Nine North Shore high school seniors, who will attend North Shore Community College (NSCC) this fall, were welcomed into the College’s Wayne Burton Presidential Scholars Program at an orientation luncheon on August 19.
Named for NSCC’s retired third president, the Wayne Burton Presidential Scholars Program is a unique leadership development program which recognizes high school students who have risen to top academic ranks and who provide leadership to others in their schools and communities. Students must apply and be accepted. Acceptance comes with a $500 scholarship for each semester of participation.
The program fosters student success through academic and personal mentoring and opportunities to participate in leadership development initiatives. Students learn about networking, advocating for themselves, leadership skills and serving others.
Scholars serve as ambassadors for the President’s Office at campus events and have participated in many internal and external business and community meetings.
NSCC President Dr. Patricia A. Gentile welcomed the new Presidential Scholars and their College mentors and guest speaker Dr. Nivedita “Bonie” Bagchi Williamson, NSCC’s new Dean of Students,
Scholars may return for a second year and mentor new scholars. Edwina Shackleton of Lynn and Jonathan O’Brien of Ipswich are both returning Presidential Scholars. Said Jonathan, “I learned so much about non-profit organizations, homelessness and the grant process this year as a first time presidential scholar. It was definitely a memorable experience as I was able to make a very positive impact on the community I live in.”
The 2015 Presidential Scholars are: Alize Arakelow and Giuseppe Graffeo, both from Beverly High School; Paula Costa and Kyle Mailey, both from Gloucester High School; Yunior Crispin-Valdez, Jessica Mejia Martinez and Emyliya Shamo, all from Lynn Classical High School; Patricia Rivera from Lynn Vocational Technical Institute and Jeffrey Wells from Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School.
The Presidential Scholars Program is open to all graduating high school seniors who have been accepted to NSCC. For more information on NSCC’s Presidential Scholars Program, contact Matthew Woods at 781-593-6722, x6228, [email protected]