TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (June 30, 2011) –

The Tallahassee Community College Foundation recently announced Kenneth Turner as the inaugural recipient of the Brandon M. King Memorial Scholarship.

Turner is from Tallahassee and graduated from North Florida Christian School.

The scholarship is named after Tallahassee resident PFC Brandon Michael King, who was killed on July 14, 2010, during an attack by enemy forces at Combat Outpost Nolan, located in the southern Kandahar Province of Afghanistan.

“I have been given a huge opportunity to honor Brandon King and his family,” said Turner, who noted that he and Brandon shared a loved for video games.

“This scholarship will relieve some of the financial burdens and enable me to focus more on my childhood dream of becoming a game designer,” Turner added. “Receiving this scholarship has inspired me to give back to the community and help someone who has struggled to go to college and pursue their dreams.”

The King family, including mother Carolyn, a TCC graduate and active member of the TCC Alumni Association, was extremely pleased with the selection of Turner as the scholarship recipient.

“He (Kenneth) is an excellent and dedicated student who has the same dream as Brandon did (becoming a video game designer),” she said. “We are honored that he (Kenneth) has been awarded the first Brandon M. King Scholarship.”

Scholarship applicants were required to have a minimum 2.5 GPA, demonstrate a financial need and receive a recommendation from a faculty member, employer or community member.

According to Ranie Thompson, TCC Foundation Development Officer, selecting the scholarship recipient was a “tough decision,” as Turner was chosen from close to 300 applicants.

“In addition to his strong grades and character, Kenneth’s essay also revealed traits that made him a good fit for the scholarship,” said Thompson.

The essay told the story of Turner’s mother, a single parent who worked three jobs while only allowing her son to work part-time while in school, in order to concentrate on his studies.

Turner’s award will assist in covering costs, such as tuition and fees, books and other required class supplies.