STLCC-Florissant Valley Honors 2018 Class of Emerging Scholars

In the 1995 film "Higher Learning," track athlete Malik Williams is challenged by Professor Maurice Phipps to run faster because Williams is behind in the academic race.

Ten students at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley who, like Williams,  started college struggling, were recognized at the 23rd annual Emerging Scholars Awards Banquet Nov. 1. They were honored for earning 3.5 grade-point averages and overcoming academic challenges.

To be selected as an Emerging Scholar, students must complete at least two or more developmental courses in English, math or reading. In addition, they must complete 24 or more college-level credit hours at STLCC-Florissant Valley while maintaining a grade-point average of 3.5 or above. Students who meet the criteria are invited by a committee to apply for the recognition.

“I can’t stress how important this program is to Florissant Valley,” said Elizabeth Gassel Perkins, Ed.D., provost. “Each of these students has worked incredibly hard to build a solid educational foundation by completing developmental courses. It’s inspiring to see how they’ve used that success as a springboard to academic excellence.”

U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr. was the guest speaker.

During the ceremony, each Emerging Scholar received an award and certificate. They also received a resolution from Mo. Sen. Gina Walsh. The faculty or staff who the student identified as having made the most significant impact on their success were named “Mentors” and also received certificates.

This year’s Emerging Scholars and their mentors (listed inside the parenthesis) are:

• Mohamed Abdelmaboud (Joseph Bauer, instructor II, mathematics, and Charles Burkhardt, adjunct faculty, physical science)
• Anwar Alabad (Jeanne Florini, professor, dietetic technology)
• Wendy M. Brower (the late Kevin Toal, former assistant professor, biology)
• Marcia Jane Fisher (Jasmin Marshall, assistant professor, dietetic technology, and Dwayne Morgan, coordinator, student orientation/transition)
• Diane McCray (Howard Rosenthal, professor, human services, and Carol Hake, associate professor, English)
• Chantelle McNeil (Linda Collins, associate professor, history)
• Tina Patterson (Elida Kraja, professor, accounting, and Dennis White, director, strategic planning initiatives)
• Ariel Piphus (James Gillespie, acting manager, Gateway to College)
• Bouchra Raji (Maria Darris, instructor II, nursing )
• Harley Warren (Carlos Blanco, professor, reading, and Carolyn Fuller, assistant professor, reading).

Students also received paid memberships into Phi Theta Kappa, the largest honor society in American higher education. In addition, scholarships were awarded to some recipients based on financial need and funding levels in the scholarship fund.

The Emerging Scholars program was established in 1996 at STLCC-Florissant Valley as a way to recognize academic excellence and encourage students taking developmental courses. Since then, the program has been adopted districtwide and has provided students with thousands of dollars in scholarships.

For more information about STLCC’s Emerging Scholars program or to make a donation, contact the STLCC Foundation at 314-539-5472.