By Michelle McIntosh
and Sana Cole
The Scene staff
Forest Park recognized 96 students through its new Emerging Scholars program at an awards banquet last week.
Students qualified by taking 12 hours of developmental courses, or transitioning into college-level courses after completing two or more developmental courses. They also maintained grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher.
Two of the 96 – Sherida Carter and Ina Griesohn – were named Emerging Scholars of the Year. They each received a $500 scholarship.
“It was truly an honor to be recognized,” said Sherida Carter, 43, an early childhood education major. “I am truly blessed and was shocked when my name was called.”
More than 200 students applied for the scholarship. They answered questions about their education and career goals, campus activities and volunteer work.
Carter and Griesohn stood out above the rest, according to the Emerging Scholars committee.
“We were looking for people who were very motivated and have very strong goals,” said member Debra Char, assistant math professor. “These two were very articulate in their answers.”
At least one Emerging Scholars honoree could not attend the banquet. Cary Ball, 25, was shot and killed by police in downtown St. Louis last month.
English instructor Zita Casey was keynote speaker at the banquet. Char served as emcee. Vice President of Student Affairs Thomas Walker made opening and closing remarks.
All 96 students received certificates and paid memberships to the Forest Park chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
Emerging Scholars will be named once a year. The first banquet took place in the spring, but the committee plans to hold it in the fall from now on.
“We started this partly because other campuses had been doing it for a while,” Char said. “Florissant Valley had been doing it for years, and Meramec has been doing for a year.
“And we started it partly because we have people who we want to honor who started at the developmental level and have overcome many obstacles.”
Students who meet basic qualifications for the Emerging Scholars program are invited to fill out an application form, explaining their education and career goals, community service and extracurricular activities.
Applications will be reviewed by the Financial Aid office and the Emerging Scholars committee, which consists of Forest Park faculty and staff.