Middlesex Community College: Middlesex Community College Foundation Announces Scholarship Awards

Press release from Middlesex Community College:

May 17, 2022

May 17, 2022 (Middletown, Conn.) — The Middlesex Community College Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony took place in person on Friday, May 16, 2022. Seventy-five students received $79,250 in awards through 89 total scholarships. The Foundation has also raised $107,600 total for future endowed and annual scholarships.

“We recognize extraordinary members of our college community who are receiving scholarships, as well as celebrate the generosity of donors who give so that others may experience a high-quality and affordable education,” said Christopher Dibble, chair of the Middlesex Community College Foundation board of directors, during his remarks. “The Foundation is an independent nonprofit with the mission to support the academic activities of Middlesex Community College. We work alongside leadership, faculty and student representatives to understand the needs of the school, identify gaps in funding, and fill those gaps by working with philanthropic donors, community partners and alumni.”

Kaitlin Hall (photo), a criminology studies major from Killingworth, received the Elizabeth R. Wagner Scholarship, a new award established for a non-traditional student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who is pursuing a law enforcement career. The recipient also must be a Connecticut resident and U.S. citizen.

“Receiving this scholarship means the world to me, because it shows that even people outside of my family have high hopes for me and trust I will do my best to succeed,” said Hall, who plans to graduate in spring 2023. “Being recognized for my dedication to criminology is all I could ask for, and I am beyond appreciative.”

The Foundation also created two other new awards: the Miguel Jurado Memorial Scholarship and the Middlesex Health Scholarship.

Miguel Jurado Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Middlesex business student Miguel Jurado, who passed away on November 12, 2021. Alexander Pinon (photo), a business administration major, earned the award. The recipient must be a returning full- or part-time student enrolled in accounting or business administration with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and a Meriden resident showing financial need.

The Middlesex Health Scholarship was awarded to Fatoumata Gakou, a health information management student. The recipient must be a returning second-year student enrolled in the radiologic technology program with a GPA of 2.7 of higher, and who demonstrates determination, hard work, initiative and commitment to be successful.

Kimberly Hogan, interim campus CEO, hosted the ceremony that was conducted in Chapman Hall.

Members of the scholarship committee carefully followed the criteria for each award as they chose the recipients listed below. For a list of all the award descriptions, please visit the MxCC Foundation website.

Altrusa International of Central Connecticut Scholarship Juan Torres, Human Services

Alumni Endowed Scholarship Elisha Borenski, Radiologic Technology

Amy Loved Animals Memorial Scholarship Dawn Miller, Veterinary Technology

Rowland & Ruth Beaulieu Business Administration Scholarship Matthew Borelli, Business Administration Redi Zypce, Business Administration Rowland & Ruth Beaulieu Manufacturing & Machine Technology Scholarship Bethany Crum, Manufacturing and Machine Technology

Boris Burack Endowed Scholarship Mirelys Aponte, Accounting

Beaulieu Endowed Scholarship Hailey Nemeth, Business Studies

Patrick Campbell Memorial Scholarship Mariangelis Bruno, General Studies Amy Fontanella, Biology Studies Alyssa Landry, Human Services

Dave Champion Memorial Endowed Scholarship Dawn Miller, Veterinary Technology

Robert A. Chapman Endowed Scholarship Olivia Merlini, Liberal Arts & Sciences Alyse Pellegren, Psychology Studies

Hugh & Judith Cox Scholarship Lindsey Woodruff, Radiologic Technology Deans’ Endowed Scholarship Alexis Clark, General Studies

Eames Family Endowed Scholarship Caleb Hester, Audio & Music Production Danielle Minicucci, Art Studies

Eriksen Family Scholarship Julie Orenstein, Digital Media Production

Follett Bookstore Scholarship Destiny Culp, Biology Studies Founders Endowed Scholarship Artur Stamenkovic, Sociology Studies

Edie Fuld Endowed Scholarship Catherine Griffin, Human Services Gandhi Annual Scholarship Muhammad Ali, Computer Science Studies Gandhi Endowed Scholarship Michelle Hargreaves, Early Childhood Education

Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship Daniel Polanco, Engineering Science

Carolyn & Ken Innocenzi Meriden Administrator Scholarship Sandy Fernandez, General Studies Amy Fontanella, Biology Studies Insalco Scholarship Zakary Robichaud, Business Studies

Paul L. Jones Foundation Scholarship Brittany Brown, Radiologic Technology Alyssa Desiderio, Radiologic Technology Erica Guasp, Radiologic Technology Marissa Hansen, Radiologic Technology Lucas Marra, Radiologic Technology Sharlene Martel-Lucero, Ophthalmic Design & Dispensing Kayla Molis, Radiologic Technology Xhoana Pajo, Radiologic Technology Danielle Perrelli, Radiologic Technology Amanda Ruszczyk, Radiologic Technology Vivian Tran, Radiologic Technology

