Janessa Cruz
  • Digital Communications and English
  • Class of 2019
  • Lebanon, PA

Janessa Cruz Receives Multicultural Fellowship

2015 Oct 12

Janessa Cruz of Lebanon, Pa. is one of 59 students who received a Multicultural Fellowship from Lebanon Valley College this year. These Fellowship awards recognize and reward commitment to work, service, and scholarly achievement for African-American, Latino, Asian, Native American and multiracial LVC students. Cruz, a graduate of Cedar Crest High School, is pursuing a bachelor of science in digital communications.

The Fellowship awards are based upon a student's academic and personal credentials, an interview, and financial need. But financial aid is just one dimension of the Fellowship program; the personal and professional development is a large component with students completing requirements in these areas each semester to remain participants in the program and retain the monetary award. These requirements are an important element in the program as they help students grow and learn for the life experiences after LVC.

One dimension of the Fellowship that especially helps these students succeed is its mentors. The mentor program pairs an upper-class student with a first-year student to help that student adjust to the demands of post-secondary education. The mentorship program also helps upper-class students to develop leadership skills.