Borough Resident Wins Award for Research Paper

New Milford resident and Bergen Community College student Joselida Mercado recently was named a Beacon Scholar for her research paper on short story literature. 

Mercardo was honored in June by the judges of the annual Beacon Conference held at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. 

The conference is for students to present their academic research and writing in a particular discipline. Five BCC students were honored at this conference which is attended by many community college students in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Mercado's research paper was, "Sowing Wild Oates:  Sex, Fairy Tales and Rock and Roll." She was guided by her mentor, Professor James Zorn.

She was also honored as "Outstanding Presenter" in her category, literature (short stories).

The conference has been held every year since 1993 on the first Friday in June. The Beacon Conference for Student Scholars at Two-Year Colleges recognizes and celebrates the achievements of outstanding college students in academic research and writing. Students selected for the top three papers in each category present their papers at the annual conference, where judges weigh originality and quality of research, written work, and oral presentation. 

“The conference also creates an opportunity for faculty to mentor students as they begin their higher education,” said Professor Kathleen W. Williams, co-director of Bergen’s the Judith K. Winn School of Honors.