Three COD students awarded Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship

Three College of DuPage students were recently selected as recipients of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship at a reception on the college’s Glen Ellyn campus. They are: Alexis Deanna Collins-Harris, Shontasia Henderson and Fatima Khan.

The $2,000 award is offered to students with a 3.0 grade-point average or higher who plan to impact the lives of others based on Dr. King’s ideals.

Alexis Deanna Collins-Harris (Nursing)

“It motivates me to pursue a career in nursing where I can actively contribute to health care equity and ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background, receive the care they deserve. Dr. King's advocacy for peaceful social change encourages me to use my nursing education not only to provide clinical care but to also to be an advocate for underserved communities.”

Fatima Khan (Cybersecurity 3+1 program with Lewis University)

“Dr. King showed us that by speaking up calmly and peacefully, but with a lot of determination, you can draw attention to unfair things happening and get people to think and act differently. Dr. King taught us to stand up for people who are being treated unfairly and to do it in a way that is respectful and nonviolent. He believed in using words, marches and peaceful demonstrations to show what's wrong and to demand change.”

Shontasia Henderson (Nursing and Health Sciences)

“My goal is to advocate for health care that considers the whole person and their circumstances, echoing Dr. King's call for a more just and equitable society. I am determined to combine my personal experiences with my medical education to drive systemic change, making the health care system more compassionate and responsive to the needs of the underserved.”