Miguel Jurado Memorial Scholarship Alexander Pinon, Business Administration

Nihla and Bob Lapidus Foundation Scholarship Andy Benoit, Radiologic Technology Christina Paternostro, Liberal Arts & Sciences Kirstan Ruderman, Radiologic Technology

Herbert Levine, MD, Endowed Scholarship Maia Carpentino, Liberal Arts & Sciences Liberty Bank Foundation Scholarship Gracie Hopwood, Radiologic Technology

Dean Adrienne Maslin Scholarship Julia Noriega, Liberal Arts & Sciences Lisa Massita Scholarship Olivia Merlini, Liberal Arts & Sciences Mayor’s Scholarship for Middletown Jordan Brookes, Social Work Studies MxCC Faculty Annual Scholarship Maia Carpentino, Liberal Arts & Sciences Julia Noriega, Liberal Arts & Sciences MxCC Faculty Endowed Scholarship Alyse Pellegren, Psychology Studies MxCC Foundation Scholarship Grayson Resor, History Studies

Middlesex Health Scholarship Fatoumata Gakou, Health Information Management Middlesex United Way Women’s Initiative Scholarship Brianna Fromosky, Health Information Management MILE Scholarship Tina Muniz-Jones, Veterinary Technology

Dean Richard Muniz Family Annual Scholarship Katherine Tocto, Liberal Arts & Sciences

Dean Richard Muniz Endowed Scholarship Lady Navarro, Physics Studies

Stephanie Nelson Memorial Scholarship Julie Orenstein, Digital Media Production

Peach Pit Foundation Scholarship Chloe Boucher, Liberal Arts & Sciences Veronica Himes, Psychology Studies Sabrina Rodriguez, Radiologic Technology

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship Danielle Minicucci, Art Studies

Record-Journal Foundation Scholarship Matthew Borelli, Business Administration Will Mason, Liberal Arts and Sciences Katherine Paddock, General Studies Raymond S. Robinson Endowed Scholarship Ryan Castelluzzo, Radiologic Technology Beverly Goff, General Studies Daisy Gonzalez, Liberal Arts & Sciences Anna Marie Jimenez, Liberal Arts & Sciences Kaoutar Tayoubi-Elidrissi, Social Work Rotary Club of Middletown Scholarship Destiny Culp, Biology Studies

Jesse J. Salafia Nursing Scholarship Katherine Paddock, General Studies

Martha DePecol Sanner Endowed Scholarship Katherine Paschalides, Ophthalmic Design & Dispensing Jing Yang, Ophthalmic Design & Dispensing Susan M. Smart Memorial Scholarship Maya Marozzi, Early Childhood Education

STEM Scholarship Jaleena Jacob, Biology Studies STRIVE Scholarship Ruth-Ann Bucknor, Liberal Arts & Sciences Degree Catherine Griffin, Human Services Will Mason, Liberal Arts and Sciences Lady Navarro, Physics Studies Cedric Onema, Computer Information Technology Hermayonie Perez, Criminology Studies Town Fair Tire Scholarship Emma Burgess, General Studies

Elizabeth R. Wagner Family Scholarship Kaitlin Hall, Criminology Studies Judith and Robert Walsh Scholarship Rufaida Khan, Psychology Studies

Philip and Amy Wheaton Endowed Scholarship Madison Anderson, Criminology Studies Soukaina Boulabat, General Studies Shauntazia Davenport, Business Administration

About the Middlesex Community College Foundation The purpose of the Middlesex Community College Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity incorporated in Connecticut, is twofold: to support the college and its students by receiving, managing, and distributing funds for scholarships and other educational purposes, and to generate and strengthen communication and collaboration between the college and the foundation and business, industry, professional, civic and educational leaders in the communities served by the college—all of Middlesex County, Meriden and Wallingford in New Haven County, and Rocky Hill in Hartford County.

About Middlesex Community College Connecticut’s 12 community colleges are merging into a singly accredited institution called CT State Community College. The merger will combine and strengthen resources and support equitable student success across the state while maintaining campus communities and access. To learn more about the merger, visit www.ct.edu/merger.

Since 1966, Middlesex Community College has provided high-quality, affordable and accessible education to a diverse population, enhancing the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. A part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, Middlesex offers more than 70 degree or certificate programs at the 35-acre campus in Middletown, the Meriden Center at Platt High School and online.

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