For immediate release - Aug. 22, 2005     

(DALLAS) – Six high school and college students – more than half from Garland and Mesquite – have been named LeCroy Scholars by the Dallas County Community Colleges Foundation for their outstanding leadership and scholarship. The program honors DCCC’s former chancellor, Dr. R. Jan LeCroy, who served from 1981 to 1988. Each LeCroy scholar receives up to $3,200 ($800 per semester with a maximum of four semesters) to attend any DCCC college.

Most of the recipients are from the Garland and Mesquite areas, and they will attend either Eastfield or Richland colleges: Jennifer Lewis of Rowlett, who graduated this year from Lakeview High School and will attend Eastfield College to major in psychology; Jennifer Maxwell of Sunnyvale, who is continuing her studies in advertising at Eastfield; Keome Rowe of Garland, who is attending Richland and plans to study law; Jason Wallace of Garland, who also attends Richland College and who is majoring in political science and chemistry; and Rebecca Wavrusa of Mesquite, 2005 graduate of John Horn High School, who starts at Eastfield College this fall and plans to major in elementary education.

The sixth LeCroy Scholar is Andrea Hudson of Dallas, a nursing major who attends El Centro College.

Two other Eastfield College students – Qurat “Annie” Saleem and Marian Rachelle Bonifacio – are returning 2004-2005 LeCroy Scholars. Saleem, a Garland resident, is majoring in elementary education; Bonifacio, from Dallas, is studying medical science.

Lewis wants to pursue a degree in psychology and eventually earn a master’s degree so that she can become a counselor. She previously served as a class officer for four years (historian and treasurer) at Lakeview High School, was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and served as a Student Council officer. She was a member of the Girl Scouts for 10 years and earned the Girl Scout Silver Award. Lewis currently is pursuing the Gold Award in scouting. Her other school activities included cheerleading, Students Making a Difference and DECA (as the club’s public relations officer).

Maxwell plans to transfer from EFC to Southern Methodist University, where she will pursue a double major in advertising and sociology, followed by a career in advertising for nonprofit organizations. She has earned a 4.0 GPA; served as vice president of the Texas State 4-H organization in 2002-2003; currently is vice president of leadership for
the national academic honorary Phi Theta Kappa (for two-year colleges); and serves as communications officer and public relations chair for the EFC Student Commission. Maxwell was named to the President’s List and works in the college’s SPAR office.    

Rowe plans to earn a doctorate in Texas law, become an attorney and run for public office. He is employed by Community Credit Union and has earned a 3.7 GPA at Richland, where he is a participant in the SPAR Leadership Development Program and a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Rowe graduated with honors from North Garland High School, where he won a gold medal at the 2004 National History Day Competition and met President George Bush. In high school, he was a Texas Scholar; won the NAACP Academic Excellence Award, the All-American Scholar Award and several Academic Decathlon medals; and was named to Who’s Who and the National Honor Roll.

Wallace, a Richland College student for three years, has a number of interests, including network security, political science and chemistry. He has served as a photographer and photo editor for the college’s student newspaper, the "Richland Chronicle," for the past two years. Wallace, who works for DigitalPathTexas.net, has a 3.9 GPA and is pursuing associate degrees in mathematics, science and network administration and support. He plans to transfer to the University of Texas at Dallas and major in both political science and chemistry. Wallace’s career goal is to become an international network officer for a major global company or to work for the U.S. State Department.

Wavrusa, who graduated from John Horn High School with a 3.65 GPA, plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies (in elementary education). Former president of the orchestra, Wavrusa also served as treasurer and production coordinator for the school’s chapter of Business Professionals of America and as band representative and historian. The EFC freshman was named Student of the Year in 2002-2003; earned the Outstanding Leadership Award in orchestra; and won the Regional Competitive Award in BPA. She works part time for CiCi’s Pizza and is a youth leader at her church.

Hudson plans to become a registered nurse. She would like to work in palliative care, oncology or congregational care and perhaps to become a nurse practitioner. A single mother of three children, Hudson has done mission outreach work in Cuba and currently serves as an algebra tutor at ECC. She has earned a 4.0 grade point average, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and earned a 99 percent passing score on the Nursing Entrance Exam. A native of Germany, she teaches Spanish and runs for recreation. Hudson also has played an active role in the dental clinic at North Dallas Shared Ministries since 2003.
    
For more information, contact Kathye Hammontree at (214) 860-2455.


Press contact: Ann Hatch, 214-860-2478