2009-2010 Muse scholars
For immediate release — Nov. 12, 2009
(DALLAS) — Seven Dallas County Community College District students have been named 2009-2010 Muse Presidential Scholars, based on their academic achievement and leadership potential. They are:
Joshua Lay of Addison, Brookhaven College;
Edwin Hampton of DeSoto, Cedar Valley College;
Sarah Davenport of Mesquite, Eastfield College;
Letitia Sanchez of Dallas, El Centro College;
Yolanda Nava of Dallas, Mountain View College;
Tanya Mousa of Irving, North Lake College; and
Christina Vasques of Garland, Richland College.
“With the generous support of John and Lyn Muse, the scholarship is awarded to one student from each of DCCCD’s seven colleges; it recognizes students who show academic achievement and who have a clear sense of purpose, a strong work ethic and potential for leadership,” said Betheny Reid, associate vice chancellor for development and president of the DCCCD Foundation, which administers the scholarship program. “We are grateful to the Muse family for their continued support, and we know that our Muse Presidential Scholarship recipients are honored to receive this award.”
Recipients of the 2009-2010 scholarships recently had an opportunity to meet the Muse family and each other during a special gathering this fall.
Lay, a former U.S. Marine, is a political science major at Brookhaven, where he has earned a 4.0 grade point average. After a successful career in sales management, he plans to earn his bachelor’s degree and attend law school.
Hampton, a first-generation college student, believes in the value of a community college education. He serves as vice president of the Cedar Valley College African American Student Association and as secretary for the CVC Student Government Association. He has earned a 3.5 GPA and plans to transfer to Baylor University, where he will pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Davenport, a California native, is the fourth of nine siblings who helped her widowed father with family responsibilities as she was growing up. The Eastfield College student works on campus, has earned a 3.26 GPA and plans to transfer to the University of North Texas, where she will seek a bachelor’s degree in human services. She would like to work with children from broken homes.
Sanchez, a 2009 graduate of the El Centro College Middle College High School, has served as a volunteer for charitable organizations such as Bryan’s House, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals and Pennies for Patients. She is continuing her studies at El Centro, has a 3.4 GPA and has been nominated to become a member of the national two-year academic honorary society Phi Theta Kappa.
Nava, an education major at Mountain View College, is an active member of DCCCD’s Rising Star program and has served as a volunteer mentor for “Project I Am”; she also helps recruit Dallas high school students to attend college. She plans to transfer to Texas Woman’s University, where she will pursue a degree in education.
Mousa, originally from the west African country of Gambia, is the first person in her family to attend college. A business major at North Lake College, she is serving as parliamentarian for the NLC Student Government Association; is a member of the college’s Student Leadership Institute; and is a volunteer for Relay for Life. Mousa wants to pursue a bachelor’s degree in economics and sociology.
Vasques is working on her associate degree in early childhood education at Richland College and hopes to become either a kindergarten or first-grade teacher for the Garland Independent School District. She has earned a 3.9 GPA and works as a site director for the YMCA of Dallas after-school program. Vasques plans to transfer to Texas A&M University-Commerce to complete her bachelor’s degree in education.
For more information, contact Eddie Miranda, director of communications, in the DCCCD Foundation office at (214) 378-1541 or Ella Shaw, scholarship manager, at (214) 378-1533.
Photo:The Dallas County Community College District Foundation hosted a gathering this fall to recognize the 2009-2010 Muse Presidential Scholars. Pictured from left are Betheny L. Reid, the district’s associate vice chancellor of development and DCCCD Foundation president; Dallas businessman John Muse, founder of the Muse Presidential Scholars Program, and his wife, Lyn, DCCCD Foundation board executive member; Muse Presidential Scholars Yolanda Nava, Joshua Lay, Letitia Sanchez, Edwin Hampton, Christina Vasquez and Sarah Davenport; and DCCCD Chancellor Wright L. Lassiter Jr.
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Press contact: Ann Hatch, 214-860-2478,
ahatch@dcccd.edu
or
Eddie Miranda, DCCCD Foundation, 214-860-2160,
emiranda@dcccd.edu