DCC Scholarships

Dutchess Community College Scholarships

Poughkeepsie Branch AAUW, Inc.
A non-profit organization 501(C)(3)

Contact: Betty Harrel, Development Vice President    board.aauw.poughkeepsie@gmail.com

2023 DCC Scholarship Recipients

Shernette Bourdier 

I would sincerely like to thank the American Association of University Women for giving me this scholarship opportunity. It is indeed a pleasure to recognize that I was chosen for this scholarship and do take pride in the fact that as a woman, I am being supported by other women on my path towards further advancement of my education. This scholarship will be put to use by helping me to purchase books on my next chapter. Thank you all so much. 

Athena Xenakis

I am deeply honored to have been awarded this scholarship, as it validates the unwavering strength and dedication I have exhibited in the last 2 years to become a Registered Nurse. As I embark on the journey towards a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, I embrace the challenges ahead while expressing my sincere gratitude for this financial relief that I have been fortunate to receive. Thank you for helping me forge a purposeful path in this world!

2023 Trudy Hankinson Briggs AAUW Scholarship

Thomas Paulet

I am incredibly grateful and honored to be the recipient of this scholarship. Your generous support is truly life-changing, as it not only alleviates my financial burden but also empowers me to focus on my educational pursuits and reach my fullest potential. This opportunity will undoubtedly pave the way for my academic and professional success, and I am committed to making the most of it. Thank you for investing in my future and for believing in my potential to make a difference in this world. 

2022 DCC Scholarship Recipients

Dutchess Community College was not able to hold their luncheon and recognition ceremony for their scholarship recipients in 2021 nor 2022. They did create a book with students photos and quotes from each recipient which Poughkeepsie AAUW had the pleasure to receive.  The pictures and quotes below are from this book and letters received from the recipients.  Each received a $600 scholarship.

Ann Jessica Hudson

Thank you for awarding me the American Association of University Women Scholarship! This scholarship will help relieve a heavy portion of the fee required to commute to and from Dutchess County to John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The price of commuting was a worrisome affair, but with this scholarship, I can relax a little and focus on getting to my classes instead of the financial hole that just getting to the city was going to put me in. My major at John Jay is Forensic Psychology and I hope to make it into their combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Forensic Psychology program so I can graduate with both degrees. If I don’t, I plan on enrolling in John Jay’s combined Forensic Psychology and Law graduate program once I’ve graduated with my bachelor’s, as I am working towards a career in law enforcement. Since I was nine years old, it has been one of my life’s goals to work in law enforcement. This dream was further reinforced by the discovery of John Jay and its Forensic Psychology major (as this was also the major of my dreams, but I hadn’t heard of any colleges that offered it) two and half years ago. So, now with the skills I’ve gathered from starting at Dutchess Community College, I can finally start working towards my dreams and start the life I had planned so long ago. Thank you again!

Salimata Traore

I am extremely honored to have been considered and selected for the American Association of University Women Scholarship. The journey to my degree hasn’t been an easy one, but it was worth it. Contributions like this scholarship serve as an imperative reminder of how crucial it is to keep persevering, even when you feel as though nobody is watching and surveilling the exertion expended to achieve your goals. This serves as a reminder that my efforts are not taken for granted and my reach goes far beyond myself, or even those near me.

I have learned that it often gets easy to feel overlooked as a result of your undertakings not resulting in an immediate return. Though self-validation is important, it is human nature to pursue validation from those around us, especially when we’ve worked so hard. This scholarship reiterates the significance of passing opportunities along and holding the door open for the millions of strong, enduring women coming behind us. It will not be taken for granted. As a token of my gratitude, I will ensure that these funds are put to good use and will beget the first steps to further success subsequently after graduation. Once again, I would like to genuinely thank you for your willingness to help me achieve my goals.

2022 Trudy Hankinson Briggs AAUW Scholarship

Gabrielle Coghlan

 I’m truly grateful and honored to have been selected for the   Trudy Hankinson Briggs AAUW for the Trudy Hankinson Briggs AAUW Scholarship. Your generosity will help me fund my fall semester to complete my general studies associate degree, so that I may proceed with my education goal of entering the nursing program.


2021 DCC Scholarship Recipients

Jessica Gleason

I am truly honored to be awarded the American Association of University Women scholarship.  As a 2021 RN graduate of DCC, this scholarship will give me the opportunity to further my education in nursing to which I am sincerely grateful.  Thank you.

 

Renee Niles

As a nontraditional college student, I am extremely thankful to have been chosen as the recipient of the American Association of University Women Scholarship.  This scholarship will assist me in funding the next goal in my educational journey which is to receive my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

2021 Trudy Hankinson Briggs AAUW Scholarship

Melissa Finnigan

I would like to thank the DCC Foundation for my $500.00 scholarship award. I am sincerely honored to have been selected as the recipient of the Trudy Hankinson Briggs AAUW Scholarship award. Thank you for your generosity which will allow me to take an extra class this fall furthering my education a little faster. I am proud to be the recipient of an award that is given in honor of Trudy Hankinson Briggs who dedicated much of her life volunteering for many organizations and helping many, many people along the way. I hope that someday I will be able to pay it forward and that I will also be able to help people. I will remember that Trudy Hankinson Briggs and this scholarship helped me get to where I want to be. Thank you very, very much.

Two $600 Scholarships Awarded Annually

Traditionally the Poughkeepsie Branch has awarded two $600 scholarships to non-traditional women students graduating from DCC and continuing their education at a four year institution.

One of these scholarships is covered by an endowment fund formed in 2011. You can see the details for this endowment below.

The Poughkeepsie Branch AAUW was involved in the initial efforts to create a community College in Dutchess County which resulted in the establishment of Dutchess Community College.

The Poughkeepsie Branch will continue to award a second $600 scholarship through our annual fund raising efforts and personal contributions. If you would like to contribute to the scholarship, please select More Information and donation Forms.

Endowment Fund

In 2009, the Branch established an endowment fund to ensure at least one Poughkeepsie Branch AAUW scholarship would be awarded annually by DCC in perpetuity.

As of May 2011, an initial scholarship had been assured. DCC will grant an annual $500 scholarship from the interest on the endowment, and, if necessary, make up the difference from its own non-restricted fund raising efforts.

DCC current enrollment has grown to over 10,000 students and many of these students will continue their educations elsewhere and be in need of tuition assistance.

In November 2011, the endowment was increased to $12,000 so that a $600 scholarship will be awarded annually from the endowment.

Details of earlier recipients of our DCC Scholarship have been archived and are available from the branch historian.