During the Fall 2026 Scholarship Ceremony, Middlesex Community College students received financial awards to help them afford the costs of attending college. A total of $156,000 was awarded to 75 students at the event held on MCC’s Bedford Campus on Thursday, November 5.
“Receiving these scholarships means so much to me,” said Eileena Silva, an MCC nursing student, of Lowell. “The financial support has also helped ease some of the stress of nursing school and allowed me to focus more on my education. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities MCC has given me. I’m proud to be approaching graduation and excited to see where this next chapter takes me!”
The recipient of four scholarships, Silva was awarded the Carol S. Duncan Memorial Scholarship in honor of Duncan’s support of young women in Lowell. She received the Deolinda Mello Memorial Scholarship for being a Lowell native who wants to dedicate her life to helping others. To pursue her dream career, Silva was given the Linda R. Gallagher Nursing Scholarship and the Paul Sheehy Memorial Scholarship for her commitment to transfer to UMass Lowell after graduating from MCC.
Scott Wallace, an elementary education student, of Lowell, received the Dr. Ellen B. Decker Memorial Scholarship and Keri Lyn (Gleason) Farley Scholarship at the 2026 event. The scholarships are given to an education student in honor of Dr. Ellen B. Decker and Keri-Lyn (Gleason) Farley’s passion for teaching children. After graduating from MCC, Wallace plans to continue his education at UMass Lowell through an apprenticeship program while working hands-on in the classroom.
“It means more than I can say to receive these scholarships, I am very thankful,” Wallace said. “If I did not receive the scholarships, it would have delayed my ability to take my required courses, which would slow down my ability to graduate and actually get in the classroom!”
Led by the Middlesex Community College Foundation, scholarships are funded by generous donors, including memorial donations, local businesses, private foundations and private donors. The 104 scholarships ranged from $500 to $7,000 and were handed out to students from 35 cities and towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
MCC alumna Karren Warren graduated from the college in 1974. Grateful for her experience as a student and for MCC’s positive impact on her life, she decided to create a scholarship in her family’s name. As many members of Warren’s family served as police and fire professionals, she wanted to give back to the college and support students who are pursuing careers as a first responder.
“These jobs are very challenging, and we believed we should do what we can to help and encourage individuals pursuing careers in these fields,” Warren said. “Our hope is that our scholarship helps students achieve their educational goals and prepare for these important professions that both protects and serves others. It is our way of honoring our family’s connection to these professions while investing in the next generation of first responders.”
The Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Chelmsford dedicated a scholarship following their mission of faith, love and support. Though they planned to award the scholarship for a limited number of years, they were inspired to find and donate additional funds to continue in perpetuity after reading the stories shared by MCC students.
“We have been deeply moved by the commitment of the MCC faculty and staff in teaching, motivating, and championing their students,” said Pastor John Whitley, a spokesperson for the scholarship. “We feel blessed to help support this awesome community and to help future generations of students make a positive impact of love and support to our community and society.”
“The Fall Scholarship Awards Ceremony is always a special occasion at MCC,” said Barbara Maglio, MCC’s Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving. “The event is an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our scholarship recipients and thank the generous donors whose support helps make their success possible. MCC Foundation scholarships have a tremendous impact on a student’s ability to pursue a college education, achieve their goals, and enter the workforce with less college debt. It is incredibly rewarding to be part of a program that opens doors and creates opportunities for our students.”
