The opportunity to pursue higher education was celebrated during the annual scholarship ceremony conducted by the Office of Adult Students and Evening Services.
Marine Corps veteran student Sean Colon, speaking at the recent event, said OASES scholarship recipients were attending UNC Charlotte for opportunity. “Somewhere on our paths, we recognized we weren’t where we wanted to be, and we weren’t headed in that direction, so we changed that.”
The father of two received the Kathi Baucom Scholarship, which helps defray some of his college expenses. In addition to pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Colon works full-time in the retail industry. Becoming frustrated with education as a high school student, upon graduation, Colon enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He eventually served in Afghanistan, where he was accountable for the lives of others and learned to adapt to ever-changing conditions. Because of his experiences, he decided to focus on a new purpose, “my wife and two girls” and how the opportunity of a college degree will enhance their lives.
Paulina Rivera, recipient of the Carol Douglas Scholarship, also spoke about the transformative power that education can have. A social work major, Rivera stated she was an excellent high school student who intended to pursue a college degree in marketing. “Unfortunately, I chose to be in a relationship with a person who did not hold the same values as I did. For years, I endured emotional, psychological and physical abuse.”
After extricating herself from that relationship, Rivera began to rebuild her life. She entered a new relationship with a man who has been “one of my biggest supporters,” and she began taking community college classes. Three years ago, she and her family moved to North Carolina, and Rivera resumed her education, enrolling at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. During this time, she started volunteering as a guardian ad litem. This experience solidified her career path, as she decided to apply to UNC Charlotte’s Bachelor of Social Work program, with the goal of completing a Master of Social Work. “In order to make the impact that I want to make, then I need to have a good education. I want to provide counseling and work more closely on a therapeutic level with children.”
Rivera is grateful for the Douglas Scholarship, which covers the cost of her tuition. “We are a family of five living on one income. Going back to school and the added expenses were never in our budget, but we have tried to find ways to pay for childcare. I have found my momentum, and I don’t want anything to come in the way of me finally reaching my goals. As a family, we have gotten very creative in making sure that the children can go to childcare and school, while I have time to attend classes and study.”
For the 2016-17 academic year, OASES awarded more than $134,000 to 85 students. Also, Janet Daniel, OASES director, announced the establishment of a new award, the James William Kirk Scholarship. It was made possible through a gift from Kirk’s daughter, Kim Kirk Steffan.
This new scholarship honors the memory of James William Kirk, whose family owned much of the land that adjoined the campus of UNC Charlotte. Steffan said her father, who died in 2014, loved UNC Charlotte. She noted that having a scholarship in his name to benefit nontraditional students was appropriate, as Kirk began his college career in his 50s, completing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at age 56. He had been unable to attend college following high school due to family obligations.
Below is the complete list of OASES scholarships and their recipients.
Susan Ainsworth Scholarship
Crystal Heady
National Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society Scholarship
Loc Truong
Altrusa Bettie McEwen Scholarship
Margaret Love
Altrusa Bonnie Cone Scholarship
Amariis Graham
Altrusa Mildred English Scholarship
Yekaterina Glinskaya
Altrusa Viola Billue Scholarship
Paula De Maria Campos
ANSWER Scholarship
Cheryl Ross
Amanda Ruiz
Kathi Baucom Scholarship
Sean Colón
Carol Douglas Scholarship
Shea Alexander
Renato Anelli
Amanda Autry
Cory Burr
Seth Carlin
Heather Morgan
Bettina Oates
Erika Prado
Paulina Rivera
Hunter Soper
Alexjandro Villalobos
Friends of UNC Charlotte
Donald Fines
Darius Walker
Gratitude Endowment Scholarship
Mishra Vidya
Gabrielle Haley
Heather Bartlett
Andrea Cole
Shanitria Cuthbertson
Monica Harris
Eric Joyce
Jiten Pokhriyal
Elizabeth Von Briesen
Robert and Jan-Rae Hall Scholarship
Travis Carter
James McCormack Rotary Scholarship
Jamie Kutz
Donjanell Ross
Carl J. McEwen Scholarship
Anthony Grant
Mrs. Carl J. McEwen Scholarship
Benjamin Hales
Ruth Moss Easterling Scholarship
Jessica Burkett
Osher Reentry Scholarship Endowment
Joshua Arrington
Sandra Berube
Jakob Breunig
Darlene Bonaparte
Heidi Broekhuizen
Margaret Burgan
Tiana Bush
Julio Cazares
Kyle Charron
Jacey Cohen
Decora Cooper
Jessica Corum
Matthew Darby
Kinson Desmangles
Derrick Douglas
Eric Glave
David Hudson
Arlisia Jackson
Janice Jordan
Sean Leto
Tara Newman
Jonathan Owen
Antonine Peek
Jiten Pokhriyal
Robyne Pomroy
Danna Ritchie
Amanda Ruiz
Judith Sampson
Albert Sanchez
Jason Scianno
Travis Stewart
Janna Stover
Noah Weiss
Keeley White
Philanthropic Educational Organization
Jessica Corum
Alicia Jackson
Maigualida Rowe
Pinnacle Honor Society
Christopher Maness
Fran and David Taylor Nontraditional Student
Scholarship
Zachary Burdick
Ayele Kuevidjen
Thomas Simonson
Ian Sherrill
Sarah Hoadley Wilson Scholarship
Janice Jordan
Women Initiating and Nurturing Growth through Scholarships (WINGS)
Shirley Sherwood
Cheryl Ross
Rachel Stines
Photo: OASES scholarship recipients who were able to attend the annual celebration luncheon were recognized for their achievements.
Inset: Student speakers Sean Colon and Paulina Rivera with Janet Daniel (center).