Destler/ Johnson Rochester City Scholars and Davitt Scholars Prep for Graduation |
Ten Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars and three Davitt Scholars are busy getting ready for commencement weekend May 10-11th.
Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars offers full tuition to eligible first-year full time students from public and charter schools in the Rochester City School District and students in the Urban Suburban program. It was founded in 2010 by former RIT President Bill Destler and his spouse, Rebecca Johnson. The Mark and Maureen Davitt Graduate Education Endowed Scholarship, established in 2018, provides scholarship assistance to RIT graduates who wish to continue on with graduate studies.
Melodie Velazquez-Soto assistant director for Rochester City Scholars works closely with the students and uses the word “tenacious” to describe this group.
“What stands out to me is their perseverance and determination. Unfortunately, we have seen how COVID has affected many students. However, not even COVID could stop these students from coming to RIT and pushing through in their journey. They went through many obstacles. However, they never gave up. One of the students shared that it was a hard five years but finally here. That makes me proud to work with such amazing students. They truly inspire me. I have no doubt that they will move on to greater things. “
Imani de las Casas is an Individualized Studies major and Ian-Shika Dancil will receive her master’s in health informatics. Looking back, both say they appreciate the academic and personal support they received from the moment they first stepped foot on campus.
De las Casas arrived in 2020 and says, “I was very nervous when I started. High school was difficult and hearing that college was harder made me really scared. I was unsure whether I would ever make it this far. It's been difficult but I’ve worked really hard, and I have been lucky enough to have both family and RIT faculty supporting me all along the way.”
Dancil, who came to RIT in 2017 says, “Being an RCS student enabled me to be able to complete college with it being affordable and not having outstanding loans. I was also able to meet and create bonds with other RIT students who attended the same school as me or other schools in Rochester which allowed for us to have support from someone else who may have had similar experiences up to becoming a young adult and entering the college where some of us may have not had any insight or due to not having any peers or family to ask about what to expect. When I first began college I didn’t have many fears, but my experience also was not one of the typical person who was beginning college due to me being pregnant and having my child during my second semester, so I do believe there is a social stigma pertaining to teen pregnancy as well as statistics that were not in my favor so for me I felt like I had a point to prove. To show that being from the inner city and a teen mom does not mean that you won’t be able to have degrees. I believe my greatest support came from the staff who worked in DDI/MOSAIC Center as well as my previous biomedical sciences advisor.”
Both have advice for their peers. On attending graduate school, Dancil says, “The advice I would give to RCS and those who are considering graduate school is to never tell yourself no when there is more to gain than lose in regard to education; there is always more to gain. Your future is yours to make, so do the actions that will make both the past child version of you as well as the future version of you proud, strive for more.”
De las Casas says, “While working hard is an important part of being successful in life, taking care of yourself is far more important. Learning how to take care of and listen to yourself and your needs is one of the most important things you will do in college. Also, don't be afraid to change paths. Sometimes the path you are currently on is not the right fit for you, so being open to change is essential.”
After graduation, she plans to work as a Motion Designer after graduation. Dancil will move into healthcare administration and management.
Congratulations to nine more Rochester City Scholars who will put on caps and gowns next month: Dario Kulic, Bryce Majors, Tevanna Maurer, Clarissa “Chase” Moore, Vanna Reid, Kevin Rosario, Jahaad Shairi, Luisa Velocci and Nurullah Yusuf, as well as Davitt Scholars Zayneb Jaff and Bayleigh Thurston.