Culinary Arts major Christopher MacWilliams stands in front of the new Hospitality Institute on the Blue Bell Campus that will open soon. MacWilliams recently was named the recipient of the Paul Decker & Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board Hospitality Scholarship. Photo by Eric Devlin
A United States Marine Corps veteran and 海角社区 student has been selected as the recipient of the Paul Decker & Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board Hospitality .
Culinary Arts major Christopher MacWilliams received the $899 endowed scholarship through the Montgomery County Community College Foundation for the 2024-2025 academic year. The award goes to a Montgomery County resident in financial need with good academic standing to pursue a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management or Culinary Arts.
MacWilliams, 41, a single dad of a 12 and 14-year-old, lives in Pottstown and said the scholarship came as a complete surprise and will help him cover everyday expenses. He couldn鈥檛 believe the news when he heard it.
鈥淚 was in shock,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to express my thanks and that I鈥檓 truly honored to be a recipient of this award.鈥�
The Marine sergeant completed four tours of duty from 2001 to 2013, including in three combat environments.
After his service, he worked as a truck driver for nearly a decade.
鈥淎t my last place, I was working more than 70 hours a week,鈥� he said. 鈥淪tarting at 2 and 5 a.m. and working 12-14 hours. In and out of the truck, dragging hoses, emptying the trailer. It meant physical stress and mental exhaustion. I worked Monday-Saturday, and emergency runs on Sundays. At night, I鈥檇 get home from working from 2 or 3:30 a.m., and sometimes at 6:30 p.m. I鈥檇 be called in for an emergency run. It was very much work, go home, sleep, work, go home and sleep.鈥�
MacWilliams decided he needed a change in life and wanted to put his GI Bill benefits to good use by going back to school and pursuing his real passion for cooking.
鈥淢y end goal is to open a barbecue spot,鈥� he said. 鈥淏arbecue is my favorite form of cooking. I own a smoker right now. Once a week, I fire it up and cook stuff. So, the plan is to buy a food truck and then eventually move into a brick-and-mortar location.鈥�
He enrolled at 海角社区 as a Culinary Arts major in fall 2023. He鈥檇 previously earned college credits during his time in the Marines and at a four-year institution his first year out of the service.
His experience at 海角社区 has been everything he could have asked for, he said.
鈥淓very teacher or professor I鈥檝e had has been very helpful and very strong in their knowledge of the courses I鈥檝e taken,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have a little bit of a learning issue from my time in the Marine Corps. The professors I鈥檝e talked to have worked with me through it. Overall, this place has been great.鈥�
MacWilliams praised the College鈥檚 Veterans Resource Center for its help in getting him the benefits he鈥檚 needed.
鈥淚鈥檝e had trouble before with getting verification paperwork and they鈥檝e advised me on which paperwork to do,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I wasn鈥檛 able, they did it for me. They鈥檝e been very helpful. Any email I send, they always respond so quickly.鈥�
After obtaining his associate鈥檚 degree, MacWilliams said he鈥檚 hoping to continue on to Walnut Hill College to finish his bachelor鈥檚 degree.
As for the scholarship, he said he鈥檚 proud to know his hard work is being rewarded.
鈥淚t鈥檚 truly a blessing,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd motivation to continue doing what I am and reinforcing that I chose the right path to follow.鈥�
The Foundation is able to make a difference in the lives of students, like MacWilliams, thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents, community friends, private foundations, and corporations. To see how you can make a difference and discuss how your gift can be most meaningful to you, contact the Foundation at 215-641-6324.