It is no secret that college can be very expensive. However, for 372 scholarship recipients at Modesto Junior College, things just got a little easier. At MJC's Annual Scholarships Celebration held April 18, these deserving students received over $181,000 in scholarships. While many of these scholarship recipients are continuing MJC students, many are graduating this spring and transferring to four-year universities.
The scholarships range from $2000 to $200, with the largest awards given through the Walter & Helen Crow Scholarships for $2000. The four students selected to receive the Crow scholarships for 2008 are Juan Leon (Teaching/Education Major), Kayla Messer (Psychology Major), Quichi Ngo (Nursing Major), and Claire Sarraille (Geography Major).
Some of the recipients are hand picked by the donor or group donating, while others are selected by instructional divisions or the scholarship committee. Many of MJC's high academic achievers received multiple scholarship awards. The total dollars awarded and number of recipients will increase over the next several months as the Scholarship Office continues to award scholarships.
Many of the scholarships that were awarded are given annually by clubs, organizations, and businesses or through scholarship endowment funds established by organizations or individuals. The $181,000 amount represents community scholarships, private donor scholarships, and Modesto Junior College Foundation's "Jum" Morris Scholarships and Foundation Board President's Scholarships.
Members of the MJC Foundation Board of Director's met to interview 12 students selected by the Academic Division Deans for consideration for the "Jum" Morris and the Foundation Board President's awards. After careful consideration, the following students were chosen to receive $600 each for the "Jum" Morris Achievement Awards.
Dawn Garcia, the recipient from the Technical/Vocational area, is graduating this spring. She has completed the prerequisites for the MJC Nursing Program and hopes to be accepted into this program for the fall 2008 semester.
Recommended from the Business/Computer Science area, Sounita Johnson is a veteran and an accounting major who plans to graduate this spring and transfer to CSU, Stanislaus, for fall 2008.
Michael Maldonado, nominated by the Science, Math and Engineering Division, is pursuing a biochemistry major at MJC. He plans to transfer in 2009 to a University of California, with UC Davis his preferred choice. His dream is to attend medical school to become a pediatrician.
Kevin Flynn, an agriculture major, plans to transfer to Fresno State in fall 2009 to earn a Bachelor's degree and then pursue a Ph.D. He would like to become a community college teacher.
The Social Science/Humanities recipient is Lauren Doyle, an art major who plans to transfer to CSU, San Jose to study art history and earn her teaching credential. She also hopes to illustrate and publish her own written works.
Two MJC Foundation Board President's Awards of $500 each were presented to:
Gisela Howe, a computer graphics major who plans to graduate from MJC this spring and transfer to CSU, Stanislaus for the fall 2008 semester.
Elda Bautista, a math major, plans to transfer and pursue her Master's degree in mathematics. Her desire is to teach and "show my future students that mathematics is not a monster, it is a beautiful art."
For additional information about ways to support the college or students of MJC, contact Amy Bethel in the MJC Foundation Office at 575-6068. For additional information about scholarship opportunities at the college contact Melissa Clark at 575-7715 or the Financial Aid Office at 575-7700.
