Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) is pleased to announce two students, Salma Morales and James Pierce, have been awarded the Andrew E. Stevenson Kappa Beta Delta National Merit Scholarship among 13 nationwide recipients.
“Both Salma and James are exceptional students and even better human beings,†says OCCC Professor and Kappa Beta Delta Co-Advisor Germain Pichop. “They are very worthy recipients of the Dr. Andrew Stevenson National Merit Scholarship. They exemplify the spirit of the award, which is enshrined in the mission of Kappa Beta Delta. They have both excelled academically, have demonstrated leadership potential and have been very active in the community. They have always been present whenever help was needed. I am very proud of their achievements and confident they will continue to shine in the future.â€
The Dr. Andrew Stevenson National Merit Scholarship is awarded each year to a student who is a member of Kappa Beta Delta, carries a high GPA and has demonstrated leadership and community involvement in the past year.
Salma Morales holds leadership roles in several student organizations on campus, including the Hispanic Organization Promoting Education (HOPE), Native American Student Association and Kappa Beta Delta. She is also a dance instructor and homework tutor for the community at Southern Oaks Library and a member of the All USA/Oklahoma Academic team. Upon completion of her associate degree, Salma plans to transfer to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in non-profit organizational studies and then obtain her master’s degree in business administration, hoping to start her own nonprofit organization someday. Salma not only is a full-time student but works part-time to assist with college tuition and fees.
“I have no doubt that I will utilize this scholarship to prosper in my education,†says Morales. “A scholarship can be a young adult’s motivation to pursue and continue his or her education. Undeniably, receiving this scholarship has removed financial encumbrances and reminded me that money is not a stopping point to my future.â€
OCCC enrolls more than 20,000 students annually. The college is currently the largest adult basic education provider in the state. OCCC offers a full range of associate degree programs that prepare students to transfer to baccalaureate institutions while other degree and certificate programs prepare students for immediate employment. At OCCC, students receive a quality education with small class sizes, dedicated professors and leadership opportunities. Students can choose from more than 60 major fields of study and participate in any of the 40+ clubs and organizations. For more information about OCCC, visit www.occc.edu.
