by Madalyn Johnson & Jessica McKenzie, Asst. A&E Editor & Staff Writer
The James Patterson scholarship recipients of the 2019-2020 school year were officially announced on Oct. 15 through the Manhattan College website. Twenty students, 10 juniors and 10 seniors, part of the school’s five major departments, the O’Malley School of Business, School of Liberal Arts, Education and Health, Engineering, and Science were awarded the scholarship based on their academic achievements and involvement that reflect Manhattan College’s Lasallian mission.
“It’s cool to see a new group of people be awarded the scholarship … it just opened my eyes to how broad the campus is,” said scholarship recipient Nadia Itani, a junior civil engineering major.
Patterson is highly regarded as one of Manhattan College’s most famous alumni. Graduating in 1969 with a degree in English, his devotion to encouraging committed, hard-working students studying various subjects is greatly represented through his annual scholarship. Many students and recipients of the scholarship value Patterson’s financial aid award because it recognizes students in various academic fields.
“[Applicants must] show James Patterson who [they] are as a person and show their best qualities, and they should be okay,” explains senior Taylor Aloisio, childhood/special education major.
This is the eighth year Patterson has awarded the scholarship to Manhattan College students. Students obtaining a GPA of at least 3.2 receive an e-mail that they are eligible to apply. Applicants fill out a form, detailing their honorary academic success, as well as their involvement on and off-campus.
They then submit a five-hundred-word essay talking about what they plan on doing following their studies at college. The award for the scholarship is $2,500 per semester.
“The application asks what you’re gonna do after you graduate, career wise. You have to mention the ways you use your leadership skills on campus,” said junior Angely Morillo, management major with a double minor in finance and economics. She has been awarded the scholarship for the past two years.
Morillo plans on working in Human Resources after college. In her essay, she wrote about her experience interning at American Express for Human Resources. She is a member of the W.I.S.E. program, in which women are given help finding internships to fit their passions.
On-campus, Morillo is working with other students and helping them get what they need so they can get better grades.
Another recipient, Taylor Aloisio, wrote her essay on how much she would like to become a teacher to positively impact kids’ lives.
“I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was five years old. I think that’s what really made [my essay] out–my passion and drive,” she said.
The scholarship is renewable every year. After the first year of receiving the award, applicants are asked to expand upon their first five-hundred-word essay and submit an essay of about three to four pages about the same topic. If they are again awarded the scholarship, they keep it for the rest of their time at Manhattan College. The financial aid may also increase.
Many of the recipients agree with the fact that applying for the James Patterson scholarship is a great way for students to showcase their talent and well-roundedness.
“It’s open to every major and that’s what’s so good about it. I recommend applying if you get the e-mail saying that you qualify for it,” said Morillo.