Jaron Welty – 2015 Boyk Veteran Scholarship Winner
In November of 2015, Charles Boyk Law Offices presented a jumbo check to the winner of our first Veteran Scholarship. It went to Jaron Welty, a Marketing Major at Bowling Green State University, during a ceremony in BGSU’s Student Union.
Jaron wrote his scholarship essay about his stepfather, U.S. Army Desert Storm Veteran Gary J. Holland of Bluffton, who had raised Jaron since he was a toddler.
In his application essay, Jaron wrote: “My stepfather has been around since I was at least two years old, so he is essentially my dad. That fact alone has impacted me immensely. Stepping up and taking care of my mom and me showed me that taking responsibility is more than the right thing to do. He showed me that taking care of others is the highest form of service. I learned from my dad how important respect is. Respect for others’ walks of life, respect for authority, and most importantly, respect for yourself. My dad was able to show me all this and more, and I could never show him how much I truly appreciate all of this.”
“We wanted this scholarship to give students not only the opportunity to pursue higher education, but also to encourage them to stop and think about the Veterans who have helped them along the way,” said Attorney Chuck Boyk.
Jaron Welty used the scholarship to reduce student loan burdens and fund his education. Ten years later, Charles Boyk Law Offices interviewed Jaron Welty, the inaugural recipient of their 2015 scholarship, to commemorate the anniversary.
“My dad brought the scholarship to my attention because, since it was veteran specific. He was in the army, as well as my uncle,” says Jaron. His dad served during Operation Desert Storm.
He says the scholarship application process helped him connect with his stepfather by learning about the experiences he had when he was Jaron’s age.
“I remember when I went to write that essay, it opened up a lot more conversations… about what it meant to him, and then how it impacted and affected him… I think writing the essay, helped me connect more with my dad.”
“Getting to do that with my dad and my uncle at the same time… I started to learn a lot about them that I didn’t know before.”
Jaron says that the check presentation ceremony was emotional. “I remember there were tears, because it was like a thank you to my dad for helping push me to achieve, and also to Charles Boyk for offering the scholarship and… giving young adults the ability to make those further connections with their family members.”
Jaron Welty majored in business with a specialization in traditional marketing and a minor in music technology. Post-graduation, he interned at Brown & Brown Insurance, where his marketing skills led to a full-time role. Over time, he advanced to a regional marketing position.
“I now work with 15 offices across the country, but I’m engaged with the top leaders and decision makers of the retail division of our company… it has been a very interesting ride in the most positive way possible.”
Jaron expressed gratitude for the scholarship’s role in his independence and career success.
“Thank you for hearing my story at that time, and thank you for the support in allowing a kid to push himself to continue pursuing my dreams , for myself and plenty of others over the years.”
Alex Box – 2018 Boyk Veteran Scholarship Winner
Alex Box won the Boyk Law Scholarship on Veteran’s Day in 2018.
Alex is a proud native of Northwest Ohio. He and his younger brother were raised by their father in a modest home in Sylvania. Alex’s dad instilled his sons with a deep respect for hard work, coupled with a drive to pursue the most from life.
Alex attended Sylvania Northview High School, where he was a varsity wrestler and football player.
“Shortly into my senior year of high school,” says Alex. “I accepted an Army ROTC scholarship to the University of Dayton, where I went to undergrad, and ended up moving away once I was commissioned into the Army in 2011.”
As his peers studied for the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test), Alex honored his commitment to the armed forces and postponed his law school dreams. Instead, he enrolled in the U.S. Army Ranger School.
“Ranger school itself was 62 days long, mostly consisting of small unit tactical training out in the field… They were very sleep-deprived, food-deprived environments,” says Alex. The overall point is to make you realize that you can lead in some of the toughest conditions that a human can experience. It’s a really revealing experience. As a leader, I’m pretty fortunate to have gone through it.”
After becoming an Airborne Ranger, he boarded a flight to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division for the first of two combat deployments.
“I was a platoon leader of a 20-person reconnaissance platoon in eastern Afghanistan, and then I was a battalion and brigade logistics officer in Kuwait towards the end of my career.”
Alex earned the rank of Captain before concluding his seven-year Army career in 2018.
While in the Army, Alex also earned his Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, but he was still committed to his ultimate goal of going to law school. He enrolled at Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2018, pursuing dual J.D./M.B.A. degrees.
When hearing that he won the Charles Boyk Law Veteran Scholarship, Alex said: “I find myself unbelievably appreciative of the opportunity to receive the Boyk Law Veteran Scholarship… While the GI Bill does a great job helping former soldiers pursue their educational goals, there are often financial requirements that exceed the scope of what is covered. Knowing that there are organizations like the Charles E. Boyk Law Offices that recognize these facts and are more than willing to help is a comforting notion. My reaction to being chosen for this scholarship is not only one of appreciation, but of a determination to show my gratitude on a daily basis until I graduate.”
While at Loyola, Alex secured an internship with JPMorgan Chase and was later offered a full-time position after graduating from law school. He moved from Chicago to Tampa, Florida, where he passed the bar exam and started work in compliance at JPMorgan Chase.
“I’m really a conduit between the law and the business. You have business activities, you have legal requirements, and our legal department, makes sure that we have the policy procedures in place to make sure that we meet regulatory requirements across various business functions,” explains Alex.
“You have a constantly evolving regulatory landscape. You have businesses that are always trying to do new things. And it’s really great to not only see the regulatory landscape evolve, but also see the business activities evolve to satisfy those requirements.”
Alex still remembers the impact of receiving the Boyk Law Veteran Scholarship.
“It meant a lot to me… They gave me a bit of certainty during times of uncertainty. It helped me to have those resources as early as possible in the process, which was great, not only financially, but mentally.”
“I love remaining connected to Northwest Ohio. I’m very fond of where I grew up, and I’m happy to have gotten connected with such a great company… I remain extremely appreciative, as appreciative as the day I found out that I was receiving it,” says Alex Box. “I think what they’re doing is a great thing, and I really appreciate it.”
Today, the Boyk Law Scholarship is offered to veterans and their families nationwide, but it is inspiring that our first two recipients came from Northwest Ohio. We are very happy that Jaron and Alex have found happiness and success, and very proud that the Charles Boyk Law Veteran Scholarship helped them along their journey.
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