MCC Foundation Awards Student Scholarships

Middlesex Community College is proud to support student success. The Middlesex Community College Foundation awarded 11 student scholarships on March 5 at the Nesmith House in Lowell.

Sherri McCormack, MCC’s Dean of Advancement, welcomed the crowd and thanked the student recipients and the generous donors.

“Our students work hard to attain and maintain good grades all the while balancing the challenges of college, work and family life,” she said. “We commend them for their sheer determination in seeking a better life for themselves and their families.”

Judy Burke, MCC’s Dean of Advancement, thanked her Advancement team, the students and the donors before presenting each recipient with their scholarship.

Kira Poole is a Liberal Arts/Psychology major from Lowell. She received the Positive Psychology Scholarship created by MCC alumnae Tayla Mayo and Dawn Stickney to promote the lessons of the Positive Psychology course developed by MCC Professor Bob Fera – who presented the award.

The Marie Ryder Beacon of Hope Scholarship was awarded to nursing students Jaime Breingan of Billerica and Alhassan Musah of Lowell. MCC’s Nursing Department established the scholarship to honor Ryder’s retirement, who served as an MCC Nursing Professor for 40 years. Ryder presented the scholarships with Dr. Sandra Shapiro, MCC’s Director of Nurse Education.

While Breingan said, “I feel like Middlesex provides an opportunity for people from all different backgrounds to be able to get an education – and that’s really meaningful education,” Musah said, “The Nursing Program at Middlesex is one of the best in the states. The faculty is really helpful and they give you the best advice.”

Katherine Gehly, MCC’s Dean of Allied Health, presented The Prudence Drake Health Programs Scholarship to Katelyn Bissett, a Dental Hygiene student from Woburn; Taylor Florence, a Radiologic Technology student from Methuen; and Nancy Lee, a Diagnostic Medical Sonography student from North Reading. The scholarship was established in honor of the care Drake received from MCC students while at the Carleton-Willard Village Residential Home in Bedford.

Bisset was grateful for her professors and “feels really prepared and ready to take my board exam.” About Middlesex, Florence said, “They’ve just provided me with so many resources to be where I am today – and successful – and I’m very thankful for that.”

The Muriel G. Hervey Memorial Scholarship was established due to Hervey’s support of MCC’s paralegal students. Halye Sugarman, MCC’s Paralegal Program Director, presented the awards to Debora Ferrante, a Paralegal Transfer student from Maynard; Jennifer LeMasurier, a Liberal Studies, Paralegal student from Dracut; Antoinette Mayi, a Liberal Studies, Paralegal student from Dracut; and Denise Warren, a Liberal Studies, Paralegal student from Lowell.

“It’s been a wonderful stepping stone to getting back on my feet after being a stay-at-home mom,” LeMasurier said. Mayi said, “I really love Middlesex Community College because I love the way the teachers interact with the students.”

Lois Kilberg, a Technical Writing Certificate student from Hudson, was presented with the Judith Tarutz Technical Writing Certificate Scholarship. Sheila Morin, the Technical Writing Certificate Program Director presented Kilberg with the award.

“I really learned a lot through the classes and learned new skills, new tools,” Kilberg said. “The class kept me going and the scholarship really encouraged me. I just started a new job this week. I couldn’t have done it without the program.”

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/foundation/donations to support students and make a donation to the above and other scholarships.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, we educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners. MCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – on our campuses in Bedford and Lowell, and online. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!