HCC scholarship recipients recognized at book signing event

Nov 10, 2015

What would you do if you had the chance to meet the complete stranger who is helping you pay for college? Sounds like a chapter out of the book What Would You Do?: Words of Wisdom About Doing the Right Thing. The author John Quiñones, who wrote the book based on his hit ABC Primetime series, met some of the Houston Community College (HCC) students receiving his support.

“It’s the greatest honor I am so proud of these kids,” said Quiñones as he autographed copies of his book at the HCC Eastside Campus. “We struggled as a family. We were migrant farm workers; I used to shine shoes. It’s so rewarding to hand off a baton to the next generation of kids who will make a difference in this world.”

The students are recipients of the John Quiñones Scholarship Fund recently established through the HCC Foundation. The $5,000 gift supports HCC students enrolled in filmmaking, audio recording technology/video production, digital communication or broadcast journalism classes.

Students Irenecarr Young, Derrick Guillory, and Jinyong Choi attended the book signing event and were thrilled to have the opportunity to say “thank you.”

“The scholarship motivates me to keep my grades up and pursue my dreams,” said Young, who wants to be an entertainment lawyer. “It’s assurance that someone believes in my dreams and what I can do.”

Guillory, a film student and HCC employee, looks at the gift as a way to help his career grow.

“Every project I try to do bigger and better than the last time,” he said. “

Choi, an international student from South Korea, had a tough time adjusting to the American culture, but now has a different perspective on life.

“Getting the John Quiñones Scholarship makes me feel that I am a real member of Houston Community College,” said Choi, a web publishing student. “It also means the faculty recognizes my work.”

The HCC Foundation offers a variety of scholarships. For information and to apply, visit hccsfoundation.org