Courtney Heap
Courtney Heap plays with the cards life has dealt her. She never complains, and never asks, why me?
She graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School in 2011. Two years earlier her mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Heap, who has worked since she was 14, delayed her college start to provide financial support for her family.
“I’ve never considered it a burden,” said Heap, who is in the Academic Transfer program at Southeast Community College. “It’s just something that I wanted to do.”
Heap attends SCC on a Learn to Dream Scholarship, made available through the generosity of Union Bank and Trust and Nelnet to any Lincoln high school graduate who meets income guidelines. Students must have graduated from a Lincoln public or private high school and have qualified for the federal free or reduced lunch program. Students who qualify are awarded a scholarship that will pay for up to 45 quarter credit hours at any of SCC’s three campuses.
Heap and other LTD students will be honored during the Fourth Annual Learn to Dream Celebration May 18 on SCC’s Lincoln Campus.
The 20-year-old, who holds a 4.0 grade-point average at SCC, said her counselor at LSE encouraged her to apply for the scholarship.
“I had only applied for a few small scholarships,” Heap said, “then she gave me this (Learn to Dream Scholarship) pamphlet. I applied and I got it. I was kind of shocked that I got it. I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t know much about SCC.”
Heap enrolled at SCC last summer and takes classes part time while maintaining jobs at Fortune Palace restaurant and at Younkers in Gateway Mall. Together she works between 35 and 40 hours per week. Money she earns working helps pay family bills, but without the Learn to Dream Scholarship, Heap said it would be difficult to go to school.
“I’m not sure how I would pay for everything,” Heap said. “I may not be in college right now.”
She is happy to be a student at SCC.
“I love SCC,” Heap said. “I like the smaller class sizes because you get more time with the instructor. And everybody’s nice here. And you see a wide range of people and ages, and everybody is working toward one goal.”
Heap said she plans to transfer to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and major in psychology. She’s just not sure when.
“I took an introduction to psychology class here and really liked it,” she said. “I only recently decided on psychology. When people feel lost, I kind of know how they feel. I’ve been there. Life’s circumstances can make you feel that way at times. But if I had the time and money, I’d be a full-time (professional) student. There are just so many areas that interest me.”
Heap is an avid reader who also enjoys movies and portrait photography. She takes the pictures at family gatherings, following in the footsteps of her grandmother.
She said the Learn to Dream Scholarship has provided opportunities she never thought possible.
“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Heap said. “The people in the Learn to Dream Office are amazing. They are always friendly. The office is kind of a safe haven.”
Jose Moreno
As a Millennial and a part of Generation Y, it’s no surprise that Jose Moreno is interested in a career in computers.
Moreno, 18, is a student at Southeast Community College who has waffled back and forth between Academic Transfer and Computer Information Technology programs. Despite his apparent indecision about which SCC program he should focus on now, he plans to transfer to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in fall 2014 and earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
“Ever since I started playing with computers, whether it’s a desktop, laptop, smartphone or game console, I’ve always wanted to see how stuff works,” Moreno said. “So far, computer classes have stuck to me. I also took a Web programming class in high school, and I really liked it.”
Moreno attends SCC on a Learn to Dream Scholarship, made available through the generosity of Union Bank and Trust and Nelnet to any Lincoln high school graduate who meets income guidelines. Students must have graduated from a Lincoln public or private high school and have qualified for the federal free or reduced lunch program. Students who qualify are awarded a scholarship that will pay for up to 45 quarter credit hours at any of SCC’s three campuses.
Moreno and other LTD students will be honored during the Fourth Annual Learn to Dream Celebration May 18 on SCC’s Lincoln Campus.
The 2012 graduate of Lincoln Southwest High School enrolled at SCC last summer. He was told about the Learn to Dream Scholarship from a counselor at Southwest.
“The scholarship has given me the opportunity to continue school,” he said. “Without it, I wouldn’t be here. I’m a first-generation college student in my family, and this has opened doors to new opportunities.”
Moreno takes a full course load at SCC and works 20-25 hours per week at a Runza restaurant in Lincoln. He’s close to his family, which includes his mother, younger brother and cousins.
“My cousins are like my brothers,” Moreno said. “I spend a lot of time with my whole family.”
Moreno also spends a lot of time working hard to keep good grades.
“By having the Learn to Dream Scholarship, I want to give it my all, get good grades and keep up by grade-point average,” said Moreno, who holds a cumulative 3.6 GPA at SCC. “That also will help me when I apply for other scholarships.”
Moreno said his instructors at SCC have been helpful and accommodating. He also praised the tutoring center for providing him assistance with English composition.
Developing software for a successful company like Google, Apple or Sony is a goal in the back of Moreno’s mind.
“I’ll be looking at anything computer-related that will help me get that dream job,” he said.
Moreno encouraged high school students who are eligible to apply for the Learn to Dream Scholarship.
“It’s money right there,” he said. “Just give it a shot. It gives you an opportunity to get a jump-start on college.”
Ana Ortiz
As a high school student in Mexico, Ana Ortiz was more fascinated with a pig’s heart than she was her economics class.
“I got really interested in the blood vessels and how they function and work,” the Southeast Community College student said. “I also liked studying chromosomes and doing the experiments in chemistry.”
Her love for biology and chemistry would seem a good fit for SCC’s Medical Laboratory Technology program, which she plans to begin in July after spending three quarters in the Academic Transfer program.
Ortiz attends SCC on a Learn to Dream Scholarship, made available through the generosity of Union Bank and Trust and Nelnet to any Lincoln high school graduate who meets income guidelines. Students must have graduated from a Lincoln public or private high school and have qualified for the federal free or reduced lunch program. Students who qualify are awarded a scholarship that will pay for up to 45 quarter credit hours at any of SCC’s three campuses.
Ortiz and other LTD students will be honored during the Fourth Annual Learn to Dream Celebration May 18 on SCC’s Lincoln Campus.
“Dreams can come true,” Ortiz said. “My dream is to finish the Medical Laboratory Technology program and become a good technician.”
Ortiz graduated high school in Mexico, but she came to the United States in July 2010 with little or no English language skills. She spent two years at North Star High School in Lincoln, primarily taking English Language Learner classes. She graduated from North Star in 2012.
“When I started to learn English, I didn’t know anything,” she said. “Sometimes it’s still hard to understand. Writing is also a challenge.”
While math was no problem for Ortiz, she struggled with reading and composition. She overcame her language barriers and started at SCC last fall. She said the Learn to Dream Scholarship has made a huge impact on her life.
“My counselor at North Star encouraged me to apply,” Ortiz said. “I really need it because my family does not have enough money to support my education.”
Ortiz said she wants people to know that if they study and work hard, they can do anything.
“There are many obstacles on the road,” she said, “but with some effort, you can knock down those obstacles.”
Ortiz lives in Crete and holds a part-time cafeteria job at Doane College. She said she plans to remain in the U.S. after she earns her associate degree from SCC.
“I have learned a lot of new things at SCC,” she said. “I’m glad I came here. The options to study are good, and they teach you how to study, which is very important. Also, it’s never too late to study. I look at older people who have the desire to study and learn, and they are my motivation to continue to study.”
In her spare time Ortiz enjoys spending time with her family and friends and “loves to dance.”
“I like Mexican music,” she said.