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Mount Wachusett Community College is celebrating the achievements of two of its students selected as First Literacy Scholars for the 2024-2025 academic year. These students were awarded scholarships that support adult learners in advancing their education. Sabrina Alonso and Khadija Charafi Maechaoui from Mount Wachusett Community College have been recognized for their dedication to literacy and education.
First Literacy Scholars are selected from community colleges across Massachusetts, honoring students who demonstrate perseverance and commitment to their educational journey, often overcoming significant personal challenges. The program provides financial support, enabling adult learners to pursue higher education and improve their career prospects. For Mount Wachusett students, this scholarship is a reflection of their hard work and serves as an inspiration to others in the community striving to continue their education despite obstacles.
Sabrina was born in Uruguay and moved to the United States with her parents when she was seven years old. Her parents were determined to provide her with a better future. In 2013 Sabrina graduated from Fitchburg High School. While she was proud of this accomplishment, she was also met with the harsh reality that she could not attend college due to her undocumented status. When her friends at Fitchburg High School were meeting with college counselors and filling out applications, Sabrina felt behind, sad, and embarrassed that she couldn’t go to college like her peers. She worked multiple jobs but was forced to put her dreams of college on hold as she struggled to save enough money for college and to support herself. While she couldn’t save enough money to pay for college, she was elated when she discovered the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at Mount Wachusett Community College. When she completed the CNA program, she was able to take five free college classes through the Mount Wachusett Community College Transition to College Program. The scholarship from First Literacy will allow Sabrina to continue her college journey and get one step closer to her dream of becoming a clinical social worker.
Khadija’s journey from Casablanca to the United States has been filled with challenges and triumphs as she navigated a new life and language barriers to build a better future for herself and her family. With a bachelor’s degree in physics, Khadija arrived in the U.S. in 2011 to join her husband. When her son was born, she was determined to provide him with the best upbringing but faced the challenge of communicating with him as he only spoke English, a language she was not proficient in at the time. Motivated by her love for her son and her desire to bridge the language gap, Khadija made the decision to learn English. She encountered language barriers but persevered, taking beginners’ classes and gradually improving her English language skills. Her dedication and hard work paid off as she successfully passed the United States citizenship exam and obtained her driver’s license, both in English. With the support of a scholarship from First Literacy and guidance from her mentors and advisors, Khadija enrolled at Mount Wachusett Community College, where she is currently taking accounting and academic English classes with the support of a scholarship from First Literacy and guidance from the Transition to College program and mentors. She sees herself as a role model for those around her, including her son and friends, as her perseverance and hard work have led to academic success and valuable achievements.
These students join a broader cohort of scholars from institutions like Bunker Hill Community College, Northern Essex Community College, and Middlesex Community College. Many of the recipients share powerful stories of overcoming language barriers, balancing family responsibilities, and returning to education later in life. The First Literacy program plays a pivotal role in helping them achieve their dreams.
First Literacy provides life-changing educational opportunities for adult learners and educators across Massachusetts. Through program grants, free professional development workshops, and student scholarships, First Literacy reaches approximately 6000 adult learners and 200 educators in 100 programs across Massachusetts every year. For more details, you can visit the First Literacy website at firstliteracy.org.