Ten First-Generation Students Receive Scholarships
Lebanon, Ill. — Ten McKendree University students have received $1,000 First-Generation
Student Success Scholarships, funded by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC)
and the Walmart Foundation.
The 2012 scholars at the Lebanon, Ill., campus are first-year students Cassandra Ochoa
of O’Fallon and Deante Siller of Markham; sophomores Nathan Hunt of Harrisburg and
Lora Kern of Belleville; and juniors Nykhala Coston of Edwardsville and Kayla McClain
of Belleville. Sophomore Michelle Deatherage, of Freeburg, is a student at the Center
at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Junior Martha Feldkamp and senior Michael Willis are
students at McKendree’s Louisville, Ky., campus. Brandi Foster, of Olney, is a junior
in the Accelerated Instruction at McKendree (AiM) program.
“These students really do exemplify what it takes to complete a degree at a four-year
institution when one is a first-generation student,” said Lisa Brennan, coordinator
of first generation student success. “Reading their essays and applications, it became
clear that they share tenacity, motivation and a willingness to reach outside of their
comfort zones and ask for assistance. Each takes responsibility for his or her success
but is also willing to try new behaviors to be successful, including tutoring or becoming
more involved with the university community.”
The “McKendree Firsts” program combines academic, personal and financial support for
those who are the first in their family to attend a four-year college. It started
in 2010 with a grant from the CIC and the Walmart Foundation.
“I wish I had had this program available to me when I started college. As the first
person in my family to attend college, I was really clueless about how academia worked,”
said Dr. Brenda Boudreau, professor of English, chair of the Humanities Division and
director of the Writing Resource Center. “We have many first-generation faculty and
staff on this campus who really understand the challenges of being a first-generation
college student, and who welcome the opportunity to work with them.”
A reception was held for first-generation scholarship recipients and their families
on Mar. 22 at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts at McKendree University’s Lebanon,
Ill., campus. Left to right, Lisa Brennan, coordinator; Dr. Christine Bahr, provost
and dean; Nykhala Coston, Michelle Deatherage, Deante Siller, Lora Kern, Michael Willis,
Kayla McClain, Cassandra Ochoa, Dr. Brenda Boudreau, director. Not pictured are Martha
Feldkamp, Brandi Foster and Nathan Hunt.
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