Past MN TRiO Scholarship Winners
| Shamil Mirzoev, Ron McKinley Scholarship Recipient | |||
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Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) student Shamil Mirzoev received the Ron McKinley Scholarship. Despite emigrating from a country torn by civil war, Shamil has shined with help from the Student Support Services program. He currently has a 4.0 GPA and is highly involved on his campus and in his community. He is the Vice President of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and has volunteered as a math instructor for high school dropouts and adult learners. As a Judo black belt, he teaches martial arts to children at the Martial Arts Fitness Center. |
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| Shamil has also been an excellent representative for TRiO. The Adult Student Leadership Conference inspired him to found and become president of the Student Support Services Program Club at RCTC. In 2007 he was selected as a TRiO student representative for the COE conference in Washington DC where he spoke on behalf of TRiO students and programs to Senator Norm Coleman. "TRiO planted in me a seed of self-confidence and nurtures it through my many experiences that make my college experience as productive as possible." Ultimately, Shamil's dream is to start an international school for orphans. "As an oak tree drops acorns, I am going to plant seeds in the weakest members of any society. The school [for orphans] will provide them opportunity to grow to strong and productive trees as TRiO has done for me." |
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| Carol LaFleur, Bruce Vento Scholarship Recipient |
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Mother of seven children and North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) student Carol LaFleur has broken the barrier of agoraphobia and has finally found herself through higher education and TRiO. Conquering insurmountable odds, Carol is the deserving recipient of the Bruce Vento Scholarship. A published writer, Carol's story went with Congressman Ramstad to Washington DC and more importantly was read by a woman who was inspired by Carol to free herself from domestic violence.
Even though doctors said she "would never amount to anything," Carol has flourished at NHCC. She has volunteered for the NHCC Foundation raising money for scholarships and has served as a representative for Student Senate. Recently, Carol was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa honor society for her strong performance as she pursues a degree in Criminal Justice.
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| She plans to continue her education at Augsburg College to accomplish her goal of obtaining a four-year degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and assist others like herself so that they can feel worthy and attain their own personal goals. Carol says, "None of this would have been possible without the assistance of my [TRiO] advisors and most importantly, my English and math tutors. I needed help with registration, financial aid, homework, and sometimes just a shoulder to cry on when I had an emotional day." |
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| Amanda Hatch, Paul and Sheila Wellstone Scholarship Recipient | |||
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Minnesota State University, Mankato student and the recipient of the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Scholarship, Amanda Hatch grew up in a world of heartache and pain, surrounded by drugs. Despite being told "you'll never amount to anything" by her father and being homeless a number of times and throughout her entire senior year of high school, Amanda found strength in music and reading and went on to college. Amanda quickly found Student Support Services. "It was the best thing that ever happened to me at school," Amanda says, "...when I first arrived at MNSU, I didn't really know how to present myself in college." |
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| Amanda learned quickly, achieving a 3.3 GPA in her first semester, receiving help with medical assistance, completing the financial aid application, learning how to take notes, study and listen, and setting personal goals. "When the time comes to begin a profession, I want more than anything, to work with people who have seemingly inescapable problems." Amanda wants to be a substance abuse counselor so that she can help others as TRiO has helped her. "The world is beautiful. All you have to do is appreciate the positive things and try your best." |
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