Thursday, May 22, 2003
The program served 138 Harding seniors this year.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Shaniqua Burley never considered applying to a private college before working with the Mahoning Valley College Access Program.
"I didn't think I could afford it," said the 17-year-old Warren G. Harding High School senior.
But Edwina Whitehead, a financial aid adviser with the program, and Dr. Joe Rottenborn, executive director, encouraged Shaniqua and other students to apply to several schools.
"Dr. Rottenborn told us to apply to one school that we thought was out of our reach," Shaniqua said.
For her, that was Hiram College, which she believed was out of her reach because of the cost. She also applied to Westminister in New Wilmington.
She was accepted at both but chose Westminister because it offered a full scholarship. She'll study pre-law and psychology with aspirations of being both a lawyer and a counselor.
MVCAP started in 2001 by the Raymond John Wean Foundation of Warren. It's funded by donations and grants and includes support from schools, businesses and universities in Trumbull and Mahoning counties.
"We want to make sure that any student who has a desire to go to college could do that," Rottenborn said.
Who got help
The program served 138 Harding seniors and about 60 other Harding students this year. The program also was offered in Youngstown city schools and at Lakeview, Springfield Local, Boardman and Victory Christian in Liberty, providing information about college admissions and financial aid.
"We'll go to any school in Mahoning and Trumbull counties that requests our assistance," Rottenborn said.
Kylia Cunningham, 17, heads to the business school at Washington University in St. Louis in the fall with plans to eventually pursue a master's in business.
She received a scholarship from the school that will cover all but about $11,000 of her annual tuition. Kylia initially learned of the university when it sent her information. She looked it up on the Internet and liked what she saw.
"It's one of the most diverse schools and it's one of the top five schools for African-Americans and I liked that," Kylia said.
She said both Whitehead, who is a retired Harding teacher, and Rottenborn called the university on her behalf.
Whitehead helps the students and their parents prepare the financial aid forms to apply for available scholarships and grants.
Michael Phillips, 18, already had a full-ride athletic scholarship to play football at the University of Pittsburgh, but Whitehead encouraged him to apply for grants anyway. He's waiting to learn if he received the awards.
"She doesn't slack at all," said Michael, who hasn't selected a field of study but is interested in business management and medicine. "She keeps tabs on you."
Whitehead is scheduled to be at the school each Wednesday, but the students say she's there most other school days as well.
"She's always been there for me," said Kylia.
Uriah Karkow, 17, will go to the University of South Florida in Tampa to prepare for a career in law enforcement with the FBI or CIA. He received a scholarship that will cover all but a few thousand dollars of the tuition.
"Mrs. Whitehead lets you know there are a lot of options and schools around," he said. "She's been very supportive of me."
Closer home
Gabrielle Onder, 18, will study nursing at Kent State University-Trumbull, where she received a full scholarship. She wanted to stay close to home so she could continue ministry work through the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Gabrielle's mother also is a nurse, and Gabrielle has seen how she loves her job. She hasn't decided what type of nursing she wants to pursue.
"As long as I'm working with people," Gabrielle said.
All of the students credit MVCAP, Rottenborn and Whitehead for their help.
"It was really helpful to me because I'm the oldest in my family and the first to go to college," Shaniqua said.