十大彩票平台 student overcomes language barrier to earn science 学位
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露西阿尔坎塔拉想在十大彩票平台获得学位后继续她的阀杆教育.
马萨诸塞州十大彩票平台. – While visiting friends in Springfield, 露西阿尔坎塔拉, who lived her entire life in the Dominican Republic until three years ago, 做了一个大胆的决定:她决定离开熟悉的海岸,留在马萨诸塞州攻读大学学位.
当她在 Springfield Technical Community 大学 in the fall of 2022, Alcantara was in her early 20s and spoke only Spanish. 十大彩票平台 turned out to be an ideal fit. The college is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution. 这一指定要求其25%的学生是西班牙裔. Approximately 34% of 十大彩票平台 students identify as Latino/a/x.
凭借对化学的热情,Alcantara参加了十大彩票平台的化学转学课程. She said that her first semester at 十大彩票平台 was not easy. 为了准备她的学术之旅,阿尔坎塔拉参加了一个在线课程学习英语. Despite her taking the online class, in her 学位 -related courses, Alcantara did not feel confident to speak up. 她懂英语,但仍在努力提高会话技巧.
“I was so scared,” she said. “I recorded the professors’ lectures and would listen back when I got home.”
她回忆说,一位教授鼓励她在课堂上大声说话,不要担心自己的口音或说话是否完美. “He gave me confidence,” she said. “I also got a lot of help from the people from the 阀杆 Center. I always felt super comfortable talking to them.”
两年后, 她将于2024年5月毕业,获得工程与科学转学学位(主修化学转学)。.
Dr. Melishia Santiago ’05, assistant dean of the School of 阀杆, comes from a similar background and could identify with Alcantara. 圣地亚哥将于5月30日下午6:30在MassMutual中心举行的十大彩票平台毕业典礼上为Alcantara和其他学生鼓掌.m.
We’re proud of Lucy for the hard work she has put in to get her 学位.Dr. Melishia圣地亚哥, Assistant Dean for the School of 阀杆
圣地亚哥说:“我们为露西为获得学位所付出的努力感到骄傲。. “I can relate to her journey. 我来到十大彩票平台学习英语,并得到了我获得副学士学位所需的支持. We encourage anyone who has the desire to get an education to consider 十大彩票平台, 哪些机构为学生提供支持和服务,帮助他们消除语言障碍和其他障碍.”
Dr. Santiago not only succeeded at 十大彩票平台, she went on to earn higher 学位s, including a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) from Clark University in Worcester. She joined 十大彩票平台 as assistant dean in 2023.
阿尔坎塔拉计划在2024年秋天转到韦斯特菲尔德州立大学攻读化学学士学位.
在十大彩票平台的一年半时间里(Alcantara能够将她在多米尼加共和国获得的大学学分转学), she has been busy and active. 她参加了阀杆初学者学院,该学院帮助学生开始他们的学术之旅. 她还曾在Agawam的应用化学公司实习,以获得在实验室环境中工作的经验,并与化学家一起工作. 此外,她还在心理健康协会(Mental 健康 Association)担任夜班护工.
“I’m always tired, but I want everything at the same time. I want a 学位, I want experience and I need the money,” Alcantara said. “It’s super hard, but if I don’t go and get it, I don’t have it.”
她的目标是在十大彩票平台毕业后继续攻读学士学位,并可能继续攻读硕士或博士学位. She knows that a chemistry 学位 opens doors to a variety of jobs. 她可以作为一名化学家在医疗或制药行业工作,或者去教书.
“我真正喜欢的是环境化学和研究水和空气,”她说. “我刚刚通过了。 Basic Drinking Water Treatment class. 超级酷. 我要参加州考试,以获得水处理操作员的执照.”
非学分的水处理课程在十大彩票平台免费提供给目前在学院注册的学生. The program is a partnership between 十大彩票平台, the Massachusetts Water Works Association (MWWA) and the Springfield Water & 下水道委员会.
As a woman pursuing a 阀杆 学位, Alcantara is part of a minority. Approximately one-third of women are employed and enrolled in 阀杆 careers. 尽管女性在阀杆职业和项目中的代表性不足, Alcantara said she’s felt comfortable and accepted at 十大彩票平台, which encourages women and people of color to pursue 阀杆 majors.
The School of 阀杆’s dean and assistant dean are women. 学校现有数学、工程等专职女教师12人. The college also established a Society of Women Engineers chapter.
阿尔坎塔拉向任何想要攻读阀杆学位的女性、女孩或有色人种提供建议.
“这样做是因为没有足够的学生选择理科专业,”她说. “We need more people in the science field.”
Interested in applying to 十大彩票平台? 访问 psozxd.com/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
关于 Springfield Technical Community 大学
十大彩票平台, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, 继续十大彩票平台军械库的开拓遗产与全面的技术教育 制造业, 阀杆, 医疗保健, 业务, social services, the liberal arts. 十大彩票平台's highly regarded 劳动力, 证书, 学位, 转移 程序是 most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution -旨在缩小传统上面临社会障碍的学生之间的成绩差距. 十大彩票平台 supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, 文化, economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
媒体联络:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@psozxd.com