Keep Jonah At Cornell
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I worked really hard to get here, I can't leave now!
This fall I started at Cornell University in the highly competitive Mechanical Engineering program as a transfer student from Santa Monica College. Less than a year ago, this seemed like an impossible dream to me. Despite the numerous obstacles that come with being a first-generation undocumented minority student from a single-parent home shared with my 5 siblings, I found success at SMC. I found a community of support, encouragement, and mentorship within the STEM program and I worked hard towards my dream of being a robotics engineer. I wish to use this knowledge to create innovations that will change the way we all interact with the world. I joined clubs, worked on campus, all while maintaining a full time course load and a 4.0 gpa. In my final year at SMC, I also applied for and was accepted to a competitive Summer Research Internship at UCLA.
When I learned that I was being awarded the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, I was ecstatic because it made it possible for me to enroll in the best program I was admitted to, Cornell, despite the high costs of it being a private university. Unfortunately, last Friday, I received notification that I owe Cornell $14,000; the balance remaining after my scholarship funds were applied. I had thought I could apply my entire scholarship award towards Fall tuition and fees and spend the next few months saving up the earnings from my part-time job and seeking other scholarship opportunities. Now, I find myself owing $14,000 by October 1st or I will be dropped from my courses and forced to withdraw from the university.
I am incredibly grateful to all of the people who have played a role in helping me reach this point. More than anything, I want to accomplish my educational goals and give back by designing innovations such as prosthetic limbs for veterans. But to do that I find myself in this terrifying and humbling position, needing, once again, to reach out for help so that I can continue to work hard to achieve my dreams. If you can contribute anything at all towards my tuition, it would mean the world to me.
The former president of SMC: Dr. Tsang (far left), me, SMC alumnus Andrew Hem, and the current president of SMC Jeff Shimizu.
My mentors: Dr. Bocanegra (far left) and Professor Nauli (far right) who nominated me for the JKC scholarship.
http://www.thecorsaironline.com/news/2015/05/27/high-achiever-jonah-okike-hephizbah-on-earning-40000-dale-ride-scholarship/
http://www.smc.edu/NewsRoom/Pages/SMC's-Jonah-Okike-Hephzibah-Wins-Prestigious-Jack-Kent-Cooke-Foundation-Scholarship.aspx
This fall I started at Cornell University in the highly competitive Mechanical Engineering program as a transfer student from Santa Monica College. Less than a year ago, this seemed like an impossible dream to me. Despite the numerous obstacles that come with being a first-generation undocumented minority student from a single-parent home shared with my 5 siblings, I found success at SMC. I found a community of support, encouragement, and mentorship within the STEM program and I worked hard towards my dream of being a robotics engineer. I wish to use this knowledge to create innovations that will change the way we all interact with the world. I joined clubs, worked on campus, all while maintaining a full time course load and a 4.0 gpa. In my final year at SMC, I also applied for and was accepted to a competitive Summer Research Internship at UCLA.
When I learned that I was being awarded the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, I was ecstatic because it made it possible for me to enroll in the best program I was admitted to, Cornell, despite the high costs of it being a private university. Unfortunately, last Friday, I received notification that I owe Cornell $14,000; the balance remaining after my scholarship funds were applied. I had thought I could apply my entire scholarship award towards Fall tuition and fees and spend the next few months saving up the earnings from my part-time job and seeking other scholarship opportunities. Now, I find myself owing $14,000 by October 1st or I will be dropped from my courses and forced to withdraw from the university.
I am incredibly grateful to all of the people who have played a role in helping me reach this point. More than anything, I want to accomplish my educational goals and give back by designing innovations such as prosthetic limbs for veterans. But to do that I find myself in this terrifying and humbling position, needing, once again, to reach out for help so that I can continue to work hard to achieve my dreams. If you can contribute anything at all towards my tuition, it would mean the world to me.
The former president of SMC: Dr. Tsang (far left), me, SMC alumnus Andrew Hem, and the current president of SMC Jeff Shimizu.My mentors: Dr. Bocanegra (far left) and Professor Nauli (far right) who nominated me for the JKC scholarship.http://www.thecorsaironline.com/news/2015/05/27/high-achiever-jonah-okike-hephizbah-on-earning-40000-dale-ride-scholarship/
http://www.smc.edu/NewsRoom/Pages/SMC's-Jonah-Okike-Hephzibah-Wins-Prestigious-Jack-Kent-Cooke-Foundation-Scholarship.aspx
Organizer
Jonah Hephzibah
Organizer
Ithaca, NY
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