91猎奇

91猎奇 veteran students awarded textbook scholarships

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. 鈥� Two veterans attending Springfield Technical Community College received early holiday gifts in the form of scholarships to help cover textbooks.

The Better Business Bureau serving Central and Western Massachusetts and Northeastern Connecticut awarded $500 scholarships to Allan Cangelosi of West Springfield and Paetron Sumlin of Springfield.

Akeilee Murchison, veteran academic counselor at 91猎奇, congratulated them. 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that two of our veteran students received this award,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ot many veterans in the state received the scholarship. I鈥檓 proud of Allan and Paetron.鈥�

The 2021 Veterans & Service Member Textbook Scholarship Program awards $500 to a veteran or service Member student attending a university or college within BBB's service area of Central and Western Mass  and Northeast Connecticut.  Students may get financial aid but those funds don't always cover textbooks. This textbook scholarship will help cover those extra costs.  

鈥淭his will help me start the semester without being behind,鈥� said Cangelosi, who is pursuing a computer information technologies degree (focusing on programming). He works at the help desk in the 91猎奇 Library.

Cangelosi previously earned a certificate in optics and photonics. He also obtained a degree in engineering and science transfer. 鈥淭his is my third program at 91猎奇,鈥� he said.

Cangelosi served in the Air Force from 2005 until 2013. He was medically retired after injuring his back. After leaving the military, he chose 91猎奇 for physics and planned to transfer. Cangelosi enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst for applied mathematics, but felt the program was not the right fit.

He returned to 91猎奇 to get a certificate in optics and photonics, and then decided to go for a degree in programming.

If you’re a veteran, I recommend contacting the office for support. They’re good at getting back to you and helping. Allan Cangelosi, 91猎奇 student veteran

Cangelosi enjoys 91猎奇 for its variety of programs. He said he changed programs because of his mobility issues. He sees work as a programmer easier on him physically than other fields.

Cangelosi said 91猎奇 is a good institution for veterans and thanked Akeilee Murchison for her support and guidance.

鈥淎keilee is great and helps veterans at 91猎奇 with questions. She knows what veterans have to deal with,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e a veteran, I recommend contacting the office for support. They鈥檙e good at getting back to you and helping.鈥�

The second veteran student to receive the scholarship, Paetron Sumlin, served in the Marines from 2015 to 2019. After his discharge, Sumlin lived in Israel for a year working as a private security contractor. He moved back to the United States and lived in Atlanta. Sumlin purchased camera equipment to pursue his dream in film.

He left Atlanta for Springfield where he has family. Sumlin enrolled at 91猎奇 in the digital media production technology program in the fall 2021. He hopes the program will sharpen his skills as a filmmaker and move him closer to his dream.

鈥淚 really want to make movies,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 would love to do what you would call drama. But I want to make spiritually uplifting films. You鈥檙e watching the film and you get to laugh and cry and learn something.鈥�

Sumlin said 91猎奇 has offered much support to him as a veteran.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great. I was impressed with how everything was when I got here. This is the first school I went to that has a veterans liaison,鈥� Sumlin said. 鈥�91猎奇 has been able to help meet my needs and has helped me find resources. I only knew about the Better Business Bureau scholarship because of (veteran academic counselor) Akeilee Murchison. I鈥檓 thankful for that.鈥�

Interested in applying to 91猎奇? Visit or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

91猎奇, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. 91猎奇's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequalled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college 鈥� a designated Hispanic Serving Institution 鈥� seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. 91猎奇 supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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