Eastern’s ROTC gathered Thursday to award Katie May for winning the “Letters to the Front” contest, thanking men and women overseas for their courageous efforts and dedication.

The ceremony held in Lantz fieldhouse, was attended by members of Eastern’s ROTC and friends of May’s. Maj. Richard Pace awarded May a certificate and t-shirt for her “Letter to the Front,” to military personnel over seas.

May, a freshman middle level education major, wrote her letter as a part of her University Foundations community service project, “Letters to the Front,” thanking soldiers overseas.

“I wanted to let them know that there are people out there that notice their sacrifices and commitment,” May said.

Originally May wrote the letter with no knowledge she might win and was surprised with the ceremony and the recognition she received from Pace, McKinney and the ROTC.

“I’m really thankful they did this special ceremony for me,” she said.

The letters are sent to the men and women soldiers serving overseas and May hopes they appreciate her letter.

“I hope they are pleased with it and really do realize that people not in service really do appreciate their efforts,” she said. “After Sept. 11, we really started taking notice of those people who serve our country.”

In May’s letter, she thanked the soldiers overseas “for being my hero,” and “for giving me the freedom that so many people take advantage of,” she said.

McKinney spoke to the freshman class about the “Letters to the Front” contest and how it feels to be a 19-year-old overseas. The class chose the contest as their community service project, Deb Woodley, professor in the School of Technology said Thursday.

The University Foundations courses are designed to help freshman ease into their first year at college. The courses feature diversity days and discussions on how to succeed in college, May said.

“It’s a good class, very helpful,” she said. “It gave an introduction to college.”

May is now entered into the world-wide “Letters to the Front” contest and could win a $2,000 scholarship.

“It would be awesome to win the scholarship,” May said. “I’m not counting on it though.”