As winners in the Lone Star College Foundation’s 30th Annual Chancellor’s Student Essay Contest, a future radiographer and sonographer share how choosing to enroll at Lone Star College-CyFair impacted their lives in ways never imagined.
Liam Blakeway is an international student seeking a fresh start in life who found a family at LSC-CyFair. Casey Sorkness is a 19-year-old student originally opposed to community college who is now excited about finding the path at LSC-CyFair to her dream job. Both are thankful for the financial assistance, the guidance, the sense of belonging and a strong foundation for a successful career in the health field.
“Casey and Liam illustrate the talent and diversity characteristic of the LSC-CyFair students,” said Dr. Valerie Jones, LSC-CyFair President. “Whether crossing the ocean or crossing interstate 10, finding us right out of high school or finding a second career, students find belonging, academic challenge, and personal support at LSC-CyFair. We are proud of Liam and Casey and excited to see them join the medical professionals in our community as they reach their dreams.”
Blakeway overcame fear, pain and anxiety related to the aftermath of the pandemic, two near-death experiences, and pursuit of an associate degree as a non-traditional student with a South African accent. However, when he got involved in the Global Sustainability Solutions Challenge, Honors College and Phi Theta Kappa, he gained healing, inspiration, confidence, encouragement as well as leadership, research and presentation skills, all of which are motivation to achieve success.
“My perception of college changed, and with that, I learned to open myself to new possibilities,” said Blakeway, president of Beta Lambdu Mu Chapter and a member of the newly formed Student Advisory Committee. “My hope is to contribute to society in a meaningful way serving in a medical setting, particularly in a children's hospital. I aspire to be remembered as the radiographer who puts patients at ease while providing x-rays and MRIs, helping to bring smiles to their faces.”
With plans to graduate in May but remain another two years to earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Medical Radiologic Technology, he said it’s not only the academic nature of LSC-CyFair that’s impacted him, but also the ways that have helped him grow as a person.
“It’s important to note that Lone Star College did not just influence my life - it changed my life,” he wrote in his winning essay. “I doubt I would be half the individual I am now without the love, support, dedication and guidance of all the faculty and staff. Lone Star College-CyFair is not ‘just’ a college, it is a family.”
While her parents thought attending a community college was in her best interest financially, Sorkness said she was worried there wouldn’t be any school pride or sense of belonging at a community college, but she admits she couldn’t have been more wrong.
“I went from begging my parents to support my desire to attend a university and completely opposing the idea of going to community college, to winning a scholarship for an essay I wrote about why attending Lone Star College-CyFair was one of the best decisions I have ever made,” said this Phi Theta Kappa member, who is also a Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Endowment scholarship recipient.
Sorkness is on track to graduate in spring 2024 with an AAS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography with an Enhanced Skills Certificate in Non-Invasive Vascular Technology. As a first-year Sonography Program student, she’s had the opportunity for weekly hands-on training in the ultrasound lab and extensive in-hospital experience. She is looking forward to a career with stability, flexibility and balance between caring for patients and working independently.
“Attending Lone Star has completely changed the trajectory of my life,” she wrote in her winning essay. “At 19 years old, I have found the career that I want to pursue for the rest of my life, and by the time I’m 20, I will be working full-time in my field. Lone Star has provided me with so many opportunities, vast resources, and everything I need to be as successful as possible as a student and in my future.”
These two students were among 16 scholarship recipients total from across the system recognized at the recent Chancellor’s Donor Appreciation Luncheon, where several recipients read their essays, including Sorkness.
In addition to Blakeway and Sorkness from LSC-CyFair, the other scholarship essay winners were: Jacqueline Gonzalez and Lauren Roesler from LSC-Houston North, Diana Gonzalez and Lea Kelly from LSC-Kingwood, Zoey Driscoll and Cade Sellers from LSC-Montgomery, Edenzil Lacle and Edsandra Lacle from LSC-North Harris, Olga Martinez and Mohammed Raiyan from LSC-Online, Sophia Morgan and Nancy Valadez from LSC-Tomball and Soledad Favela and Artem Prudnikov from LSC-University Park.
Each of the essay winners received $1,000 scholarships made possible thanks to the generosity of LSC Foundation donors and supporters. The application deadline for fall semester and other available LSC-CyFair scholarships is April 1.
For information on other foundation events, go to LoneStarCollegeFoundation.org. It’s not too late to take spring classes. For information on registering for Next Start 8-week sessions beginning in March, go to LoneStar.edu/regcyfair or LoneStar.edu/nextstartcyfair.