Palm Beach State welcomes top scholarship recipients
Eighteen students from across Palm Beach County have been awarded Palm Beach State College’s top scholarship for the 2016-17 academic year.
The students, who received the Presidential Honors College Scholarship, gathered today for a welcome orientation at the Center for Bachelor’s Programs on the Lake Worth campus.
The guest speaker was Dr. Roger L. Yohe, vice president for academic affairs. Yohe spoke about Palm Beach State’s rich academic history and how important it is for students to engage in college life and set goals.
“It’s very important to develop a career vision,” he told students. “Find your purpose, passion and paycheck. If you get those three ‘P’s’ aligned, you’re going to have a really satisfying life.”
One of the recipients, Bryan DeMacedo, said he applied for the Presidential Honors College Scholarship because of the small class sizes and the chance to stay close to home.
“I believe having smaller class sizes here will help me to focus more,” said DeMacedo. “Plus, I’m near home so I can be with my family who is my ultimate support system.”
DeMacedo, who graduated from Olympic Heights Community High School in Boca Raton, turned down a soccer scholarship at Grace University in Omaha, Neb. to attend PBSC. He plans to obtain an Associate in Arts degree and then transfer to Florida Atlantic University to study civil engineering.
He is among the following recipients: Ashlie Arones, Vanderbilt Augustin, Austin Dahlstrom, Rock Desjardins, Kerventz Dorinvil, Anabel Estopinan, Maliyat Hashin, Anny Henao Nunez, Hope Ingalls, Nicole Kalpin, Robert Lexa, Ryan Mckeand, Nickolas Musick, Mekalin Paengwan, Gabriela Quintanar, Brenda Thelusca and Scott Wooster.
The Presidential Honors College scholarship is $4,000 per academic year and is the highest individual scholarship awarded by PBSC. It is granted on top of a Bright Futures Scholarship and other financial aid students may receive. To maintain the scholarship, students commit to keep at least a 3.5 grade point average and pursue the Gold Track – the most rigorous track in the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College.
The Gold Track prepares students for the rigors that they will face at universities throughout the state and nation, including Ivy League schools where some of the PBSC Honors College graduates have transferred. The track requires students to complete 21 credit hours of honors work, earn at least a B in each honors class and earn at least 40 honors points, which they gain by participating in community service and cultural events, as well as honors, leadership, scholarly and employment activities.
