| |
Galina Martynyuk Receives Summer 2012 Learn to Dream Achiever Award
 |
|
Martynyuk, a student in SCC’s Academic Transfer program on the Lincoln Campus, is the recipient of the Learn to Dream Achiever Award for the 2012 Summer Quarter.
The award is presented to an SCC student on the Learn to Dream Scholarship who has completed at least two successful quarters of classes at the College and who has demonstrated personal improvement and achievement. |
“I was so excited to receive the Learn to Dream Scholarship,” Martynyuk said. “You can take the first year of your general education requirements, paid for by the scholarship, and have an idea of what college is all about.”
Martynyuk, a student in SCC’s Academic Transfer program on the Lincoln Campus, is the recipient of the Learn to Dream Achiever Award for the 2012 Summer Quarter. The award is presented to an SCC student on the Learn to Dream Scholarship who has completed at least two successful quarters of classes at the College and who has demonstrated personal improvement and achievement.
Martynyuk, 19, was familiar with SCC before graduating from Lincoln North Star High School in 2011. Older sisters Vita (Martynyuk) Derun and Liliya Martynyuk also attended SCC. Vita earned a Diploma in Dental Assisting in March 2010. Liliya received a Learn to Dream Scholarship four years ago and was in SCC’s Business Administration program before transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Along with the Learn to Dream Scholarship, Galina also received a $300 scholarship from SCC, as well as other financial aid. She’s taken medical classes along with her general education requirements and is contemplating her career path.
“I’m thinking about transferring in January unless I go for my RN (Associate Degree Nursing) degree here,” she said. “I’ve thought about transferring to UNL or Bryan (College of Health Sciences). I’d like to be in a health field, possibly as a physician’s assistant.”
Her interest in a career in health care was sparked by her grandfather.
“When we were growing up, my Grandpa always had heart problems,” Galina said. “Helping people get better always interested me.”
Galina is one of eight children. Her parents, Vladimir and Olga Martynyuk, are Ukrainian. Galina was born in Binghamton, N.Y., the first in her family born in the United States. She was 9 when her father moved the family to Lincoln to be near relatives.
Her parents never had the opportunity to go to school in the Ukraine, which was communist until 1991, when it became an independent democratic country.
“You had to be communist if you wanted to go to school there,” Galina said. “My Dad said that God had sent us to America. My parents always encouraged us to go to school and get an education. They are very supportive.”
Galina said the Learn to Dream Scholarship helped out financially, but it also made her feel privileged.
“The Learn to Dream Scholarship encouraged me more to go to school,” she said. “It helps pay for school, but I also feel lucky to have received the scholarship. Without the scholarship, I probably wouldn’t have gone here.”
Galina said she’s had a positive experience at SCC.
“I really like it here,” she said. “The people are so helpful with everything. The SCC instructors also push you and help you if you have problems with homework.”
Galina also praised the Learn to Dream Scholarship staff.
“(Learn to Dream Retention Specialist) Shelley (Stoltenberg) helped me my first and second quarters,” Galina said. “In the Learn to Dream Seminar class you learn how to study and how to prioritize your study skills.”
When she’s not in school or working part-time jobs, Galina enjoys reading, painting, shopping, and spending time with her family. Fluent in English and Ukrainian (she also understands Russian), Galina volunteers on Saturdays, teaching Ukrainian at a school in Lincoln.
The Learn to Dream Scholarship is collaboration between Lincoln’s private and public high schools, SCC, and generous funding from Nelnet and Union Bank & Trust. The first of its kind in Nebraska, Learn to Dream pays for tuition and fees up to 45 quarter credits at SCC (about one year of study). Once enrolled, students must maintain a 2.0 grade-point average to remain eligible.
|
