Four Lone Star College-CyFair Honors College students were recently selected as semifinalists of the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which provides finalists up to $55,000 toward completing their bachelor’s degree.
Marcelo Carrizales, an Honors College Merit Scholar, along with three Honors College Chancellor’s Fellows Award recipients, including Vincenzo De Vita Sifontes, Ivey Knebel and Fatima Shamim, are among 19 students across the LSC system of the 440 semifinalists chosen this year from a pool of more than 1,200 JKC applicants attending 180 community colleges in 35 states. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship covers a substantial share of educational expenses including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees, up to three years at four-year colleges or universities.
Carrizales said he’s gained confidence with the research, presentation and leadership skills, as well as opportunities to travel, through his LSC-CyFair experiences and involvement in Honors College, Phi Theta Kappa and National Model United Nations. With plans to continue his academic studies at Rice University focusing on biosciences, he is on track to attend medical school.
“I understand that death investigation systems are severely underrepresented and as a medical examiner, I seek to provide my aid to these systems as well as help families find peace after the passing of their loved ones,” said Carrizales.
De Vita Sifontes said he found community at LSC-CyFair, learned to be more socially comfortable and was taught the importance of a healthy balance with academics and leisure/personal time through his involvement in Honors College, Student Life, the Student Activities Board and Recreational Sports.
Drawing a passion for engineering from family and a childhood love of LEGOs, De Vita Sifontes is inspired to build a world around others. With a goal to earn a civil engineering degree, he aspires “to work with an international company that has a drive to help communities in need of uniting and strengthening their community by allowing people to feel connected.”
Knebel said the uniqueness of her LSC-CyFair experience was centered around the diversity of the student population. She obtained perspective from “people of all walks of life” and held leadership roles in Honors College and the Student Government Association allowing her “to create community-building activities and work to cultivate an environment of diversity and support.”
Fascinated with how science intermingles with social justice, Knebel intends to pursue a career as a forensic geneticist and researcher in women’s genetics and health “to ensure quality DNA analysis, to stop wrongful convictions and the social costs that arise from those convictions.”
LSC-CyFair’s staff and faculty gave Shamim patience, understanding and unyielding support with a reminder to take pride in own’s growth. She said it was the relationships built with them, as well as classmates, that “allowed me to overcome numerous obstacles during my time at LSC-CyFair, teaching me the importance of resilience during tough situations in my future.”
Shamim is interested in international relations with a focus on female refugee integration, in part to honor generous migrant and refugee mothers who championed a leader within her. She wishes “to be a visionary advocating for their participation in our society.”
Receiving the JKC scholarship would provide financial relief allowing students to focus on their undergraduate studies which is greatly appreciated; however, these semifinalists also mentioned that recognition of their efforts further motivates them to strive and work harder to accomplish their goals as well as to encourage others and reciprocate such support in the future.
Since 2012, LSC has had 26 students, 5 of which were from LSC-CyFair, awarded the prestigious JKC scholarship. Finalists will be announced this May.
Currently, registration is under way for summer and fall classes at LoneStar.edu/Registration or go to LoneStar.edu/openhouse for details on LSC’s April 12 open houses, which will also provide information on registration, admissions, campus life, college resources and more.