Middlesex Community College

MCC Foundation Scholarships

Robert Cataldo Scholarship ($1,000)
This award has been established by the family, friends, and colleagues of Robert Cataldo to honor his commitment to the community and to Middlesex Community College.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a deserving student who resides in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Audrey A. Cogliano Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
This Scholarship is established in memory of Audrey A. Cogliano to celebrate a life filled with compassion and generosity to others.  The purpose of the award is to assist a student who has demonstrated a commitment to charitable and community based works. 

John Michael Delehanty Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
Created by Carolyn Delehanty to remember and celebrate the life or her son, John Michael Delehanty.  John Michael was a kind and caring person, who always made time for others.  He had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed skateboarding, snowboarding and art; as well as spending time with good friends and family.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a graduate of Lowell High School currently attending Middlesex Community College.

Geraldine B. Deragon Scholarship Fund ($1,500)
This Scholarship was established in memory of Geraldine B. Deragon by her husband and four children.  After Gerri's youngest child was in school, she embarked on a journey to become a nurse.  She received her ASN from Middlesex Community College and continued on to earn her BSN and MSN.  Gerri had a wonderful career in psychiatric nursing for over 25 years.  She also loved teaching.  She was a wonderful teacher to many students at Middlesex Community College and took pride in being able to mentor students and watch them continue on in the nursing field.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a student who is pursuing a nursing degree while also being the primary caregiver for his/her family.

Caryl Dundorf Scholarship ($1,000)
The scholarship is awarded to honor the memory of Caryl Dundorf, her commitment to Middlesex Community College, and the value she placed on service to the community in which we live.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a male student completing an associate's degree in pursuit of a bachelor's degree.

Keri-Lyn (Gleason) Farley Scholarship ($500)
The scholarship was established in memory of Keri-Lyn (Gleason) Farley.  Keri-Lyn worked as the librarian at Crocker Elementary School in Fitchburg.  She was active in the Fitchburg Girl Scout Program, the Crocker Parent Teacher Organization, as well as the Lassie Softball League Program.  Keri-Lyn's passion was her devotion to teaching and being with children.  She always considered every interaction with a young person as an opportunity to teach them about the world in which we live.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a female elementary education major planning to transfer to a 4-year school in order to become a teacher.

Kim Forte Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
This scholarship honors the memory and outstanding achievements of Kim M. Forte, a Middlesex alumna and instructor in MCC's Dental Assisting Program and Mathematics Department.  When Kim graduated from high school, her yearbook quote was, "It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice."  This is how Kim loved her life - always a smile, always a helping hand.  Her legacy will always be remembered.  Established by her husband, Lou Forte, the Kim M. Forte Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student in a dental program at Middlesex Community College with preference to one pursuing a dental assisting degree.

Catherine L. Goodwin Memorial Scholarship ($500)
Established by the loving family, friends and colleagues of Catherine L. Goodwin to celebrate her life and legacy of commitment to the community.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a student majoring in Liberal Arts and Sciences or Liberal Studies.  Preference is given to those with an interest in history or art history.

The Muriel G. Hervey Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
This award was established to recognize three students who are majoring in paralegal studies and who demonstrate academic excellence and exceptional promise.

International Student Scholarship ($1,000)
This Scholarship is the result of a classroom project conceived by an engaged and compassionate group of MCC students in the Paul Sullivan Leadership in Action course.  Inspired by a desire to help an underrepresented student population on campus, these students have become advocates for international students who have great financial need, but whom do not qualify for federal aid. 

John Keough Award ($500)
This award has been established by the family and friends of John Keough (Bedford High School '73) and a graduate of Middlesex Community College, Class of 2002.  "In spite of the substantial hurdles thrown his way by his physical condition, John poured his considerable talent and energy into his studies and into his beloved music.  It is this music which consoles the many people who loved him."

Mavis Leno Scholarship ($500-$2,500)
This award has been established by the JDM Foundation for the purpose of providing financial assistance to deserving female students whose goals include working for the advancement of women's rights.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist female students who may not otherwise have the ability to pay for a college education.  Preference will be given to students with an interest in advancing the rights of all women.

Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Scholarship ($1,000) AFCEA is an international professional organization comprised of government, industry, and military personnel formed for the purpose of encouraging a free flow of ideas and open discussion of common technical issues.  The Lexington-Concord chapter seeks to promote engineering education for undergraduate students.  The purpose of this scholarship is to assist two students pursuing a degree in engineering, computer science, or physical science with the intention of pursuing a bachelor's degree.

