Each year since 2013 the East Madison Community Center has awarded scholarships to local students as a part of the Woody Carey College Scholarship Program. Long-term EMCC Board Member, Dr. Ellwood “Woody” Carey served on as a volunteer here for over 25 years. The Scholarship is a meaningful and long-lasting tribute to Woody’s legacy, loving spirit, and positive values, especially in the area of equal opportunities. The EMCC is proud to offer scholarships to six exemplary students this year.
Sarah Jacobsen – UW-Madison/Chemistry
My passion is working with kids: showing them how cool the natural world is, educating them on where their food comes from, and convincing them to try new and healthy foods. Kids are our future leaders, and I want to become an educator that helps prepare the next generation to be conscious of how their food choices affect their bodies and environment. I also want to prepare them to be advocates of change.
Montel Montgomery – Xavier University of Louisiana/Psychology
I want to work as a child/adolescent psychiatrist, many children suffer tremendously with mental health and are unable to seek help. I want to be accessible to children who deserve the support they need to live a better life.
Renee Robinson – UW-Milwaukee/Social Work
My ultimate goal is to work as a bilingual licensed social worker. For the past six and a half years I have dedicated myself to advocating for and serving others. This scholarship will help lift the financial burden that often keeps adult learners from re-entering higher education and pursuing higher academic goals.
Asha Thompson – Xavier University of Louisiana/Biology
This scholarship will award me the opportunity to pursue the career of my dreams; a career rooted in service but underrepresented by African-American women. It will bring me a closer to achieving my lifelong dream of attending a historically black university, and receiving an excellent education at a school that prioritizes me as a student.
Gaoza Jennifer Xiong – Stanford University/Computer Science & Music
This award will further strengthen my relationship with the East Madison Community Center. The EMCC has been an enormous part of my life so far, and I am so proud to have grown up participating in its youth programs. I have learned a lot about life in my time as a participant. I cannot wait to find out what I will discover and experience at Stanford.
Panya Xiong – UW-Madison/Electrical Engineering or Computer Science
After graduation my goal is to work in Silicon Valley which is the base of cool tech companies such as Apple, Google and Intel. Although I will be across the country in the future, if I get there I want to start a scholarship for kids in the EMCC community that I grew up in because I know the struggle. I will forever remember this scholarship because it’s given from the EMCC which is one of the most important places in my life.