Mackenzie James, a senior at Beatrice High School and a participant in the Upward Bound program at Southeast Community College, is the recipient of a $20,000 scholarship through the Dell Scholars Program and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.
James is one of 300 recipients nationwide.
“I found out that I was the recipient of the Dell Scholarship at about 11 at night,” James said. “I was so excited I ran into my parents’ bedroom and jumped on their bed screaming that I got the scholarship.”
James is the daughter of Courtney and Bryan Crumrine of Beatrice and Jason and Shelly James of Humboldt. She plans to attend Kansas State University this fall and major in biology.
“Attending Kansas State has always been my goal, and when I received the Dell Scholars Scholarship, my goal became financially attainable,” James said. She said she plans to earn a master’s degree, and possibly a doctorate, in biology with a concentration in zoology.
Melissa Decker, director of SCC’s Upward Bound program on the Beatrice Campus, said everyone affiliated with the program is excited for James.
“This is huge,” Decker said. “She’s our first Dell (Scholarship) recipient. We’re so proud of her. She’s worked so diligently filling out scholarship applications. Her goal was to go to school and not have a lot of debt.”
James has earned other scholarships, including the Dr. Alan Fiala Scholarship, the Edmund M. Carlson Scholarship, a Science Club Scholarship, a Kiwanis Homestead Early Risers Scholarship, a Dean’s Scholarship from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, the Heritage Award from KSU, and the Lynn W. Roubidoux Scholarship. She also received the President’s Education Award.
The Dell Scholars Program is available to students participating in approved college readiness/college access programs, such as Upward Bound, which assists and encourages talented high school students to achieve their educational goals. Upward Bound, which is one of eight federal TRIO programs, helps its participants succeed in high school and prepare for and enroll in college. The program encourages students to think about how they want to contribute to the future and how they can prepare to face the challenges that lie ahead, at no cost to the student or family.
There are 56 students in SCC’s Upward Bound program, Decker said.
James holds a 3.8 grade-point average at BHS. She has served as president of the Science Club and has been a member of Key Club, National Honor Society, the World Language Club, SkillsUSA, the speech team and band.
“Without Upward Bound I would be attending college with a large financial burden,” James said. “I have received assistance in finding scholarships from the Upward Bound staff.”
The Dell Scholarship can be used over a six-year period. In addition, the program provides students with technology, a private scholar networking community, resources, and mentoring to ensure they have the support they need to achieve their college degrees.
All applicants must have a minimum 2.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale. The scholarship program is primarily a need-based scholarship rather than merit-based. The GPA requirement reflects the Foundation’s mission to reach underserved students who are academically prepared and college ready, and to provide them with scholarship funds to achieve a college education. The Dell Scholars Program Scholarship is funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, a private family foundation that funds programs that foster high-quality public education and childhood health and improve the economic stability of families living in poverty.