“Hard work goes a long way.” This expression is constantly heard by students from the time they start kindergarten until they graduate from high school. You probably heard it when you got your first job, and you probably still hear it today in college. This expression rings even truer for two outstanding students from HFCC’s Honors Program.
Kelcie Bourquin, the president of the HFCC Rotaract club and Amir El-Aswad, the Editor in Chief of the Mirror News, are nominated for the All USA Community College Academic Team scholarships.
Operated under USA Today and the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, the All USA scholarship rewards twenty university and college students annually. With this year’s winners announced in April, El-Aswad and Bourquin have a chance to not only receive a $2,500 scholarship, but also a medallion and recognition in an issue of USA Today.
In an interview with the Dearborn Press and Guide, Honors Program director Dr. Nabeel Abraham stated why he nominated the two students. “Their academic record is great. They are also involved with several activities on campus in addition to being outstanding students.”
Outside of the classroom, both students spend their free time participating actively in their school community. Aside from preparing issues for the Mirror News, El-Aswad is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Amnesty International, and serves as the secretary for the Rotaract club. Bourquin, also a member of these organizations, serves as the secretary for Amnesty international and is the founder and president of the Rotaract Club. They have also mentored students in the Learning Lab as they both worked as English tutors. Bourquin additionally tutors Spanish and works as an Inside Track mentor.
With graduation coming up, the two students plan on continuing their education on the East coast. Upon completing his associate’s degree this year, El-Aswad plans on transferring to Connecticut College, majoring in international law. Bourquin also wishes to transfer to the same college, or go to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to major in anthropology.
When asked how he feels about the nomination, El-Aswad was thrilled, stating “It is absolutely fantastic! I really feel in debt to HFCC for providing me such wonderful opportunities that eventually led up to this nomination.”
Bourquin told the Press and Guide that she is “very honored to be nominated for the All USA scholarship.”

For those of you interested in applying for the scholarship next year, log on to http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/marketing/academic_teams/index.html for more information. And to this year’s nominees, good luck and keep up the hard work!