Students with a 'can-do' attitude earn MCC Bianco Spirit Award
McHenry County College recently honored Shannon-Marie Clifton and Mark Molgado with the Spring 2022 Joseph A. Blanco Spirit Award, a $600 scholarship given to students who display the ability to work toward completion of a degree or certificate while maintaining a positive and "can do" attitude.
The students were selected by the MCC Access and Disability Services department for displaying the work ethic, motivation, and determination to succeed that the award recognizes.
"Shannon is a returning adult student who was initially nervous to start at MCC - but she wasted no time getting acclimated," said Lauren Brannick, who nominated Clifton for the award. "She uses all her resources, connects with instructors, gets involved outside of the classroom, and masters her schoolwork. She is always striving for an A+, and she usually gets it!"
Clifton plans to graduate from MCC next fall and will be transferring to Northern Illinois University where she hopes to complete a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. She wants to work with individuals with disabilities as they reach their goals.
"Shannon's health - though at times impactful - has always just been another piece of her," said Brannick. "She uses her experiences to educate others. Occasionally she might join a Zoom from a hospital room, to which she'll exclaim, 'What else am I gonna do?!' Shannon embodies so much spirit and celebration, and is the perfect recipient for this award."
Outside of MCC, Shannon is a wife and mother and loves to craft with yarn.
This year's second recipient, Mark Molgado, was nominated by Jarrett Wolske, an academic support coach in MCC's Access and Disability Services Department.
"Out of the many students I have worked with, I have met few with Mark's brand of drive, positivity, and persistence in overcoming every obstacle," Wolske said.
Molgado is a first-generation college student and English is his second language. Because of that, he initially struggled with finding his place at MCC. But despite those obstacles, Mark maintained a "can-do" attitude. He is now the president-elect of the Black Student Union, is a member of student government, and has been promoted twice in three months at his current employer.
"Mark has told me that he hopes to pave the way for others so that future first-generation and minority college students like him will be able to find academic and professional success," said Wolske. "His commitment to his education, laser focus in obtaining his professional goals, and devotion to his family all deserve to be recognized."
The Spirit Award was founded in 2009 by Joe Blanco - a beloved MCC tutor and member of the ADS staff - before he passed away in 2011, as a way to honor students who inspire others every day.