During the Fall 2023 Scholarship Ceremony, Middlesex Community College students received financial awards to help them afford the costs of attending college. A total of $162,328 was awarded to 86 students at the event held on MCC’s Bedford Campus on Tuesday, October 24.
“This scholarship will really help with my finances for studying cybersecurity,” said Sokden Tan, an MCC Information Technology (IT) Cybersecurity student. “It means I can focus more on my studies and learning important skills. It’s a big step toward my dream job in cybersecurity. I’m determined to make the most out of this chance and give back to my community.”
From Phnom Penh, Cambodia and now living in Lowell, Tan is the recipient of the Jacobs Scholars Program Scholarship. Grateful to the MCC Foundation and scholarship donor, Tan believes the award enables and encourages him to continue his education.
Jenifer Alcaraz is an MCC International Student from Mexico who now lives in Winchester. After graduating from Middlesex, she plans to transfer to a four-year school to become a Spanish teacher. In addition to helping her financially, receiving the MCC Foundation Kathy Reticker Scholarship has made her even more determined to pursue her dream.
“I feel seen and my hard work feels appreciated after having the honor of receiving the scholarship,” Alcaraz said. “I usually have a lot of trouble finding scholarships I am eligible for. In most, no matter how high my grades are I cannot apply because I am not a U.S. citizen. This scholarship makes me feel recognized and valued as a student, no matter where I am from.”
Established to honor Kathy Reticker – former Executive Director of Acre Family Child Care in Lowell and beloved leader in the nonprofit community – the Kathy Reticker Scholarship supports MCC Early Childhood Education students who are committed to working in the field.
“These inspiring students juggle work, school and family obligations in order to become the outstanding early childhood educators our community and world so desperately need,” said Carolyn Stein, representative of the Kathy Reticker Scholarship. “We are honored to support them on their journeys.”
Led by the Middlesex Community College Foundation, scholarships are funded by generous donors, including memorial donations, local businesses, private foundations and private donors. The 96 different scholarships ranged from $500 to $7,500 and were handed out to students from 41 different cities and towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
“We were thrilled to come together to celebrate our Fall scholarship recipients and show our appreciation to all of the generous donors who make MCC Foundation scholarships possible,” said Barbara Maglio, MCC’s Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving. “The award ceremony allows us to spotlight everyone in the MCC community who is dedicated to ensuring that our students get the best possible education. The financial support is often the difference that helps our students pursue their dreams.”
The 2023-2024 scholarship recipients include:
Aleen Aghabi – Trooper Tamar Bucci Criminal Justice Scholarship
Sandra Alcaraz Sepulveda – Kathy Reticker Scholarship
Sarah Alzate-Pérez – Presidential Equity Promise Scholarship
Molly Anderson – Debra Chemelli Evans Scholarship
Marlenne Astacio – Prudence Drake Health Programs Scholarship
Natasha Barahona – Verena Stair Memorial Scholarship
Toby Barnett – Trooper Tamar Bucci Criminal Justice Scholarship
Sarah Benfallah – Support Staff Scholarship
Brianna Bennett-Karshbaum – Robert Cataldo Scholarship
Samantha Blaney – Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Full-Time Students
Krysten Bunting – Shirley W. Thidemann Memorial Scholarship
Bailey Cabrera – Kim M. Forte Memorial Scholarship & Nathaniel Fabian Dental Assisting Scholarship
Brianna Caccamesi – Thomas O'Mahony "Spirit of Excellence" Award
Frantzcesca Charles – Unitas Scholarship
Pauline Chege – Howard Legacy of Hope Scholarship
Lily Chhun – Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Part-Time Students
Joshua Cohen – Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Part-Time Students
Jennifer Connolly – John Keough Award
Jessica Damico – Werfen Scholarship
Kyle De Castro – Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship
