support and financial assistance of the Lint Center.  His continued pursuit of knowledge as well as service made him standout among all other applicants for this scholarship,” said James Lint, Chairman and CEO of the Lint Center for National Security Studies. “The Center felt strongly that his essay on information overload and the interesting use of collaborative filtering to improve intelligence analysis indicates that SPC Kennedy is poised to be a future leader in improving US intelligence capabilities. As such, we are delighted to award the ‘Quest for Knowledge’ Scholarship which is dedicated to honor a fellow soldier CPL Coffland to SPC Kennedy to support his continued educational endeavors.”

“The entire Coffland family is very pleased to see the ‘Quest for Knowledge’ Scholarship which bears my brother’s name being awarded to SPC Kennedy,” said Lynn Coffland. “Both Chris and Mr. Kennedy share many of the same core values including the pursuit of knowledge, an enduring spirit, and an unyielding desire to commit oneself to national service.  On behalf of the entire Coffland family, we wish to congratulate Mr. Kennedy on his scholarship award and we want to extend our gratitude to the Lint Center for its tireless efforts to support the next generation of America’s national security leaders.”

SPC Trevor Kennedy’s winning essay about the dangers of information overload and the importance of leveraging collaborative filtering to expedite and improve intelligence analysis, provides keen insights on how to improving US intelligence efforts. For more information about SPC Trevor Kennedy or any other Lint Center scholarship winner, please visit http://www.lintcenter.org/Winners/Summer10.htm.

About the ‘Quest for Knowledge’ Scholarship:

The ‘Quest for Knowledge’ is dedicated to honor Christopher J. Coffland. CPL Coffland was assigned to the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion and was killed in action during Operation Enduring Freedom in Wardak Province, Afghanistan on November 13, 2009. A dedicated, brave and courageous American, CPL Coffland received two Bronze Stars for bravery and a Purple Heart among other medals for his service. The scholarship provides $500 to the winner to assist with tuition and other educational costs, a mentor from the Lint Center, as well as a one year subscription to STRATFOR.

About the Lint Center:

The Lint Center for National Security Studies, Inc., founded in 2007, is a non-profit IRS 501(c)3 organization created to award merit-based scholarships for counterintelligence and national security workers nationwide, their children, and scholars, and to advance the study of national security, cross-cultural studies, and global understanding. Scholarships are awarded semi-annually, in January and July. The Center is veteran and minority-operated and managed. For more information, or to donate to support the Center’s scholarship fund, please visit www.LintCenter.org.

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