MCC awards five MLK Scholarships
Daniel Garcia-Roman and Christian Hernandez were honored at a luncheon awards ceremony at Metropolitan Community College Jan. 19. The annual event celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. The college has previously awarded a scholarship named for the civil rights leader to one “service-minded” early college student. This year, the MCC Foundation made it possible to offer five scholarships.
A student from each of the campuses received $500. Garcia-Roman attends MCC-Penn Valley. Hernandez is an early college student at MCC-Business & Technology. The other scholarship winners were Katie Dailey, MCC-Blue River; Savana Heffner, MCC-Longview; and Joshua Everett, MCC-Maple Woods.
Going forward, MCC plans to award at least one MLK Scholarship yearly to a student from each of the five campuses. They’re among 200 scholarships MCC has.
Garcia-Roman is studying art education on a full scholarship. Winning the MLK Scholarship will help him pay for books and fees. The freshman aspires to teach middle or high school art.
“I envision my students looking forward to my class as an escape from any environmental stressors,” Garcia-Roman wrote in his MLK Scholarship essay.
He’s a 2017 graduate of Lincoln College Preparatory Academy’s International Baccalaureate program. The second of four children, he’s the first in his family to attend college.
“If I didn’t continue, it would be a waste of potential,” he says.
The 19-year-old is already stretching himself as an artist. Last summer, he accepted a commission to paint a mural for Kansas City National Pawnshop. Now, he’s competing to attend the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Summer Academy. Students who win a place in the program are eligible to apply for the museum’s prestigious Andrew Mellon Curatorial Fellowship.
Garcia-Roman would use the experience to help close the gap for students unfamiliar with the art community and arts resources, he says.
He grew up in Kansas City’s Sheffield neighborhood. His mother, Emma is a “world-class stay-at-home mom.” His dad, Alfredo is a carpenter and one of Daniel’s role models.
He says, “My dad taught me to treat people with dignity and respect, and that it’s never too late to do the right thing.”
Hernandez got a head start on his college path, too. He’ll graduate from Van Horn High School with 55 college credits. He wants to be an architect and design energy- and cost-efficient buildings.
“I took credits in several areas to help me be a better architect,” he says.
Having won a $50,000 KC Scholars scholarship, he plans to transfer to the University of Kansas for his architecture degree.
Christian is the third Hernandez to pursue post-secondary education. One older brother is a pre-med student; the other is studying auto collision technology.
His interests and involvement in various activities have helped Hernandez to be well-rounded. He tutors students at his alma mater, Fairmount Elementary School and has logged more than 60 community service hours.
“My job is to help students realize the potential they have, encourage them no matter what and be a mentor,” he says.
Hernandez also plays violin in his school’s orchestra and guitar in his church’s worship band.
It was his affinity for math and problem-solving and the grand downtown skyline that sold him on architecture.
“I admire how the beautiful buildings and the skyscrapers define the city,” he says. “It made me think I can contribute to my community by designing beautiful buildings someday.”
