Paul R. Willging Scholarship Awardees

Willging Endowment Scholarship Recipients Fall 2023:

Farzaneh Rafiei E.T.

Hello. My name is Farzaneh Rafiei E.T. The aspiration of the Dream Land made me move from Iran to America in 2016. It was an adventure starting my life in another country with the different culture, language, career, and social situation. After only three months, I started studying the English language to upgrade it to the college level. A few meetings with an advisor have helped me to choose my desired goal which is being a Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound Sonographer. There is nothing more beautiful than saving a senior’s life, curing human disease, and bringing a new one to the world. Being a full-time dental assistant and enrolling full-time at school made me an organized and diligent person before entering the program. After studying for two years to complete my prerequisites, I was accepted to the program at Howard Community College. What a hard decision I had to make when I was pregnant! My endurance to achieve my goal pushed me forward; my little baby and I used to attend my online classes together. I am a senior at Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound Sonography now. Impatiently waiting to finish the program, to start working, to help human well-being, to make happiness after pain, or to have a healthier society are my ambitions. Having the chance to get to the DMSU program at Howard Community College is making me a strong woman, a patient mom, and a compassionate human being in this society.

Carolina Stiefel

My name is Carolina Stiefel. I earned my CNA and CPR certification from Howard Community College, and I am studying to get my GNA certification. I am a single mother of two beautiful children, Madison 9 years old and Hunter 4 years old. I try to balance working full time, being a mother and going to school. My mother lives with me. She helps me with the children and I am grateful for all she does and for her support. I am also extremely grateful for the Willing Endowment for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream. I discovered my passion for caregiving while I was caring for a family member. I want to make a difference in peoples’ lives by providing care and helping them when they are having a hard time doing things on their own. I learned a lot during my clinical at the Lorien nursing home in Columbia, MD and I enjoyed the experience very much. My next step will be to continue my studies to become a PCT. My goal when I complete my courses and training is to rely on my skills in patient care to provide compassionate support and basic medical care to people who need help. 

Willging Endowment Scholarship Recipients Fall 2022:

Francisco Anzueto

My name is Francisco Anzueto and I have earned a bachelor’s degree from Towson University in exercise science and currently am a second-year physical therapy assistant (PTA) student at Howard Community College (HCC). I have learned a lot about the field over the years and have also had the opportunity to have a couple of clinical experiences as a physical therapist assistant through HCC which I have enjoyed.

As I approach graduation from my current program, I look at all the adversity I have overcome over the years that have brought me to this point and feel blessed to have come so far after so much hard work. I enjoy helping others and putting a smile on other people’s faces and I am glad to be working toward a career that can do just that. I appreciate the opportunities this scholarship affords me and am very grateful to be a recipient. I will make sure to make the most out of this opportunity and give back once I begin my career as a licensed PTA.

Gretchen Bigasova

My name is Gretchen Bigasova and I am a first year student in Howard Community College’s dental hygiene program. Through this program, I get to learn how to apply and perform dental treatments for people of all ages and especially learn how oral health affects older individuals. I also get to educate future patients on how important preventative measures and oral health truly is through our campus clinic. As a future dental hygienist, I am looking forward to supporting total health through the promotion of oral health. I would like to thank the kind donors of the Paul R. Willging endowment scholarship for granting me the opportunity to fuel my dream of becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist.

Katelyn Kincaid

Thank you so much for your generous contributions to Howard Community College. This is very helpful to me personally as I try to balance working a full-time job and being a full-time student. I am currently enrolled in the Cardiovascular Technician program at HCC. I joined because my grandpa had recently received a quadruple bypass. Him going through that procedure and getting the opportunity to help him recover and watch this process firsthand has made me want to be a part of the team that helps make this happen. I am really grateful for the relief that your funds have provided. I look forward to starting my clinicals and getting to be in the room and help people like my grandpa that are scared and hurting. Once I graduate, I plan to get a job working in a hospital as a cardiovascular technician. I plan to take on cases like my grandfather’s and give them the same love and respect he had received. I hope to be able to use my skills to ease their anxiety and give them as seamless a procedure as possible. Thank you once again for helping make this happen. 