Huyen Doan – Prudence Drake Health Programs Scholarship
Celeste Dolcine – Kathy Reticker Scholarship
Anthony Dubey – Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship
Duran Elad – Mashu and Abu Alam Scholarship
Mirellalys Encarnacion – Alumni Association Scholarship & Presidential Equity Promise Scholarship
Kole Ferreira – MCC Performing Arts Scholarship
Livia Ferreira – Dr. Michael R. Tramonte Scholarship
Jessie Filiatrault-Brown – Prudence Drake Health Programs Scholarship
Nikki Fisk – Leah N. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship
Pramila Gautam Luitel – Audrey A. Cogliano Memorial Scholarship & Catherine L. Goodwin Memorial Scholarship
Iva Gavassi Jorge Fernandes – Robert Cataldo Scholarship
Savanna Gavin – Prudence Drake Health Programs Scholarship
Megan Guros – Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship
Sok Han Hok – Patricia R. Cahalane Memorial Scholarship
Elijah Harrell – Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship in Honor of Claire Goulet
Victoria Jensen – Werfen Scholarship
Nick Johnstone – John Keough Award & Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Full-Time Students
Medgine Joseph – Werfen Scholarship
Enisa Kadric – Maureen Silveria Strauss Dental Hygiene Scholarship
Esther Kahare – Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Part-Time Students
Isa Kamulegeya – Caryl Dundorf Scholarship
Neale Kelley – Muriel G. Hervey Memorial Scholarship
Stephanie Kem – James C. & Judith G. Mabry Completion Scholarship
Tiffanie Kem – Sarem Neou Cambodian American Scholarship
Junhee Kim – Delta Dental of Massachusetts Scholarship in honor of Dennis J. Leonard
Ibrahim Konteh – Aldersgate UMC, Chelmsford, Scholarship
Moussa Kouakou – Howard Legacy of Hope Scholarship & Lura Smith Scholarship
Ritta Kuong – James and Dorothy Sullivan Scholarship & Markowicz-Dundorf Scholarship
Jennifer Laing – Carol A. Cowan Scholarship
Lihong Li – Keri-Lyn (Gleason) Farley Scholarship
Scarlett Ly – Maryanne M. Mungovan Memorial Scholarship & Middlesex Community College Foundation Scholarship for Full-Time Students
Zhouzhou Ma – Lowell Five Scholarship
Gordana Marchio – Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Full-Time Students in Honor of Amy Cahill Lee
Darie Martinez – Presidential Equity Promise Scholarship
Kai Martinez – Muriel G. Hervey Memorial Scholarship
Merilyn Mbombo – Prudence Drake Health Programs Scholarship
Kelsea McAllister – Geraldine B. Deragon Scholarship
Maria Mejia – Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship
Jen Meyer – Paul Sheehy Memorial Scholarship
Malayah Montgomery – Aradhya-Beauchemin Arts Scholarship & Bruce J. Corcoran Memorial Scholarship
Ethan Muriuki – Howard Legacy of Hope Scholarship
Asha Nagudi – Robert Luddy Scholarship
Ronah Nangonzi – Presidential Equity Promise Scholarship
Joyce Ngigi – Living the Dream Partners Scholarship
Muy Ngy Lov – Collegiate TRIO Programs Scholarship
Mary Norris – Emily Boudrot Memorial Scholarship & Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Part-Time Students
Makayla Oeung – Charles and Olga Malvers Memorial Scholarship
Jennifer Orozco-Molineros – Werfen Scholarship
Alexandra Ostrowski – New England Woodcarvers (NEWC) Scholarship
Jessica Pace – Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship
Mu Paw – Warren-Wharton-Sullivan Scholarship
Ngoc Pham – Deolinda Mello Memorial Scholarship & Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Full-Time Students
Danisha Ramirez – Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship
Alex Risman – Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Full-Time Students
Guzel Saitova – Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship
Cori Spagna – Muriel G. Hervey Memorial Scholarship
Elizabeth Stephens – Sandra Martines Memorial Scholarship
Shyquanda Sterling – Lura Smith Scholarship
Sokden Tan – Jacobs Scholars Program Scholarship
Sovia Ti – Paul Sullivan Scholarship
Eden Vachtel – Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship
Saryna Vith – Northeast Association of Realtors (NEAR) Scholarship
Halle Warnock – Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Part-Time Students
Hyejin Yoo – Delta Dental of Massachusetts Scholarship in honor of Dennis J. Leonard
Saimah Yousuf – Tom McKay Memorial Scholarship
Madison Zolkos – Ralph and Loretta Steeves Memorial Scholarship