$80,000 Marie Curie Scholarship awarded to Mercy High School Student
OMAHA, NEB. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) has selected Alexcia Alcantar of Bellevue, Neb., as a Marie Curie Scholar, starting in the fall. Alcantar received the surprise scholarship check for $80,000 at her home on Thursday, April 2. She earns the scholarship after standing out in academic talent and showing outstanding leadership service.
“Alexcia is a very good student who always performs well in class,” said Paul Beran, a secondary chemistry teacher at Mercy High School. “Setting high standards and goals for herself, she has a superior work ethic and the ability to complete challenging assignments thoroughly. She is also a person of integrity and high moral character.”
College of Saint Mary’s prestigious Marie Curie Scholars Program, which is funded in part by the National Science Foundation, provides significant financial support and resources to outstanding young women pursuing study in STEM majors, such as biology, chemistry, or math.
Marie Curie Scholars receive up to $20,000 annually for four years in gift aid. In addition to having access to substantial financial resources and facilities, participants also receive free tutoring, have opportunities for undergraduate research, and have access to top programs like the National Institute of Health and NASA research fellowships. Marie Curie Scholars at CSM also often attend and present at national conferences.
Alcantar earns the scholarship after achieving several honors at Mercy High School, including letter award winner in soccer and participation award in secondary language.
At CSM, she plans to major in chemistry, starting in the fall of 2020. Located in Omaha, in the heart of Aksarben Village, College of Saint Mary uses initiatives like the Marie Curie Scholar Program to provide women from all backgrounds with access to an affordable, excellent college experience, career-driven coursework, and lifelong leadership skills. She is one of five recipients of this year’s Marie Curie Scholarship.