Lowell Spinners Annual Scholarship (up to $5000)
The Lowell Spinners Annual Scholarship is part of the Spinners Scholars program, made possible by team owner Dave Heller and the Lowell Spinners baseball club.  This annual scholarship was established to benefit students from the Merrimack Valley who exhibit both a high level of integrity and academic excellence, as well as an interest in sports, a demonstrated desire to improve their community and a willingness to commit to making one’s future in the Merrimack Valley.  The recipient will also participate in a paid summer internship with the Spinners organization. 

The Charles and Olga Malvers Memorial Scholarship ($500)
This scholarship honors the memories of Charlie and Olga (Singelakis) Malvers.  Charlie and Olga, both children of Greek immigrants, worked hard throughout their lives to contribute to their working class families.  They exemplified their values for family, strong work ethics, and religious faith.  Charlie's career included work in automotive mechanics and sales, welding, real estate, and as a restaurant owner.  Olga's work ranged from shoe factory worker in Haverhill, MA to restaurant owner and, later in life, as an elementary classroom aid for special needs children.  Though they were not afforded opportunities to pursue higher education, they both valued education and made it possible for their children to obtain college degrees.  This award will assist a student pursuing an associate's degree in one of the following academic programs: automotive technology, business administration, early childhood education, and hospitality management-culinary arts.

Markowicz-Dundorf Scholarship ($1,000)
This scholarship was established by the Markowicz-Dundorf family to honor the memory of Reverend Walter A. Markowicz, Professor of Latin and Greek and creator of the medical ethics program at Wayne State University.  Rev. Markowicz's philosophy of learning was the foundation upon which the Markowicz-Dundorf family became dedicated to public education and community service.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a female student completing an associate's degree in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in the STEM fields.

Tom McKay Memorial Scholarship ($1000)
This scholarship was created by the family and friends of Tom McKay to celebrate a man who was a civic leader in the city of Lowell.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a deserving Middlesex Community College student who demonstrates strong civic commitment.

Middlesex Community College Foundation Board of Directors Founder's Award (up to $5000)
This Scholarship has been established in honor of the members of the Board of Directors of the MCC Foundation who have served on the Foundation for ten or more years.  This award will assist a worthy student or students who intend to study abroad on an MCC International Fellowship or an approved Study Abroad program.

Middlesex Community College Foundation Merit Award ($500- $1,000)
This award recognizes students who demonstrate academic excellence and exceptional promise.

Middlesex Community College Performing Arts Scholarship ($500)
This scholarship was established from the proceeds of the Murder-Mystery Event at Nesmith House in October of 2016, in which current students and alumni of the MCC Performing Arts program performed a Murder-Mystery play.  This production has become an annual event.  This scholarship will assist a worthy student who is pursuing an associate degree in the Performing Arts at Middlesex Community College.

Robert Minue Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
This scholarship was established in August of 2011 by the family, friends, and colleagues of Robert "Bob" Minue to honor his memory.  Over his thirty year career with the Massachusetts State Board of Retirement, Bob was known as a reformer who understood the arcane provisions of retirement law and implemented them with personal empathy.  He was a role model and mentor to a generation of public servants and embodied the finest qualities of service, dedication, and leadership.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a student pursuing a degree in business administration.

New England Woodcarvers (NEWC) Scholarship (up to $4,000)
The New England Woodcarvers (NEWC) is a non-profit cultural and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of all woodcarving skills and the promotion of woodcarving, wood sculptures and whittling as public art forms.  The purpose of this scholarship is to assist a student(s) pursuing a degree in the arts.  Preference will be given to students enrolled in the creation of fine arts such as sculpture, drawing, painting, and stained glass.

Northeast Association of Realtors Scholarship (NEAR) ($500)
This scholarship was established to assist a deserving student in NEAR's service area of: Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Lawrence, Littleton, Lowell, Methuen, North Andover, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro or Westford.

Thomas O'Mahony "Spirit of Excellence Award" ($1,000)
This award has been established by AFCEA to recognize one of its members, Thomas O'Mahony, for his devotion to the pursuit of learning and educational excellence.  AFCEA is an international professional organization comprised of government, industry, and military personnel formed to encourage the free flow of ideas and open discussion of common technical issues.  The purpose of this award is to assist a student in a business-related associate degree program.

Positive Psychology Scholarship ($500)
The scholarship is intended to support student participation in the MCC course, Positive Psychology, which has been created by Professor Robert Fera.  The donors have described this course as “life changing” and hope that other students will learn how to make a positive difference in our world through participation in this course.

Kathy Reticker Scholarship (up to $2000)
This award was established by the family, friends, and colleagues of Kathy Reticker to celebrate her lifetime of work and advocacy for affordable, high quality childcare and education for all children and families.   Kathy was a beloved leader in the field of early childhood care and education and the non-profit community in general, as well as an inspiration, role model, and mentor to generations of champions for children and families.  The purpose of this scholarship is to assist a student who is pursuing a program in early childhood education.  Preference will be given to students with an interest in advancing the rights of all children and women.

