Responsible, focused and motivated. Those are some of the traits that describe this year’s Myers-LeCroy Scholars.
These eight students are leaders and role models for their peers, and they represent the best of Dallas County Community College District through personal achievement and community contributions.
These students not only fight injustice and serve those less fortunate, their scholastic goals exemplify their determination to remain engaged in their communities.
The Myers-Lecroy Scholarship, administered by the Dallas County Community Foundation, was established in 1988 by Dallas business leader Mike A. Myers to honor friend and former DCCCD Chancellor Jan LeCroy. After the passing of Dr. LeCroy, his wife, Nancy LeCroy, partnered with Mr. Myers to mentor recipients. They have championed dozens of students, propelling them to academic and personal success.
Students selected to receive the scholarship receive books and full tuition for up to six semesters.
The 2019-2020 scholarship recipients are:
- Chalieta Audreylia,North Lake College, computer science;
- Jennifer Hernandez Benitez, Brookhaven College, accounting;
- Zaray Enriquez, Richland College, biology;
- Jaiyeola Johnson, El Centro College, nursing;
- Mimi Mbaakanyi, Richland College; liberal sciences;
- William Onyedionu, North Lake College, biology;
- UsraQureshi, Richland College, accounting; and
- Salma Suarez, El Centro College, respiratory therapy.
Two returning LeCroy Scholars for the fall 2019 semester are Connie Bronner and Lizet Velasquez.
Jaiyeola Johnson is embarking on a new career: nursing. She holds a degree in real estate – a pursuit pushed by her father, but she never felt the passion for the profession. Now, six years after obtaining her degree, she is pursuing her long-held dream of becoming a pediatric nurse.
“From a very young age, I had an affinity for children and I wanted a career that would allow me to take care of them,” Johnson said.
She is enrolled in El Centro College’s nursing program and is an honor student who enjoys helping others. Johnson is a part-time writing tutor in El Centro College’s Learning Center, and volunteers with the North Texas Food Bank and Vogel Alcove – a group that helps children overcome the harmful effects brought on by homelessness.
William Onyedionu is biology major at North Lake College, Onyedionu dreams of becoming a physician’s assistant.
“I want to be a Myers-LeCroy scholar because I appreciate the philosophy about varying and expanding approaches to education,” Onyedionu said. “I want to demonstrate the kind of leadership and passion for learning that Myers and LeCroy had.”
Mimi Mbaakanyi wants to become a neurologist and find measures to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. She came to the United States after volunteering with “Stepping Stones” an organization that assists students in rural area of Botswana with tuition. As a volunteer, Mbaakanyi taught children how to read.
“Having grown up in Botswana, I knew nothing about American history. I worked hard at understanding everything we discussed during the lectures. By the end of the semester, my professor was asking me to assist my peers in catching up.”
