With more veterans beginning to come back to school, Troy University Troy for Troops committee held “The Drop” Saturday for the first time in about 15 years. The Drop served to raise money for both current and endowed scholarships for men and women who have served in the military or for spouses of those who are currently serving.

A parachutist landed on a grid Saturday morning that was marked with 1,000 squares on the lower football practice field. Each square was 3×3 feet. Squares were $20 each. All eyes were on the parachutist to see which square he would land in, naming the winner of $1,000.

Roy Drinkard of Cullman was the winner of the $1,000.

With the money raised from The Drop, Troy for Troops was able to give away scholarships during halftime at the football game Saturday.

“We are giving away three scholarships,” said Dr. Jean Laliberte, associate vice chancellor of development at Troy University. “The rest of the money will go toward our endowed scholarships.”

Recipients were Alexis Surles, Garrett Baeder and Phillip Johnson.

Surles is a member of the Alabama National Guard, and Baeder and Johnson are members of the Alabama National Guard.

Laliberte estimated that The Drop raised around $7,000 in total.

Army Aviation Federal Credit Union donated the helicopter for use during the event, and Skydive the South, a jump club from Tuskegee volunteered their time and efforts to the event.

“I had a blast watching them,” Laliberte said. “I loved that the parachutes were the American flag, especially on this military appreciation weekend.”

Laliberte said that Troy for Troops and Troy University plans to make The Drop an annual event.