Scholarship Winner Announced

I am pleased to announce that the 2007-2008 winner of the Arizona Is My Home scholarship program is David Merrell.

David is a student at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and his hometown is Globe, Arizona. David’s essay about growing up in Globe was one of 600 applications received.

We spent most of our Christmas vacation in Alaska reading about what is was like growing up in different Arizona towns. We learned why each student still calls their town, home. It was very difficult to select just one winner, but David’s story stood out and he now joins our two past winners, Carrie Johnson and Roxanne Roud as recipients of the Arizona Is My Home scholarshipprogram.

The Arizona Is My Home scholarship is a $2500 award. We wish David great success with his college career. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please check in with the Arizonan again in a month. I expect to have come up with a new program to help Arizona students meet some of the financial burden associated with attending one of our fine colleges or universities.

Carl Chapman
Associate Broker
West USA Realty

David Merrell’s Essay

Arizona Is My Home

Splashed with an array of color, Globe Arizona is distinguished as a
mining and tourist community. Deeply rooted with a historic past, Globe
preserves its legacy. Seated in the center of the Tonto National Forest,
Globe is poke-a-doted with natural splendor and reservoirs. Various textures
and shades will be utilized in order to adequately paint a picture of her
beauty and authenticity.  By so doing, an image of Globe will be reflected
through the eyes of the beholder. It is considered a privilege to introduce
Globe as my hometown.

Globe was founded in 1875 as a mining camp. Shortly thereafter, mining
for silver and gold transitioned to mining copper. Copper quickly became the
blood-line of the newly developed town. Interestingly, Globes economy
continues to thrive on the extraction and production of copper. This had a
direct affect on me as a boy, because my father was an employee of the mine.

I remember tracing my dad’s footsteps as he preformed his daily tasks.
His large steel- toed-boots, hard hat, and white laboratory jacket were easy
to follow. He carried a talking radio on his hip in order to communicate
with the men. The multi million dollar machinery pounded, grinded, and
screamed as it moved earth to the landfills. I was intrigued to observe the
men working in the smelter. They dressed in clothing which resembled
something an astronaut would wear in order to protect them from the intense
heat. Even from a distance I could feel the heat of the smelter causing
sweat to drip off my face. Twelve hour shifts made for long days, but my
father and the other men worked hard to provide for their families, and to
continue Globe’s mining tradition.

Steady tourism enables my hometown to flourish. Globe is notorious for
art museums and quaint shops which consistently draw vacationers. The Gila
County Historical museum provides travelers with a history of Globe,
including mining and pioneer heritage. Various paintings and artifacts are
cased and displayed. Downtown shopping areas contain a variety of family
owned stores assisting tourists in purchasing mementos.

Another primary tourist attraction is a celebration known as Apache
days. As a child I was bewildered at the amount of people flooding into
Globe to celebrate Apache Days. I recall pushing through crowds to witness
for myself the uniqueness of the San Carlos Apache tribe.  Each beat of the
Indian drum drew me closer to a lively culture. I watched intently as Indian
men and women preformed ritual dances dressed in peculiar attire.
Oftentimes, their costumes included vibrant colors and accent paint in order
to catch the spectator’s eye. These festive days also included Native
American artisan booths, demonstrating fine skills in crafts, art, and
jewelry. I can still smell the native aroma of Indian fry bread, and taste
the flaked pastry drizzled with golden brown honey. This annual celebration
became a tradition for my family, and a heritage for Globe.

Speaking of delicious food, Globe is famous for impeccable Mexican
cuisine! In high school my buddies and I would race across the street to
Chalo’s Mexican restaurant, and for three dollars and a dime we could
purchase homemade burritos and a coke –with unlimited chips and salsa! We
spent countless lunch breaks at Chalo’s.  It is still my favorite Mexican
restaurant. However, depending on which Globe native you ask, there are
other highly favored Mexican restaurants in town. This is something that
must be tested and determined by any person claiming to have a love for
Mexican food.

Perhaps the most distinctive attribute of Globe Arizona is her natural
habitat. Globe is set against a background of the Apache Mountains, with the
Pinal Mountains running south and west. My hometown sits in a steep canyon
at the heart of the Tonto National Forest. As a boy scout of America, I
spent numerous nights under a star filled sky. We planned fifty mile hikes,
and were convinced we walked every trail known to man. We enjoyed observing
wild life including rabbits, snakes, squirrels, deer, and bear. The
vegetation was also admirable.  Ponderosa pine trees and alligator juniper
provided shade as we guzzled water from our canteens. We climbed rugged
boulders, mountains, and canyons.  As we approached the top each of us took
turns shouting our names across the canyon in efforts to hear an echo.
Various bodies of water dazzle Globe with crystal clear streams, creeks, and
rivers.  These reservoirs supply not only hydration for surrounding
vegetation, but also provided entertainment for eager boy scouts. With jeans
rolled up to our knees and t-shirts off our backs we managed to work our way
through the water. Eventually, the fun filled day would come to a close. Our
appreciation for nature intensified as we watched a Globe sun set against
rustic mountain sides.

The splendor of Globe has been portrayed to the best of my ability.
However, it has been described through the eyes of a boy, who today values
Globe as a man. The passion I have acquired for my hometown has not always
existed. Just like me, it is something that has developed with time.  The
economy of Globe continues to prosper, and its legacy and traditions remain
alive. For these reasons I have matured into the man I am today. For this
reason, I consider it a privilege to call Globe my hometown.

From David Merrell

Dear Carl Chapman,

It was a pleasure meeting both you and your father. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for the scholarship funds provided to me. I am a full time student and working a part time job in order to pay for my education. Your financial aid will assist me greatly in my academic endeavors and help to ease my financial burden.

It was enjoyable reminiscing and writing about my hometown. Thank you for that opportunity as well, and for your generosity. These scholarship funds will not go to waste. Please be reassured that your assistance in my education is an investment in the future.

Sincerely,

David Merrell