Cyrene Temple

My name is Cyrene Temple. I attended Wilde Lake High School Class of 2022. I currently attend Howard Community College (HCC) and I’m an active member of the Rouse Scholars Honors Program. My goal at HCC is to complete my associate degree and transfer to a four-year institution, specifically Towson University. I am majoring in Speech and Language Pathology and hope to join the master’s program provided at Towson University. Growing up, I came from a middle-class upbringing that did not have much to provide for my learning disabilities. I was unable to speak and struggled to read up until I was three years old and could not afford speech therapy to perfect my understanding. Because of this I gained a personal interest in Speech Therapy and learning any form of communication. In middle school, I tried to teach myself Sign Language and Braille, along with learning Spanish my entire high school career. Being chosen as a recipient of the Paul Willging scholarship is a huge honor and brings great motivation. Receiving this scholarship pushes me to continue and excel in school. It feels like a unit of people supporting my dreams and career choices. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity.

For Fall 2021/Spring 2022, two Paul R. Willging Endowment scholarships were awarded. The recipients were:

Brianna Haley

My name is Brianna Haley and I am a current nursing student at Howard Community College. I discovered my passion for nursing while I was caring for my very ill grandmother. Being a caregiver involved not just medical, but also physical, emotional, and spiritual support for her. Throughout my time spent with her, I realized that every person should have the same type of care that she was given. I then vowed to treat my future patients just as I would treat my own grandmother. I’ve also had the opportunity to work at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center as a CNA, caring for patients with a wide range of acute and chronic illnesses. I look forward to being able to help others live with independence and respect. With the help of this scholarship, I am hopeful that I can make a difference in someone’s life.

Janet Musyoki

I am currently pursuing an associate degree in nursing at Howard Community College. However, being a parent and a provider, it has been a challenge to concentrate on both and still worry about financial responsibilities. This program has stepped in and created a huge impact in my life as I am now able to focus on my studies as well as my responsibilities. I am at peace knowing that my fees are taken care of thanks to the kind hearts of the donors of the Paul Willging Endowment scholarship award.

Education is a gift that when given, it completely changes your life. It is an empowerment. I have no words to describe how this foundation is changing people lives and bringing the best out of them. It’s a positive impact both to the community as well as the economy itself. I am forever grateful to have been chosen.

In 2020 two Paul R. Willging Endowment scholarships were awarded. The recipients were:

Maria Mbewe

I am a second-year student pursuing an associate’s degree to become a diagnostics medical sonographer at Howard Community College.  I decided to study ultrasound because I have a desire to help people in our society. I lost my grandmother in 2019 from cervical cancer, and this was all because she had not reached out for medical treatment early. Due to their older age, I feel the elderly deserve special attention. Oftentimes, the aging population may begin to experience pain and discomfort but choose not to seek medical attention because they believe that it is side effect of aging. In my future plans, I would like to set up a foundation for seniors, which will mainly focus on early medical intervention and awareness programs. I will utilize the skills that I am acquiring at Howard Community College for that benefit. I will be honored to give back to my community. The financial help that the Paul R. Willging endowment provided will be of great help in paying for my educational expenses, and will allow me to focus more on studying.

Gabriela Marcano

Hello, I am Gabriela Marcano and I graduated two years ago from Hammond high school. I was studying Business Administration at HCC last fall with plans to transfer to a four-year university, but I got sick and was unable to move forward with my plan. I found out I had COVID-19 and was diagnosed with a malignant tumor. I spent half of the year in hospitals. During this time, I had time to rethink my future goals and decided that Business Administration was not for me. Once healthy and back in school, I changed my educational track to begin studying to become a nurse. I wanted to be sure if that career was for me, so I took the CNA course, which I was awarded a scholarship from the  Paul Willging Endowment. The course was everything I hoped it would be, and I have liked it. I hope to continue with my studies and be able to enter the nursing program.

