Pheng Vang takes 1st place with video submission
Inver Hills Community College is pleased to announce the winners of the First-Generation No-Essay Scholarship Contest for spring semester 2024. Alicia Atwater, a TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS) academic advisor, reported that Pheng Vang, a computer science major, took first place with a video submission and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
The other four winners are as follows:
- Sadie Rohricht: 2nd place, $500 scholarship
- Brittany Phillips: 3rd Place, $500 scholarship
- Sienna D’Souza: 4th Place, $500 scholarship
- Zoe McLaughlin: 5th Place, $500 scholarship
Alicia thanked First-Generation Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs Kenny Flores, Niah Haro, and Ram Perez as well as Annabelle Knowles, the former TRIO SSS student mentor who designed the contest with the goal to spread awareness of the varied experiences of first-generation college students.
Students participating in the contest were asked to directly answer the question, What does being a first-generation college student mean to you? Submissions were original work that used the creative arts to answer the question via poetry, short story, music, mixed media, visual art, performance, and more.
The winners were recognized at the TRIO SSS First-Generation Scholarship Reception in the Black Box Theatre in late February 2024.
View event photos by opening the Inver Hills Flickr album:
TRIO SSS First-Generation Scholarship Contest Reception 2024
Pheng Vang
1st place 2024 First-Generation Scholarship Contest
$1,000 scholarship
Age: 22
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Current residence: Maplewood, Minnesota
Major and degree earning at Inver Hills: Computer Science Transfer Pathway A.S.
Transfer plans after Inver Hills: Metropolitan State University to earn bachelor’s degree in computer science
Career plans: Expand career network, gain hands-on experience, seek an internship; building connections is difficult because no one in his family is knowledgeable about the computer science career path; chief goal is working at a company where he can develop his skills and be the best he can be; also looks forward to helping younger generations and people experiencing similar career challenges
Three words that describe you as a first-generation college student:
ADVENTUROUS. PERSISTENT. RESOURCEFUL.
One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:
INCLUSIVE
Sadie Rohricht
2nd place 2024 First-Generation Scholarship Contest
$500 scholarship
Age: 22
Hometown: Eagan, Minnesota
Current residence: Eagan, Minnesota
High school and year graduated: First Baptist Rosemount, Class of 2020
Major and degree earning at Inver Hills: Nursing A.S.
Inver Hills planned graduation date: May 2025
Transfer plans after Inver Hills: Four-year school to B.S.N.
Career plans: Specialize in trauma nursing or correctional nursing; passionate about providing care in underserved populations; learning both French and German to broaden cultural competencies and potentially practice internationally; ultimate goal is obtaining Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) and become a nurse practitioner or attend medical school
Three words that describe you as a first-generation college student:
PERSERVERANT. DETERMINED. RESILIENT.
One word that best describes your experience at Inver:
TRANSFORMATIVE
Brittany Phillips
3rd place 2024 First-Generation Scholarship Contest
$500 scholarship
Sienna D’Souza
4th place 2024 First-Generation Scholarship Contest
$500 scholarship
Zoe McLaughlin
5th place 2024 First-Generation Scholarship Contest
$500 scholarship
Age: 30
Hometown: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Current residence: Saint Paul, Minnesota
High school and year graduated: Henry Sibley High School, Class of 2012
Major and degree earning at Inver Hills: Pre-Social Work Transfer Pathway A.S.
Inver Hills planned graduation date: 2025
Transfer plans after Inver Hills: Considering best options: 1) Continuing social work journey and getting bachelor’s degree and then master’s degree; social work careers most interested in require an M.S.W. 2) Obtain Human Resource Management certificate at Inver Hills, takes less time and will work in tandem with Pre-Social Work A.S. for future HR career
Career plans: Undecided; definitely either a mix of social work-related jobs; ideally drug and alcohol rehabilitation therapist or marriage and family therapist; might opt against further schooling to avoid student debt with goal to land entry-level HR job or work at a company focused on social work/health
Three words that describe you as a first-generation college student:
EAGER. MOTIVATED. HOPEFUL.
One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:
FANTASTIC
Learn more about TRIO SSS at Inver Hills by contacting:
Alicia Atwater
TRIO SSS Academic Advisor
Inver Hills Community College
aatwater@inverhills.edu
651-450-3558
TRIO Student Support Services
College Center Room 255
Inver Hills Community College
651-450-3831
trio@inverhills.edu
