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<p><em>Let it not be understated that Don served a critically important role as the cross-cultural counselor at MCC. Anecdotally speaking, Don is most likely responsible for the successful enrollment of thousands of students over his many years. Not only was Don an academic advisor, he was a financial aid counselor, an immigration specialist, and both recruited &amp; retained students. Don assisted his students in completing the complicated financial aid process; knowing how incredibly difficult it was for a new immigrant and/or non-native English speaker to navigate it alone. Don would visit community agencies where he engaged prospective students in conversations about what to expect when applying to and enrolling at MCC. Don&rsquo;s approach was always sincere and engaging. He asked students their names and where they were from, so that he could specifically refer to their high school credential or capital city by name. It&rsquo;s not uncommon for him to know a student&rsquo;s brother, aunt, or parent who were former MCC students, too! </em></p>

<p><em>Don Beech&rsquo;s student-centered approach is unmatched at the college. It takes a caring and patient individual to work with this unique group of students, who often face many challenges. Don was sensitive to the fact that many recent immigrants to the U.S. are here because of war, religious persecution, or government instability in their home country. Many of his advisees left behind successful careers or perhaps family members, for a safer, more stable life here in the U.S. </em></p>

<p><em>For his students, Don has been their COMPASS. He was and the one person they could rely on for accurate course advisement, financial aid advice, and dependable communication. His reputation precedes him in the Rochester community &ndash; ask any alumni who has taken ESOL classes at MCC &ndash; they probably know &ldquo;Mr. Don Beech.&rdquo; And, you know what &ndash; he knows them, too! He pronounces his students&rsquo; names accurately &amp; respectfully, and can often recall personal or background information about many of them.</em></p>

<p><em>Don is well known and beloved across campus.&nbsp; His legacy embodies the spirit of this scholarship.</em></p>

<p>​<strong>Fundraising Raffle - Holiday Gift Baskets!</strong></p>

<p>Our annual fundraising raffle will take place once again this year.&nbsp; Two gift baskets, containing movie passes, gift cards, coffee, wine, candles, and many more goodies, will be raffled off to raise funds for this worthwhile scholarship.</p>

<ul>
<li>​<strong>Purchase your raffle tickets</strong>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<strong>Marketplace Terrace</strong> (2nd floor of Campus Center) on <strong>11/30, 12/1, and 12/2 from 10:30am-2:30pm</strong>, the&nbsp;<strong>FA Office </strong>(7-205) on T, W, or R between 9:00am-3:00pm, or <strong>contact Sonja Lenhard</strong> (slenhard@monroecc.edu) for <strong>virtual purchasing of raffle tickets</strong> using <strong>PayPal</strong>.</li>
</ul>

<p>​<em>The drawing of the winning raffle tickets will take place at the&nbsp;<strong>FA Holiday Gathering on Thursday, December 9th</strong>&nbsp;at Trio.</em></p>

<ul>
<li>​<strong>Want to donate directly to the FA Scholarship?</strong>&nbsp;You can do so <strong>in-person</strong> (FA Office), via <strong>mail </strong>(MCC Faculty Association, Attn: Sonja Lenhard, 1000 East Henrietta Rd, Rochester, NY 14623) or using&nbsp;<strong>PayPal</strong> (<a href="https://paypal.me/fafollowyourdream?country.x=US&amp;locale.x=en_US" target="_blank">https://paypal.me/fafollowyourdream?country.x=US&amp;locale.x=en_US</a>).</li>
</ul>

<p>Thanks for your continued support of this scholarship opportunity for our students!</p>

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MCC Daily Tribune

FA "Follow Your Dream" Scholarship Honoree Chosen and Upcoming Gift Basket Fundraiser!

Don Beech (Learning Support Systems) has been chosen as this year's scholarship honroee!  Please read about Don's contributions as shared by colleagues Meryll Pentz and Kara Tierney: Don Beech recently retired from MCC but continues to work with his students.  Don served a niche role at the college for over 30 years (was it closer to 40?), as the only cross-cultural counselor to hundreds of immigrant students each semester who attended MCC.  All the while, Don rode the waves of change, always delivering accurate information to his students; from financial aid implications, program & curriculum changes, and the ever-changing landscape of immigration.

Let it not be understated that Don served a critically important role as the cross-cultural counselor at MCC. Anecdotally speaking, Don is most likely responsible for the successful enrollment of thousands of students over his many years. Not only was Don an academic advisor, he was a financial aid counselor, an immigration specialist, and both recruited & retained students. Don assisted his students in completing the complicated financial aid process; knowing how incredibly difficult it was for a new immigrant and/or non-native English speaker to navigate it alone. Don would visit community agencies where he engaged prospective students in conversations about what to expect when applying to and enrolling at MCC. Don’s approach was always sincere and engaging. He asked students their names and where they were from, so that he could specifically refer to their high school credential or capital city by name. It’s not uncommon for him to know a student’s brother, aunt, or parent who were former MCC students, too!

Don Beech’s student-centered approach is unmatched at the college. It takes a caring and patient individual to work with this unique group of students, who often face many challenges. Don was sensitive to the fact that many recent immigrants to the U.S. are here because of war, religious persecution, or government instability in their home country. Many of his advisees left behind successful careers or perhaps family members, for a safer, more stable life here in the U.S.

For his students, Don has been their COMPASS. He was and the one person they could rely on for accurate course advisement, financial aid advice, and dependable communication. His reputation precedes him in the Rochester community – ask any alumni who has taken ESOL classes at MCC – they probably know “Mr. Don Beech.” And, you know what – he knows them, too! He pronounces his students’ names accurately & respectfully, and can often recall personal or background information about many of them.

Don is well known and beloved across campus.  His legacy embodies the spirit of this scholarship.

Fundraising Raffle - Holiday Gift Baskets!

Our annual fundraising raffle will take place once again this year.  Two gift baskets, containing movie passes, gift cards, coffee, wine, candles, and many more goodies, will be raffled off to raise funds for this worthwhile scholarship.

  • Purchase your raffle tickets in the Marketplace Terrace (2nd floor of Campus Center) on 11/30, 12/1, and 12/2 from 10:30am-2:30pm, the FA Office (7-205) on T, W, or R between 9:00am-3:00pm, or contact Sonja Lenhard (slenhard@monroecc.edu) for virtual purchasing of raffle tickets using PayPal.

The drawing of the winning raffle tickets will take place at the FA Holiday Gathering on Thursday, December 9th at Trio.

Thanks for your continued support of this scholarship opportunity for our students!

Jessica Barone
Chemistry and Geosciences
11/16/2021