Securitas Security Scholarship ($2,500)
The purpose of this scholarship is to recognize the accomplishments of two students who demonstrate both a commitment to academics and public safety by pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Ray Shea Memorial Scholarship ($750)
This scholarship has been established by his family to honor Humanities Professor Ray Shea.  Professor Shea began his MCC teaching career on the day the college opened (September 1970), and continued to teach here for the next 42 years.  His special fields of interest were American Literature and Irish Literature, and it was his experiences “on the ground” in Ireland that initially confirmed for him the value of being present in the place one is studying.  Ray traveled to Ireland more than 28 times, often leading literary/landscape tours for the college.  Taking students to China in 1994, and being a part of a Fulbright study tour in Cambodia for MCC faculty in 2002, likewise impacted his Humanities courses.  His family hopes this scholarship can help Middlesex students open their own “windows to the world.”  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a student to participate in an international study experience, a short summer course abroad or a semester abroad.

Paul Sheehy Memorial Scholarship ($1000)
This scholarship was created by the family and friends of Paul Sheehy to celebrate the life of the former Lowell City Manager and former State Senator.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a deserving student of Middlesex Community College who demonstrates a commitment to community and plans to transfer from Middlesex Community College to UMass Lowell.

Lura Smith Scholarship ($1,000)
The purpose of this award is to assist an African-American or African student(s) pursuing an associate degree at Middlesex Community College.

Verena Stair Memorial Scholarship ($600)
This award was established by Dr. A.T. Stair, Jr. and his family, with the support of Carol T. Zachor ('90) and friends of MCC, to memorialize the community's memory of Verena, a model for nontraditional students seeking academic fulfillment.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a nontraditional female student, who has been accepted as a full-time transfer student in pursuit of a baccalaureate at another institution of higher learning.

Paul Sullivan Scholarship ($1,000)
This scholarship honors the memory of Paul Sullivan.  Paul wore many hats: radio talk show host, newspaper columnist, political commentator, and a teacher here at Middlesex Community College.  His favorite of all was teaching because he believed he was helping to shape the leaders of tomorrow.  The purpose of this scholarship is to assist a student pursuing a degree in Business or Communications.

Support Staff Scholarship ($500)
This award has been established by the Support Staff of Middlesex Community College to assist a nontraditional adult student who has been out of the academic setting for an extended period due to family considerations or seeking job training to reenter the workforce.

Judith Tarutz Scholarship ($500)
This award was established by Judith Tarutz to celebrate her success in reshaping her career path to become a professional software technical writer and editor.  The author of an award-winning book on technical editing and former instructor in MCC's Software Technical Writing Program, she serves on the College's Technical Writing Advisory Board.  She created this grant to help promising new editors and writers acquire the education and skills to succeed in the field of technical publishing.

Shirley W. Thidemann Memorial Scholarship ($500)
This award honors the memory of Shirley Thidemann and her contributions to the social services field.  A 1977 graduate of Middlesex Community College with a degree in Mental Health Technology, she dedicated her life to the treatment of mental health and alcohol abuse, and encouraged others to do the same.  The purpose of this scholarship is to assist a student who is pursuing a degree related to mental health or the treatment of alcohol/substance abuse.

Collegiate TRIO Programs Scholarship ($1,000)
The Collegiate TRIO Programs at Middlesex Community College are federally funded programs that support students who are low income, first generation to college or individuals with disabilities.  Middlesex Community College has two collegiate TRIO Programs on campus with the goals of assisting students to succeed academically, earn associate degrees, and transfer to four year institutions.  The Student Success Program works with 200 low income, first generation, and disabled college students and the Program for Student Achievement works with 100 individuals with disabilities.  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist two deserving collegiate TRIO participants (one from the Student Success Program and one from the Program for Student Achievement) in pursuing an associate's degree and transferring to a four year institution.

Unitas Scholarship ($600)
With a gift from the Unitas Corporation upon its dissolution, the Middlesex Community College Foundation created a scholarship to fulfill the mission of Unitas, "to promote the interests of Hispanic people in the city of Lowell, to integrate the Hispanic community for the purpose of lessening friction, avoiding confrontations and sponsoring progressive community harmony, and to strive for the fulfillment of the greatest economic and social potential of the Hispanic people of the City of Lowell."  The purpose of the scholarship is to assist a Lowell resident of Hispanic origin who is currently attending Middlesex Community College.

For questions, please contact MCCScholarships@middlesex.mass.edu.