2019 Scholarship Recipients

Mikael Polcano

Being a flower that grew from concrete is a blessing, a blessing many overlook. I say this from my very own experience. I grew up in an area where at the age of 17 you’re not expected to head to college; you’re expected to fall into the societal norm where you either become a drug dealer, a father, or a gangbanger. I decided not to fall into that norm, which caused me to be that flower that was planted in concrete, I became the outlier. When I became an outlier, I also became a leader in my community and even in my school. I participated in an expo about environmental justice issues in my community, I was captain of my varsity basketball team, lead award assemblies for my high school and my favorite one, I am the first person in my family to go to college. That is the type of leader I am, the leader that sets himself aside to others can follow.

At DePauw I want to be able to take risks, do things few people have done on campus, do things that others will follow for their benefit. I have already done this in my high school career; for example, I studied African Diaspora abroad in Peru, which only a handful of students have done before. I then exchanged the information I learned with others inspiring them to attempt to do the same as I did.

Secondly, I also want to make sure I stay true to my morals: always show care and love for others, stay humble, and never settle for what I have. These morals emerge from my experiences growing up in New York City, and as I head to Greencastle, Indiana, I know there will be a massive culture shift. I am ready to become the man that will initiate change for others. However, my goal is to make sure I don’t lose my true self within my college experience. When I stick to who I truly am, I will lead others to their very own success, which leads to my last goal; to become the leader that not only leads others but, a leader that leads those to their success.

At DePauw University, I will major in Africana Studies as my passion grew when I traveled abroad. However, with this scholarship I will help my family financially. My family can’t afford to pay college (not one bit), but, with this scholarship, I can help my family provide for my college experience. With every penny I earn for college, it establishes less stress for them, which is something I don’t want my family to deal with. I want them to smile when they see me walk across the stage, not worry about how they will pay for the next four years of my life. With this scholarship, I will help my family financially, and I can again prove how the flower that grew from concrete is a flower blessing.

Ashley Stewart

I am someone who does not just stop at my first step to success. I am determined, invigorating, and curious for what’s next...that’s me. “A queen in the making” is what I say because I continue to grow and understand the things I never knew before. My goals for college are to allow myself to embrace my inner passions with the clubs at Franklin & Marshall. Academics is something that I invest my all into, I strive for perfection, but I understand that it is not the goal. I want to take that energy and pour it into other things I love to do.

In middle school outside of academics, I helped Grand Street Settlement, my afterschool program, with their new students and taught STEM. I spent so much time in after school that it became a second home to me. In 8th grade I worked at the Henry Street Settlement to help 6th and 7th graders with their homework and went over the high school process with them so they felt prepared rather than feeling stressed and confused. In high school outside of academics I love to write poetry, participate in LGBTQ gatherings, and dance to express myself. I love speaking out and educating people on causes that are not as recognized in society, things like mental health, sexual education, and domestic violence. Through my experiences, I’ve realized that changing the heart of one person can lead to the change of many. One of the many ways I have achieved change is by hosting information sessions on the topics I listed above.

Currently, I’m in student government, we plan events such as bake sales, parties and spirit days. One day we had taco Tuesday and as a senior it’s hard to see the other grades, so I make sure I ask questions to the younger grades about who they are and ask if they want to know anything. It's important to have some sort of connection because you want to be a role model for others and demonstrate your best self. When I think of myself, the words that come to mind are determined, quirky and fierce. I am the type of leader that wants to have a connection with you but also guide you to understand your best self, analysing and critically thinking about every factor. Other leaders have a certain twist to how they want to teach the next person but that’s what is great, such as teaching one another and having a taste of different types of guidance.

This scholarship would help me grow into my best self and push me along in the computer science major and art minor that I want to pursue. I would use the scholarship to practice on my abilities in animation by purchasing a drawing tablet, display screen, and new animation software. With what is left from the scholarship, I plan to pay for some of my college textbooks and other materials I will need for classes. It would put me in a good position for the future so I can pursue my career and provide for my family.

Glenn Kontor

I know I’m at home when I hear the 4-train passing by every ten minutes, and the cheers of the crowd when the Yankees score a home run ring through my ears. As I look down the street, I can see the African market, the barber shops, corner stores, and the abundance of restaurants. I take a deep breath and smell the melted cheese of the freshly baked pizza pies at Giovanni’s. When I think of the neighborhood I’ve called home for so long, it brings a smile to my face.

Although thinking of my home brings me joy, people that don’t look like me and live in my community are making changes in my neighborhood. I want to be a part of that change; however, as I continue to discover what I want to do, I constantly deal with an ethical problem, a conflict of interest. Interning at an architectural firm, I was given a task by my supervisor. She told me I had to file a stack of papers into their respective folders in the filing cabinets. As I continued to put away the work, I noticed a very familiar address as one of the projects the firm was working on. It was the street next to the neighborhood I grew up in, Walton Avenue. Naturally, an inside look of what is to come should be met with joy, but little of the information reflected any interest of the inhabitants.

I know the beauty that lies beneath my neighborhood. However, no one would notice at first glance. There is a real sense of community, it is easily accessible to the rest of New York City, and there is an abundance of resources that are hard to find anywhere else such as BronxWorks. As an active participant of the community center, I was working towards raising awareness of a healthy-eating lifestyle for young students and helping middle school after school instructors on a daily basis. My time at BronxWorks has shown me that many people are coming together to create solutions, but they’re not being heard. I see the connections that people in my neighborhood have established, and how important that sense of community is to all of us. So many people in these communities have to endure the trauma of leaving their homes and families in hopes of creating similar ones in the Bronx, but that is now being disrupted by gentrification. It’s as if they are being displaced twice.

I haven’t always seen myself as the typical, traditional leader. I’ve grown up thinking that a leader had to be bold, give out commands and lead on their own. However, I have learned what my form of leadership is, through suggestive and inclusive guidance that incorporates everyone’s ideas. During my time at North Carolina Outward Bound School, my skills as a leader was tested. As captain, I aimed to get the crew from our current campsite to the next, making sure everyone was fed and hydrated. One participant twisted his ankle early on without telling us because he didn’t want to be seen as a burden. I noticed him limping during our hikes and I learned about this injury and his concerns. I, as the team leader, suggested the whole crew take more breaks to replenish while ensuring that his injury would not get worse. If I wasn’t given the opportunity to get out of my comfort zone, I would not have developed such valuable compassionate skills early on in my life; these skills are critical for me to become a valuable addition to the future communities that I will be a part of, such as Middlebury College.

At Middlebury, I plan to study Architectural and Environmental Studies with a minor in Spanish. My father didn’t always accept my passion and instead wanted me to pursue medicine like my older siblings but I knew that wasn’t what I saw myself doing for the rest of my life. Receiving this award will definitely alleviate some of the stress of affording college. Don’t get me wrong, I am honored to have received a full-tuition scholarship, but from a holistic standpoint, I’m still responsible for not only room and board, but my books, transportation, clothing and loans.