Corey
Jones - Recipient for 11/12 and 12/13
Corey is a
single parent who recently completed an Associate of Arts degree at Grand
Rapids Community College. After several
setbacks, including a job loss and losing his house and belongings to a fire,
he recently enrolled at CMU to continue his pursuit for higher education. Corey plans to complete his degree in
Secondary Education and specifically has interests in teaching history and
physical education.
Alexandro Deoliveira - Recipient for 11/12 and 12/13
Alexandro
is an incoming freshman. He is from household with a single mother, after
losing his father to cancer in 2005. He
also has a younger sister struggling with a wide range of disabilities,
including cerebral palsy, that require full-time care from their mother.
The family has survived off of Death Benefits from Social Security and the cost
of college is entirely his responsibility to fund.
Catherine B. MacDonald - Recipient for 08/09, 09/10 and 10/11
Catherine, a senior at CMU, is from Farmington Hills, MI. She is studying secondary education and plans to one day become a high school teacher of both English and Public Speaking. Building upon her personal interests, Catherine also hopes to be a coach for cross country and track. Catherine comes from a family of seven children, who lost their main income-earner and family supporter when her father suddenly passed away in 2008. She enjoys being active in her community and considers herself to be a humanitarian with a passion to make a difference in people's lives and a feeling of responsibility to help others along the way.
Watch Catherine's Story
Chad Bukowski - Recipient for 08/09, 09/10 and 10/11
Chad is studying elementary education with a math major and he will begin his student teaching this Fall of 2010. Chad is from White Lake, MI and is one of 11 siblings. He lost his father at the young age of only 10 years old, but has remained determined to be the first of his family to earn a college education. After most of his family relocated to Texas, he remained here with older siblings to begin his pursuit, first attending Delta College before transferring to CMU. Sometimes having worked 2 or even 3 jobs while taking full class loads, he hopes to be an inspiration to his younger siblings and to all those struggling to fulfill their dream of higher education.
Watch Chad's Story
Additional Comments
These past couple years, both Chad and Catherine have gone above and beyond typical recipients to help further the success of this scholarship. In addition to speaking at several Women's Connection events around the state, they have recorded a video, composed several letters to donors, are featured on the WC Website and continue to be willing to assist this endeavor in any way possible. Their participation has, without doubt, helped to cement the continued success of this scholarship and encourage new supporters to donate. As the first recipients of the scholarship, they leave a legacy that we hope future recipients will strive to emulate.