A United States Marine Corps veteran and Montgomery County Community College student has been selected as the recipient of the Paul Decker & Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board Hospitality Scholarship.

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’t believe the news when he heard it.

“I was in shock,” he said. “I’d like to express my thanks and that I’m truly honored to be a recipient of this award.”

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.

“At my last place, I was working more than 70 hours a week,” he said. “Starting 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’d get home from working from 2 or 3:30 a.m., and sometimes at 6:30 p.m. I’d be called in for an emergency run. It was very much work, go home, sleep, work, go home and sleep.”

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.

“My end goal is to open a barbecue spot,” he said. “Barbecue 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.”

He enrolled at MCCC as a Culinary Arts major in fall 2023. He’d 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 MCCC has been everything he could have asked for, he said.

“Every teacher or professor I’ve had has been very helpful and very strong in their knowledge of the courses I’ve taken,” he said. “I have a little bit of a learning issue from my time in the Marine Corps. The professors I’ve talked to have worked with me through it. Overall, this place has been great.”   

MacWilliams praised the College’s Veterans Resource Center for its help in getting him the benefits he’s needed.

“I’ve had trouble before with getting verification paperwork and they’ve advised me on which paperwork to do,” he said. “When I wasn’t able, they did it for me. They’ve been very helpful. Any email I send, they always respond so quickly.”

After obtaining his associate’s degree, MacWilliams said he’s hoping to continue on to Walnut Hill College to finish his bachelor’s degree.

As for the scholarship, he said he’s proud to know his hard work is being rewarded.

“It’s truly a blessing,” he said, “and motivation to continue doing what I am and reinforcing that I chose the right path to follow.”

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.