LeCroy Scholar Alexis Patterson was a volunteer for Crisis Text Line, an emergency hotline for distressed people.
Contact: Debra Dennis
ddennis@dcccd.edu or 214-378-1851
For immediate release — July 13, 2017
(DALLAS) — They are student leaders who serve as role models at their schools, feed the homeless, volunteer at area food banks and fight injustice wherever they see it. Those students — Dallas County Community College District 2017 LeCroy Scholars — are lauded for their exemplary academic achievements, social engagement and commitment to learning.
The LeCroy Scholarship fund was established by longtime Dallas businessman and civic leader Mike A. Myers and the Mike Myers Foundation. It honors Dr. R. Jan LeCroy, who was DCCCD’s chancellor from 1981 to 1988. Myers, along with LeCroy’s widow, Dr. Nancy LeCroy, both take a personal look at each finalist and help with the selection process, in addition to mentoring them throughout the year. Myers and LeCroy plan cultural and social events for current and former LeCroy Scholars as well.
LeCroy Scholars represent the top DCCCD students in academics. Some have served as community volunteers; others have overcome social and financial strain to attend college. They all serve as an inspiration.
Each LeCroy Scholar receives full tuition and books for up to six semesters. They may attend any of DCCCD’s seven colleges: Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake or Richland.
DCCCD’s LeCroy Scholars must be in good academic standing, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. They also are required to submit a questionnaire detailing why they want to become a LeCroy Scholar.
This year’s scholarship recipients, the colleges they will attend and their chosen fields of study are:
- Amira Zineb Bouafia, Brookhaven College, computer science
- Connie Bonner, North Lake College, engineering
- Alexis Patterson, North Lake College, business
- Akash Prakash, Richland College, computer science
- Barbara Serra, Mountain View College, business administration
- Shaun Zulu, Richland College, mechanical engineering
Three returning LeCroy Scholars for the fall 2017 semester are Metin Butler, Olivia Kuban and Cristal Herrera.
2017 DCCCD LeCroy Scholars: Biographical Sketches
Amira Zineb Bouafia had to fight for equality in her native Algeria, where most female students do not complete high school.
Amira Zineb Bouafia — Amira Zineb Bouafia recognizes the honor and responsibility of being named a LeCroy Scholar. “This scholarship is well known in the community college district. It provides great opportunity for tuition and books and academic recognition,” Bouafia, who is pursuing computer science at Brookhaven College. She plans to transfer to a university for advanced degrees in computer science. Someday, she would like to work for Microsoft. “It’s such a big dream but I want to work for the best (company),” she said. “We always reach for the best.” Bouafia wants to learn how to develop software and applications. “We live in a technological era where pretty much everything is computerized and digitized,” she said. A native of Algeria, the Brookhaven College student earned a high grade point average at schools in Algeria but decided that good grades were not enough. She also had to fight for equality alongside male students at her former schools. As head of a feminist organization, she developed leadership skills while fighting the misperception that girls did not belong in school. “I graduated from high school as an honor student. This is pretty high in Algeria. Most high school female students do not complete high school,” she said. In addition to her scholarly achievements, Bouafia speaks three languages.
Connie Bronner — Connie Bronner’s dreams are as big as the sky. A flight attendant, her fascination with airplanes began when she was a youngster. Her dream is to someday design airplanes that her children will someday fly on. “I was the only one who could ever give myself limits,” said Bronner, who attends North Lake College. “My mother always told me that my only limitations were my dreams. When I expressed my desire to one day go on an airplane, my mother told me to dream higher.” Bronner plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. While she was a high school student in Seattle, she boasted a 3.86 GPA and was taking advanced placement and honors classes. When she is not working or in school, Bronner volunteers as a golf coach. She helps children improve their skills and develop a love for the game. She has also assisted youngsters in an after-school academic program. “I have worked hard to get to where I am today,” Bronner said.
Alexis Patterson — Alexis Patterson credits the LeCroy scholarship with helping her become “the best version of herself.” Patterson is a student leader at North Lake College with a “thirst for intellectual nourishment.” Fitness and healthy living is her mantra. Raised in a single-parent household, she is a first-generation college student and is pursuing a business degree. Last year, she was a volunteer counselor for Crisis Text Line, a 24-hour, state-based emergency hotline for distressed people. She was awarded the Hispanic Heritage Club Scholarship, and she also was inducted in the Psi Beta Psychology Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Akash Prakash — Akash Prakash is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a national academic honor society for community college students. At Richland College, he joined the Student Ambassador Club to help other students with their on- and off-campus needs. He is pursuing a career in computer science. Prakash also participates in DCCCD’s STEM Institute at Richland and has been deemed an elite note taker. Those handmade study guides, notes and flash cards are the key to academic success, he said.
“I have always been interested in technology. I have always wondered how things work,” added Prakash, who plans to transfer to the University of Texas at Dallas and then pursue an MBA and find a career in cyber security.
Barbara Serra — In addition to her academic success, Barbara Serra is a volunteer for the North Texas Food Bank — an experience she calls “memorable.” A Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society student, Serra also is a member of the Mountain View Psychology Research Lab team, where she is learning to hone her interpersonal skills. She serves as a student ambassador for Mountain View, where she is pursuing an applied sciences degree in business administration. She plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in international business trade and become a career diplomat. “I try to be an example for others,” Serra said. “I was privileged. I was overwhelmed in happiness and emotion for my service, and I gained experience in organization and team leadership.”
Shaun Zulu — Shaun Zulu is analytical and eager for challenges. Fascinated by technology, Zulu primarily is interested in physics and engineering. When it came time to choose a major, engineering won — well, actually two types of engineering: mechanical and electrical, because he’s considering a double major. The Richland College student currently is taking core courses and prerequisites, and he plans to transfer to the University of Texas at Arlington. “I would like to become an engineer with the ability to diagnose and put things together,” said Zulu, who moved to the U.S. from Zambia. “I knew engineering was what suited me best. I have always been a high achieving student my whole life and have had some experiences which motivated me to work even harder.” While living in Africa, Zulu was class captain at every grade level. He was responsible for keeping the school clean and made sure everything was in place and ready for class. During his senior year at Richardson High School, he took an automotive technology class and learned to fix cars. He won the “Mr. AVID” award for being motivated and staying on track.
For more information about the LeCroy Scholars, contact Kathye Hammontree in the DCCCD Foundation office at 214-378-1536 or send an email to
khammontree@dcccd.edu.
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