Hard Work Rewarded for Mission College Graduate

Lourdes Cisneros has known since 8th grade what she wanted to be when she grew up. That clear vision, combined with drive, hard work and more than a little positive personality, has earned her the prestigious Pister Scholarship to U.C. Santa Cruz - an award worth $20,000.

A resident of Milpitas and 2006 graduate of Milpitas High School, Cisneros had toured several community colleges and chose Mission College because everyone was so enthusiastic and helpful. While studying at Mission College, Lourdes has focused on psychology, with the goal of becoming a family therapist. Recognizing Lourdes for her ambition, intelligence and up-beat nature, her counselor, Elise Johnson, who also has a degree in psychology, encouraged her to apply to UC Santa Cruz and look into the the Pister scholarship. She took a tour of the UCSC campus and was immediately sure it was the right place for her.

As one of 11 Pister Leadership Opportunity Scholarship recipients from Northern California, Cisneros' progress will be closely monitored by a caring cadre of mentors who will assist, counsel, encourage and advise her. Knowing that, she said, is "thrilling." With that in mind, she is anxious to get started so that once she graduates, she can get a job as a psychologist or therapist and start changing people's lives. As a youngster, she dreamed of being a veterinarian or a singer, but helping people was more interesting and a place where she felt she could make the greatest impact.

Her favorite instructor at Mission College was Jeff Cormier, a psychology and sociology instructor. "With Lourdes' hard-working nature, playful personality, helpful demeanor and love of learning, I know she'll graduate from the University of Santa Cruz and have immediate success as a psychologist or therapist. I believe her opportunities are limitless," said Cormier. Mission College President, Dr. Harriett Robles, has also been impressed with Cisneros' potential. "Lourdes has a rare combination of drive, humor, ambition, intelligence and humility that spells success. She has made many friends at Mission College and we know she'll go far," said Robles.

The $20,000 Carl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Award Scholarships were established to help the most promising students from regional community colleges transfer to UCSC. The students will receive a $10,000 scholarship for each of two years, plus the support of a strong academic mentoring program and help finding paid summer work experience in a field that complements their studies.

For more information about the Carl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Awards, click here. To learn more about educational opportunities at Mission College or to register for the Fall 2008 semester, go to www.missioncollege.org.