In 2018 three Paul R. Willging Endowment scholarships were awarded. The recipients were:

Uyen Bui

My name is Uyen Bui. I was a senior at Long Reach High School last year and doing the Early Entrance Program at Howard Community College. My goal is to complete my associate degree at Howard Community College and transfer to a four-year university. I have chosen nursing as my major in college. I recently completed my CNA course that is offered at my high school, which prepared me for my nursing career. During the clinical period, I had a chance to learn at the Patuxent River Health and Rehabilitation Center. I have seen some of the residents who do not have any family members with them. It was very sad and heartbreaking. All of them reminded me of my grandparents, and that made me wanted to take care of them all the more. I want to make them feel like they have someone that cares. I am really happy and gracious for being able to help people that are in need, help them living with independence and dignity, and remind them how important they are.

Receiving this scholarship motivates me to continue my academic path at Howard Community College. I look forward to be able to give back to the community once I begin my nursing career.

Motunrayo Adejayan

I am in my second semester of nursing school, and it has been a long ride. I started going
to school in Howard Community College, three years ago, and it has been a great experience. Being from an African background, I had family try to convince me to be a doctor or pharmacist rather than being a nurse. Instead of making my decision based on their demands wrapped nicely in the word ‘advice’, I decided to do more research. I was originally interested in being a pharmacist, but realized they had not enough autonomy, and not enough one on one patient experience. Doctors, rarely knew patients names and dealt with their disease process and diagnosis. Nurses on the other hand, were amazing and helpful, very knowledgeable and skilled, and were very passionate about their job. This convinced me that nursing was the career for me.

At age 18, I became a Certified Nursing Assistant, and worked with hospitals, Long term care facility, skilled care facility, assisted living and Home care. I found my heart and home in Home care, taking care of the older adults and giving the utmost and most personalized care. I love older adults because you can learn a lot from them, and they are generally sweeter than the young adults. Older adults tend to be neglected and I plan to do my best and research to best reduce and hopefully eradicate that, one patient at the time, providing them with the best nursing has to offer.

Now I am 21 and I am living the dream. With one more year to graduate, and a great
experience, Howard Community College has helped me towards achieving my career goals, and Paul Willgings’ scholarship, has granted me the opportunity to be the best student I can be, life is great.

Ichick Tembi

Growing up as a child, most of my summer breaks from school was spent with my grandparents. My grandmother is a good cook, she will cook just my favorites, we will stay at the fireside late in the night while my grandfather entertained with stories which cannot be forgotten. They just became a part of my life with their patience of tolerating me knowing my good and bad attitudes were ways of growing up. Their love and advice impacted my life as away from them, I would go visiting older people in my neighborhood, helping to do little chores and having funny conversations with them. With my grandmothers age, her health is poor and so she is on and off the hospital. Earlier on, her poor health just added my aspiration of being a nurse and later, my hopes kept growing to specialize in gerontology.

I finally realized I had to go to school to pursue my dreams. I started at getting certified as a geriatric nursing assistant then, I furthered to the college and I am into my second semester as a registered nurse.

Further, I plan to enroll into a university after I pass my board exam for a bachelor’s degree in nursing so as to pursue specialization in gerontology. I am determined and feel exited with my progress and hope I will meet my goals of helping many seniors.

I really love the care for the older adults and this has been supported by my family and my job. Whenever my grandmother is ill, I am being called and I immediately rush to the hospital to do and see what nursing care is all about. At my job, there are flexible clients to pick and render care, but I mostly if not all the time have my clients of the age above 65 years. At my leisure time I try to read the common needs by the older adults like reading information on diseases such as dementia which seems to be so prevalent with this age group. Moreover, due to the fact that my family can not completely pay for my education, I am thankful to my job where I use my skills, love and time to generate some money to
finance my studies.

Working and helping seniors is a rewarding experience for me because if I have to stay alive as long as I wish, I cannot escape aging. Therefore, my acquaintance and getting to know the integrity and regrets of many is a planner for my own life.

In 2017 two Paul R. Willging Endowment scholarships were awarded. The recipients were:

Sierra Smith

Ever since I was a little girl the career that always sparked my interest was nursing and helping others. My goal was to become a trauma nurse which would involve caring for older adults. As I have continued my studies toward meeting that goal, I have completed the EMT course and the CNA. I have visited Morning House, an assisted living facility in addition to completing class work at the Patuxent River Health and Rehabilitation Center. While these learning experiences have been challenging, they have exposed me to the field where I hope to work and have motivated me to learn more about how I can make a positive difference in the care of seniors.

