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Springfield students honored at scholarship breakfast

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Both traditonal and non-traditional students gathered at the Springfield Marriott on June 23 for the awarding of scholarships from Springfield Partners for Community Action (SPCA) and Citizens Bank.

This is the third time the city's official anti-poverty agency has awarded scholarships to Springfield residents who are continuing their education. The SPCA scholarships were $500 and were funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Recipients of the scholarships funded by Citizens Bank received $1,000.



SPCA recipients



Veronica Morales will study to become a medical assistant at Branford Hall Career Institute this year. She is a single mother of one child. Morales has volunteered extensively in the school system.

Yvette Anderseon plans to study to become a Health Claims Specialist at Branford Hall. Yvette is a military wife whose husband is currently serving in Afghanistan. Anderseon has spent many hours volunteering with children at the military bases where she has been assigned with her husband.

Christina Moultrie will continue her studies at Westfield State College, pursuing a bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies. She has chosen to concentrate in English, business, and mass communications to better prepare her for a career in marketing and public relations. Moultrie volunteered as co-host of a radio teen talk show, and as a peer leader with the citywide pregnancy prevention coalition.

Elizabeth Wilson is studying to become a Health Claims Specialist. She feels that getting an education will not only allow her to provide for her children, she is a single parent to four, but will set an example for them. Wilson believes it is important to be a role model for her children and is grateful to her own mother for being a source of strength and dependability.

Dawanda Mayes will be studying medical billing and coding at Branford Hall. She is a single mother of two. Mayes has volunteered her clerical skills at African American Faith in Action.

Natasha Dubois is currently attending Springfield Technical Community College in their health programs. She will be transferring to American International College in September where she has been accepted into the School of Nursing. Dubois volunteers with her church and is the mother of an eleven-year-old daughter.

Anitra Griffin is a single mother who feels that furthering her education will provide stability for her family as well as a good example. She is studying to be a medical assistant and has volunteer experience working with the disabled population.

Betel Arnold is transferring from Springfield Technical Community College to the University Without Walls at UMass. She intends to pursue a career as an advocate for disabled children, ensuring their rights and keeping them from being segregated. Arnold and her husband have four children yet she still finds time to regularly volunteer with the disabled community.

Christine Nieves will study to be a Health Claims Specialist at Branford Hall. She has volunteered in the public school system helping kids with homework and also at the Soup Kitchen.

Laura Fisher will be attending Springfield Technical Community College in the fall where she hopes to study nursing. She is a Springfield YouthBuild graduate who has worked on Habitat for Humanity homes. She has volunteered at the Open Pantry and at the Boys and Girls Club.

Miguel Bauza is a single parent to his little girl; he works a full time job and is going to school to study medical assisting. He feels this will give him better employment opportunities so that he can better support his daughter. Bauza has volunteered in the public school system.

Eugenia Lowery graduated from Wilbraham and Monson Academy and is attending American International College. She plans eventually to have a career in the diplomatic field and so cites Kofi Anon as her role model.

Jennifer Morales is studying medical billing and coding so that, as a single mother she can better provide for her family. Morales has volunteered in the public school system and at the YMCA.

Heidi Ayala is working toward a diploma as a Health Claims Specialist. She has volunteered with the Salvation Army. Ayala says her mother is her role model because she is a hard worker who has perservered in life

Daniel Cotter will be attending Western New England College where he will study journalism or criminal justice. He hasn't quite made up his mind yet. Cotter has been an active volunteer at his church and has also volunteered as a tutor.

David Altimo is attending Branford Hall and studying medical assistance. Altimo credits his mother with helping him reach toward his educational goals.

Unique Brimfield is attending Branford Hall Career Institute pursuing a career as a medical assistant. Brimfield points to her mother, a hard-working single parent to four daughters as her role model. Unique's interest in the health field influenced her choice for volunteer experience. She chose to volunteer at Baystate Medical Center.

Sheila Searles is currently studying to be a medical billing specialist at Branford Hall. Carol Martin, the career development teacher at Branford, is a role model for Searles. Searles admires her because she is a concerned teacher who really cares about her students and helps them in many ways.

Clinesha Harris will be continuing her work at Bennett College for Women.

Zena Smith is attending Brandford Hall Career Institute



Citizens Bank recipients



Taylor Holland graduated from Sabis International Charter School this year and has been accepted at Elms College where she plans to study nursing. Holland volunteers at the Brightwood Health Clinic.

Patricia Ofori graduated with honors from Cathedral High School. She plans to study business at Johnson C. Smith University. Ofori has volunteered at tennis clinics and at the Shriners Hospital.

Kristol Griffith-Finegan is a High School of Commerce graduate. She is a long time Girl Scout, volunteering with that group at Shriners Hospital, local homeless shelters and battered women's shelters and in a lighter vein, Christmas caroling for hospital patients and taking part in the Big Balloon Parade. Griffith-Finegan plans to attend the Bethune-Cookman College in Florida where she will major in business management.

Elizabeth Lee Young is a Sabis International Charter School graduate. She has been accepted into the Urban Education program at Westfield State College. This is a highly competitive program that begins with a 6-week Summer Bridge program prior to September enrollment. Young has been active in leadership roles at Sabis and has participated in volunteer training programs at the YMCA.

Brandy Cooper is a Putnam grad who will be attending Holyoke Community College this fall as a Criminal Justice major. Cooper was a student government representative at Putnam, a member of Women Inspiring Women, and a youth leader at Oak Hill Community Center.