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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Two MCC Students Earn $30,000 Scholarships Each


Christine Lucas and Katsiaryna Pleshankova have been chosen among hundreds of community college students to receive an Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. They each will receive up to $30,000 a year to further their higher education.

Chrissy, a business major who finished her course studies at MCC in December 2007, will continue work toward earning a baccalaureate at St. John Fisher College; and Katsia, a liberal arts/biology major, will transfer this fall to the University of Rochester to pursue a childhood dream of becoming a doctor.

“The prestige of our institution and the talent of our faculty, staff and students are demonstrated in many ways,” said MCC President R. Thomas Flynn. “However, nothing demonstrates this better than when our students receive this type of recognition and reward for all their efforts here at MCC. We are very proud of these students.”

Chrissy and Katsia are among just 47 community college students – out of 600 nationwide who submitted applications – to receive the financial scholarship this year. Additionally, for the first time, both MCC students who applied were chosen.

Scholarship recipients currently attend or recently completed coursework at two-year institutions and plan to transfer to four-year colleges and universities to complete a bachelor’s degree program. Scholars were selected by the foundation with assistance from a national panel of experts. Selection criteria included academic excellence, financial need, will to succeed, leadership ability, service to others, and interest in or appreciation for the arts.

Chrissy, who plans to pursue sports management, served on the operations crew last summer for the Rochester Rhinos at Paetec Park. The dean’s list student graduated from Wayland-Cohocton High School in 1990. “She is an extremely dedicated student who goes beyond the expectations of her faculty to excel in all aspects of her educational experiences,” says Craig Rand, chair of MCC’s Health and Physical Education Department.

Katsia, a dean’s list student, has received a SUNY Chancellor’s Award, was named to Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society’s All New York Academic Team, and was honored with the Thomas R. Kissel Memorial Scholarship. The Belarusian native served as a vice president for Alpha Theta Iota, MCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. “Katsia exemplifies the personal and professional qualities needed by doctors. She is patient, responsible, honest with herself and others, and has the utmost sense of integrity,” says Jodi Oriel, assistant director of MCC’s Campus Center at Brighton Campus.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 2000 by the estate of Jack Kent Cooke to help young people of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education. It focuses in particular on students with financial need. <https://www.jackkentcookefoundation.org>

Dianne E McConkey
College and Community Relations
05/12/2008