Linda Rinier

My name is Linda Rinier. I am in my last year of the nursing program at Howard Community College (HCC). Years ago, I became a volunteer at Hospice of Frederick County and volunteered at a local hospital. I was very impressed and inspired by the nurses’ enthusiasm and patients. These experiences helped me decide to choose nursing as my first career choice when I graduated high school. This did not happen.  Instead I went on to be a Pilates Instructor at Goucher College. In addition to teaching Pilates academic classes, I taught weekly private lessons and group classes to the local community. After five years of teaching at Goucher College, I opened my own Pilates studio in Ellicott City. Many of my clients were between 50 and 80 years old suffering from back and knee pain and overall stiffness. I could help them overcome many daily aches and pains. I became friends with so many of my clients and began going out socially. It became clear how much I loved the older generation.

After a few years of running a business, I thought about becoming a geriatric nurse and decided to volunteer at a local long-term care facility with my dog Bella. I signed up as a volunteer every Sunday for an hour which quickly turned into two hours and two days a week. Within a few weeks of volunteering, I enrolled at HCC and started taking pre-requisites for the nursing program to pursue a career in geriatric nursing.

My first year of nursing school was everything I thought it would be! I started my clinical at a long-term care facility and moved to a geriatric med surge unit my first year. I feel very comfortable around the patients and their family members. I know I will be a great advocate for the patients who are unable to advocate for themselves.

I know that education is power and my future geriatric patients deserve the best care possible. I plan to continue my education upon graduating from HCC.

In 2016, two Paul R. Willging Endowment scholarships were awarded.  The recipients were:

Monica L. Mobley

Receiving this scholarship allows me to continue my commitment to complete my degree programs at Howard Community College.  The education and information that I’ve received at HCC has given me the ability to stay up to date with the latest changes in health care, technology, laws and legislation that impact services that our senior communities and citizens depend on.

I am one step closer to starting a bachelor’s degree program in geriatric & aging services.  Completing this program fulfills my career goal to become a geriatric nurse practitioner, but also allows me to fulfill my lifelong dream of one day owning my own nursing home or assisted living facility to provide & ensure exceptional care for senior citizens.  

Seifollah Moradi Rastegar

The value of education is something that I have understood since I came to the USA as a first generation immigrant.  I could not speak English well, and everything was new in tis country…As time passes, this new country feels more and more like home, but I know the only way to have what I want here is to work very hard for it.  It was then that I met with a kind and helpful college advisor.  She impressed upon me that all those that follow their educational dreams have an equal chance at seeing those dreams through to fruition.

Also receiving special recognition was Arhum Syed, who received he Applications Research Lab’s Outstanding Student Performance Award for a Howard County Public School System student.

In January 2014, the Executive Committee of the Willging Endowment announced that the scholarship award was made to:

Daliah Halboni

I am a third year student in my first year of the HCC accelerated nursing program.  I plan to become a geriatric nurse practitioner one day.  This field is not only very much in tune with that of aging related services, but is a growing need in our society today. There must be more health care providers to ensure that all older adults are cared for in the best way.  That’s what I want to do.  Being a geriatric nurse practitioner is a dream of mine that I wish to fulfill and having the financial stability of a scholarship will bring me one step closer to my dream.

In May 2013, the Executive Committee of the Willging Endowment announced that the scholarship award was made to:

Evette Pinkowitz

I am a Radiology Technician student at Howard Community College in Columbia, MD, class of 2014, and a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the Lambda Nu National Honor Society for Radiologic and Imaging Services. I enjoy the patient interaction at my clinical sites and being able to help patients in their health needs.  Experiences caring for many people in different stages of life have instilled in me a desire to care for seniors. Seeing the extra burden senior patients have had physically transporting themselves or finding a way to their medical appointments outside of their homes and nursing facilities has lead me to want to go into the mobile x-ray career upon graduation. Bringing the needs of the senior patients to them at their homes will help relieve some of the stress they may have with getting their medical needs at a clinic or hospital.