Special to the American Press

The McNeese State University Black Faculty-Staff Council recently awarded three first-year students the Creating Opportunities for Recruiting Excellence (CORE) scholarship.

Eric Beloney and Alicia Powell each received a $1,000 scholarship and DeKhoury Flagg received $500.

The scholarship provides financial support to McNeese students from Lake Charles high schools with low student representation at the university including LaGrange High School, Washington-Marion High School and Lake Charles College Prep.

Beloney, from Lake Charles College Prep, is majoring in psychology and plans to go to medical school to become a psychiatrist.

“Helping those with mental health concerns is a passion of mine so I’d like to specialize in the field in order to properly help those who are in need,” he explained.

Powell, from Washington-Marion High School, is a nursing major. She would like to become a labor and delivery nurse to help save the lives of premature children and take care of their mothers.

Flagg, also from Washington-Marion High School, is a business management major. He wants to become a business leader and a real estate agent.

The scholarship encourages local high school students to choose McNeese and to persevere and earn a degree.

“This scholarship is a great opportunity to help students plan out their college careers and is a helpful steppingstone into their future endeavors,” Powell said.

The CORE Scholarship is funded through a donation from the McNeese Foundation and campus employees who dedicated payroll deductions to the fund. Since its inception, students have benefited from over $10,000 in CORE Scholarships.