Montgomery County Community College: MCCC Foundation Announces 11 New Presidential Scholarships

Press release from the Montgomery County Community College:

Eric Devlin

November 1, 2021

In honor of the inauguration of its sixth president, Montgomery County Community College
Foundation recently established 11 new presidential scholarships for students, with
a focus on first-generation college students. In the 2021-2022 academic year, three
of these scholarships will be awarded.

MCCC President Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez and her husband, Santos created the
first scholarship. As first-generation college graduates, establishing this scholarship
was personally important to them because they understand the impact higher education
has had on their lives.

“As first-generation students ourselves, it was important to my husband and me to
lend a hand to future generations of students like we were,” said Dr. Bastecki-Perez.
“A quality education, like the one students receive each day here at Montgomery County
Community College, opens the door for each of them to achieve their dreams. It is
our honor and privilege to establish the first of these presidential scholarships.”

The MCCC Foundation’s initial goal was to create six scholarships to coincide and
honor Dr. Bastecki-Perez’s inauguration as the College’s sixth president this past spring. However, as so many generous philanthropists
were inspired by this call to action, an additional five scholarships have since been
established. In addition to three distinct scholarships sponsored by the Todi Foundation,
the remaining presidential scholarships were made possible from sponsorships by the
Kunze Family, the Scott and Susan Bentley Fund, the Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee,
Robert H. Erb, the Estate of Alma Jacobs, Ken Baker and the Phoenixville Community
Health Foundation.

 “The Foundation is extremely excited about the Presidential Scholarships initiative,”
said Joseph Gallagher, Foundation Board Chair. “This is a big step forward in directly
addressing the needs represented by Montco’s student population, which includes first-generation
scholars, full-time workers, single parents, and veterans, to name a few. Seeing so
many generous people step up to join in this initiative– it really illuminates the
partnership between the community and our students.”

Each scholarship has a preference to support first-generation learners but may also
benefit students from certain academic programs, campus location, economic or social
backgrounds, and more. These scholarships are endowments, meaning they will continuously
grow, providing much-needed funding for deserving students in perpetuity. Each year
the selected students will have the opportunity to meet their sponsors as well as
Dr. Bastecki-Perez at a meet and greet event as well as receive a certificate for
the prestigious scholarship.

Students benefiting from the new scholarships say it helps lift a heavy weight off
their shoulders.

“I’m really happy about it. It’s helping me a lot,” said Jessica Hille, a first-generation
student, who is the recipient of the Dr. Bastecki-Perez Presidential Scholarship sponsored
by The Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee. “Having the extra money I’ll need to pay
for my board certification exams is beneficial. Rather than spending over 100 hours
studying while also trying to work and come up with the money to pay for the tests,
this scholarship gives me the opportunity to find the time to study for exams and
pass my boards the first time.”

“By awarding me the Dr. Bastecki-Perez Presidential Scholarship, you have lightened
my financial burden. It has allowed me to focus more on school, and the most important
aspect of school, learning,” wrote Selena Lopez in her thank-you letter. Lopez is
also a first-generation student, who received the scholarship sponsored by the Scott
and Susan Bentley Fund. “Your generosity has inspired me to achieve more than I thought
was possible for myself. I hope someday I can help students and members of the community
the way you have personally helped me, because it all starts somewhere.”

Since 1983, the MCCC Foundation has provided scholarships for deserving students, grants for faculty projects, equipment
and technology, emergency funds for students in need, support for cultural enrichment
activities on campus and financial resources for other college programs and activities.

MCCC awards over 500 scholarships a year to students. In addition to College scholarships,
there are numerous external scholarships available. Most scholarships do not require
a separate application, provided a student files for the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information about scholarships and awards, visit the
landing page.

To learn more about the Presidential Scholarship Initiative and its generous sponsors,
visit the landing page.

This press release was produced by the Montgomery County Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.