ESL Presents Work Scholarships to Five MCC Students
Program aims to create pathway to careers, strengthen student opportunities, and reduce financial education costs.
Rochester, NY — ESL Federal Credit Union and Monroe Community College are pleased to announce their sixth class of ESL/MCC Scholars, an earn-and-learn program to prepare students for a career in banking and finance. Students were recently welcomed to the ESL team at a scholars’ ceremony at ESL headquarters in downtown Rochester. The five students selected for this program are:
- Ranses Beltre-Romero
- Andrew Friden
- Emily Goossen
- My Phan
- Benazir Reza
Students are offered a part-time, paid position at one of ESL’s 23 local branches, and a $1,000 scholarship for each semester they participate. Students will have the opportunity to meet with and work in other departments at the company to further their professional experience.
Benefits to ESL/MCC Scholars also include professional skill development opportunities, mentoring, and exposure to a variety of career paths within the banking and finance industry. Through this collaboration, MCC students also have the option to obtain academic credit for their work experience.
“Investing in education is one of the best investments we can make in a lifetime. The ESL/MCC Scholars’ program is one of our greatest investments at ESL as it supports the educational journey of our future leaders,” said Maureen Wolfe, executive vice president, human resources and community impact, ESL Federal Credit Union. “Our Purpose at ESL is to help our community thrive and prosper, and as we welcome our fifth class of Scholars, this will ensure that ESL, in collaboration with Monroe Community College, are serving as helpful and supportive resources for students.” [disclosure: Wolfe is a board member for the MCC Foundation]
“MCC is grateful for of our longstanding partnership with ESL and congratulates the new class of ESL/MCC Scholars,” said DeAnna Burt-Nanna, Ph.D., president of Monroe Community College. “These MCC students will have the valuable opportunity to learn and experience firsthand the banking and finance industry from dedicated ESL professionals. This partnership with ESL demonstrates the positive impact made possible through philanthropy to promote the economic vitality of our community by uplifting the lives of our MCC students.”
The long-term goal of the program is to retain the students upon graduation from MCC through either full-time employment at ESL, or as they work part-time while pursuing their bachelor’s degrees at a local college or university (with assistance from ESL’s tuition reimbursement program). The program also supports an ESL initiative to recognize and value diversity and inclusion within the workforce.
