A new Decade of Community Scholars

(l. to r.: Ray Walker, Alex Okelue, Evelyn Cuellar Dominguez, Nanceny Fanny, Kevin Leuaxay, Kareem Massie, Vivi Velasquez, Lillie Brown, Zenab Nafid, Estivan Zhen Mulian, Sadie Cordova. Not pictured: Gabe Velazquez, but he arrived in time for the start of event!)

In February, Edgewood College celebrated the next decade of Community Scholars  with a special event on campus. Alumni, benefactors, and current scholars honored the program, launched in 2007, that awards full-tuition scholarships to reach historically under-represented local students who demonstrate academic potential, financial need, active leadership, and a commitment to serving the community. 

Governor and First Lady Jim and Jessica Doyle, benefactors of the program, say Community Scholars are a part of what makes Edgewood College critical in the life of Greater Madison. 

“Especially interesting to me is the depth of service that our scholars perform,” Ms. Doyle said. “From going to ‘St. Vinny’s’ to the Beacon, scholars are reaching out, touching lives, and doing work that matters.” 

Senior Sadie Cordova, who will graduate in May with a degree in in Organizational Communications, spoke on behalf of the Scholars. She currently serves on the boards of two non-profit organizations, and works fulltime at Bethel Horizons, a facility that serves thousands of young people each year in summer camps, retreats, adventure programs, and environmental and art education programs. 

“I love the work I get to do helping make sure every kid gets an equal opportunity to a camp experience and helping them deepen their understanding of God, self, others and nature which is rooted in my desire for compassion,” Sadie said. “I created a research project that faculty have mentored me on for the past two years and I have been able to present it at conferences across the nation…Are you catching my drift here? Edgewood College provided me with all of these opportunities, and life experiences and the education that has shaped my values and that’s something I truly love,” she said. “Justice, Compassion, Partnership, Truth, Community. These are our values, and now they are mine too.”

Information about the Community Scholars program is available online.