20 | theLAKER foundation update As FLCC’s 2020 recipient of the Farash Foundation First In Family Scholarship, Katelyn Roland found the real gift was the freedom it gave her. “It has made college life so much easier. I no longer have the stress of balancing a job with school, and in return it helps me focus on my school work,” she said. “Additionally, not having to work enables me to have more free time to make friends, paint, go to the gym, etc., making college a great experience.” It also gave her the freedom to decide what she really wanted to do with her life. Two years ago, she started out as a nursing major. In May, she graduated with an associate degree in liberal arts and sciences and has since transferred to SUNY Brockport’s mathematics adolescent education program. “I decided nursing wasn’t for me and am now on my way to become a high school mathematics teacher,” she said. Katelyn was inspired, in part, by Bryan Ingham, professor of mathematics. “I had him for Precalculus and Calculus I. He went above and beyond for his students and was an amazing professor overall,” she explained. Katelyn learned after graduating fromMidlakes High School that she would receive the Farash award, which supplies all funds needed to pay for the student’s tuition, room and board, textbooks and fees. The Farash Foundation’s support continues over the course of the recipient’s college careers, for up to five years. In 2012, the program began providing scholarships for students who are the first in their families to attend college at institutions of higher education in Monroe and Ontario counties. In addition to FLCC, participating colleges include Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Monroe Community College, Nazareth College, Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John Fisher College, SUNY Brockport and the University of Rochester. Katelyn is FLCC’s third Farash recipient. The newest recipient is Jason Taylor, a 2022 graduate of East Rochester High School. Jason plans to major in environmental science. The biggest lesson of Katelyn’s FLCC experience, she said, is “to be determined. No matter how many obstacles get in your way, you must get through them to achieve your goals. “There’s an abundance of support available, you just need to look for it. If you want to get higher education, then do it.” For more information about the Farash First in Family Scholarship, visit the Farash Foundation website, farashfoundation.org. The application for the Farash and other scholarships for new and continuing FLCC students opens in late January of each year at flcc.edu/foundation. Farash grad aspires to teach math Katelyn Roland ’22 with College President Robert Nye. PHOTO BY BRIE CHUPALIO
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