Photo by Carmen Cheng | Washtenaw Voice
Student receives the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship
Ahmed Ghalib, 22, was awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship, which provides $40,000 per year, for up to three years, to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, he’s been living in the United States since 2008. He enrolled at WCC to study information technology before switching to computer science, where he currently carries a 4.0 GPA.
As a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s local chapter at WCC, Ghalib told the Voice he learned about the scholarship from from two other PTK members.
Ghalib shared some of his experiences in competing for such a prestigious scholarship.
“Beyond the massive boost of academic confidence, the other semi finalists have been nothing short of magnificent…. My biggest take away has been telling my mother who cried in joy after hearing the news,” Ghalib said.
According to the foundation, over 1,500 students applied for the scholarship. Ghalib was one of 61 community college students to receive it this year.
This is the second year in a row a WCC student has won the scholarship. Last year, WCC student Paula Salazar also received the scholarship.
Commencement on May 18
The commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 18 at Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center at 9:20 a.m. Graduates are asked to arrive 8:15 a.m. and may invite guests.
Degrees and certificates will be conferred upon graduates. Caps and gowns are required, and can be obtained at the campus bookstore. A rehearsal is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., Friday, May 17 at the convocation center.
Pitch@WCC awards upcoming
Watch as entrepreneurs pitch businesses to judges and the audience for cash prizes at the Entrepreneurship Center’s “premier event of the year.” Prizes will be awarded under three categories: start, build and grow.
Admission is frees and no registration is required. Music and hors d’oeuvres will be provided at the event.
The event will be held Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m. in the Morris Lawrence Building.
50th anniversary of the first manned moon landing
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission—the first manned landing on the moon—the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor library will hold two events: a “Moon Landing Party” for children in grades K-5, followed by a discussion—for all ages—with a “Moon Landing Ambassador” from NASA, which will focus on the next steps for returning, once again, to the moon.
The party takes place occurs from 2-3:30 p.m., followed by the discussion from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on July 20 at the downtown library in the multi-purpose room on the first floor.