The 2026-2027 scholarship recipients include:
Aldersgate UMC, Chelmsford, Scholarship – Jerson Javier
Alumni Association Scholarship – Purity Kirui
Audrey A. Cogliano Memorial Scholarship – Thien Thien Nguyen
Audrey M. Ambrosino Memorial Scholarship – Alexa Chambliss-Powell
Bruce J. Corcoran Memorial Scholarship – Barbara E. Ribeiro Santos
**Carole A. Cowan Scholarship - CHP Award – Irwin Edwards*
Carol S. Duncan Memorial Scholarship – Eileena Silva*
Caryl Dundorf Scholarship – Andy Muriithi
Catherine L. Goodwin Memorial Scholarship – Rebecca Kabahumuza
Charles and Olga Malvers Memorial Scholarship – Cali Schmidt
Collegiate TRIO Programs Scholarship - Program for Student Achievement (PSA) – Nicolas Cho*
Collegiate TRIO Programs Scholarship - Student Success Program – Noora Habeeb*
Delta Dental Scholarship in Honor of Dennis J. Leonard – Kaina Coste, Emilia Medina
Deolinda Mello Memorial Scholarship - Eileena Silva*
Dr. David M. Kalivas Honors Scholarship – Yuanzhe “Jim” Wang*
Dr. Ellen B. Decker Memorial Scholarship – Scott Wallace
Emily Boudrot Memorial Scholarship – Jessica Munroe*
Galia Rabinkin Sonography Scholarship – Kayla Stevens
Geraldine B. Deragon Scholarship – Jenn Charles*
Groton-Lowell Upward Bound (GLUB) Alumni Scholarship – Christian Nibal
Hope & Healing Scholarship - Jenn Charles*, David Kee*
James C. & Judith G. Mabry Completion Scholarship – Luis Bennett-Trinidad*
John Keough Award – Audris Cruz*, Chinna Udoji
Karen N. Frederick Scholarship – Li Zhang*
Kathy Reticker Scholarship – Roberta Sapigao, Micayla Trodden
Keri-Lyn (Gleason) Farley Scholarship – Scott Wallace
Kim M. Forte Memorial Scholarship – Shivani Soni
**Kumler Family CHP Award -Nicolas Cho*
Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship – Ratheksuchen Dy*, Vincent Keang, Aron Khov*, Natalia Mendonca*, Irene Namuyiga*, Ratanak Peng*, Jaiden Ros, Buntoeun Sok*, Nkondjouo Suh
Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship in Honor of Claire Goulet – Sokphalinn Taing
Linda R. Gallagher Nursing Scholarship – Eileena Silva*
Living the Dream Partners Scholarship – Angelina Sun
Lowell Five Bank Scholarship – Nicolas Cho*
Luis Pedroso Immigrant Scholarship – Gayathri Botla, Evan Chan, Yolson Dumard, Seophao Lee, T Yean
Lura Smith Family Peace Scholarship – Rosemary Kariuki, Yolson Dumbard
Marie Ryder Beacon of Hope Scholarship – Purity Kirui
Markowicz-Dundorf Scholarship – Risha Patel
Maureen Silveria Strauss Dental Hygiene Scholarship – Emilia Medina
Maryanne M. Mungovan Memorial Scholarship - Matchima Savitt*
Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Full-Time Students – Chormrern Chan*, Ratheksuchen Dy*, Olena Erkun, Li Zhang*
Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Full-Time Students in Honor of Amy Cahill Lee – Aron Khov*
Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award for Part-Time Students – Katsue Heginbotham, Zaharah Nakakembo*, Iuliia Podorozhna, Matchima Savitt*, Angelina Sun
Muriel G. Hervey Memorial Scholarship – Claude Msowoya*, Yonghua Nie
Northeast Association of Realtors (NEAR) Scholarship – Reacheany Samat
Patricia R. Cahalane Memorial Scholarship - Yuanzhe “Jim” Wang*
Paul Sheehy Memorial Scholarship – Eileena Silva*
Paul Sullivan Scholarship – Zee Coale
Presidential Promise Scholarship – Claude Msowoya*, Chormrern Chan*, Ratanak Peng*, Risha Patel, Ratheksuchen Dy*
Prudence Drake Health Programs Scholarship – Jenn Charles*, Olena Erkun, Karyna Kidovskaya*, Jessica Munroe*, Charlotte Purvis
Robert Cataldo Scholarship - Karyna Kidovskaya*
Robert Luddy Scholarship – Thabo Matutu
Sarem Neou Cambodian American Scholarship – Angelina Sun
Shirley W. Thidemann Memorial Scholarship – Barbara E. Ribeiro Santos
Support Staff Scholarship – Zee Coale
Theresa Manganelli Memorial Scholarship – Audris Cruz*
Thomas O'Mahony "Spirit of Excellence" Award – Andrey Correa*
TJX Companies Scholarship – Nicolas Cho*, Katherine Gonzalez
Tom McKay Memorial Scholarship – Yonghua Nie
Unitas Scholarship – Natalia Mendonca*
Verena Stair Memorial Scholarship – Tewina Ismard
Warren-Wharton-Sullivan Scholarship – Iznaishalee Zoe Rosa
Werfen Scholarship – Aliza Chi*, Tiger Jin, John Bosco Ssembatya*, Lianne Wachira*
*Commonwealth Honors Student
**Commonwealth Honors Scholarship