The-Laker-Issue3-Fall-2020

Inspired by challenge, alumni launch scholarship As she sat at her table for the annual scholarship dinner awards ceremony at the FLCC main campus in September 2017, Althea Jones-Johnson ’18 made a promise to herself: One day she’d do what she could to help future students of color join the list of honorees. “I was just so grateful,” she said. “I remember saying to myself that I want someone else to be able to experience that.” Fast-forward to the present: Having just embarked on a master’s degree program in higher education, Althea has partnered with fellow FLCC alumna and master’s student Samantha Maniscola ’18 to establish a new scholarship for African-American students. The George Floyd Memorial Scholarship awards $1,000 and is inspired by a challenge and a desire to bring change. On June 4, North Central University President Scott Hagan announced the creation of the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship and challenged every university president in the country to do the same. Through the process, Althea considered the support she received while studying at FLCC, and in particular, from Dawn Hess, director of enterprise risk management and environmental health and safety. Althea worked for Dawn as a part-time student worker and, when reporting for duty one day, was directed not to file reports and conduct inspections as was the routine. “I got to work and she told me, ‘Today I want you sit down and apply for one of these scholarships,’ so that’s what I did,” said Althea. Althea soon received word she’d been awarded a scholarship created in honor of a retired provost, the Thomas Topping Adult Returning Student Scholarship. A year later, a second scholarship, the Brian M. Kolb Leadership Award. “They helped me financially and motivated me to step out of my comfort zone and see my own potential,” said Althea. “I hope we’re able to help others do the same.” A voice in the movement FLCC Chief Diversity Officer Sim Covington Jr. sometimes prepares notes before he gives remarks at academic and public functions. But on a sunny afternoon in June, he stood on a stage in Canandaigua’s Commons Park and spoke from the heart. His message was met with thunderous applause from the crowd of hundreds who’d gathered for what would be the first of several Finger Lakes area Black Lives Matter rallies. Many in attendance wore shirts with messages and carried signs, some with the final words of George Floyd: “I can’t breathe.” Sim spoke candidly about his experiences as a black man relocating to a mostly white, affluent community and assuming what was a new role for the College. He told the crowd, “Don’t buy into the narrative of hate.” Other invited speakers included Ontario County Sheriff Kevin Henderson ’84. The sheriff and Sim came together more recently for a panel discussion on diversity in the Finger Lakes. They were joined by fellow alumni Derrick Smith ’09, acting chief of FLCC Campus Police, and Ethan Fogg ’00, president of the Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce. “It’s important to keep the conversation going and to engage as many voices as possible,” said Sim. “These are great steps as we aspire to build momentum around positive and effective change.” 12 | the LAKER campus happenings EVERY BIT HELPS: To make a contribution, visit give.flcc.edu, click on “Give to FLCC,” enter the amount and use the drop-down menu to select the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship. Speakers at a June Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Canandaigua included FLCC Chief Diversity Officer Sim Covington Jr. (shown above in middle). Visit the FLCC Facebook page and do a search for “Sim” to find video and other posts about his work in the community. Althea Jones-Johnson ’18 and Samantha Maniscola ’18