Making a Difference (MAD) Scholarship
What is the M.A.D Scholarship?
The Making a Difference Scholarship is offered to domestic first-year students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to, and leadership in, community engagement and social change. In addition, M.A.D Scholars are offered a $2,500 taxable stipend and housing allowance to support projects they may undertake in the Worcester community during the summer following their sophomore or junior years. Summer project requirements and details are available from the Community Engagement and Volunteering (CEV) Manager at Dana Commons, or by emailing Micki Davis.
Who is eligible to be a M.A.D Scholar?
M.A.D Scholars have shown exemplary involvement in and leadership in community engagement activities. Past recipients of Clark's MAD scholarship have been involved with community-service organizations, political-action groups, human-rights campaigns and for- profit and nonprofit social entrepreneurship. Clark recognizes that change agents come from all backgrounds and offer a wide variety of valuable and compelling perspectives. The thread that links scholarship recipients together is their dedication to using their talents and energy to make a difference.
Our expectation is that scholarship winners will enrich the Clark community through on-campus leadership and community involvement. Only incoming first-year students are eligible for this scholarship and candidates should typically have a 3.0 high school grade point average and a SAT score of 1100 or higher. Year to year continuation requirements include 20 hours of community service each semester and maintaining a 2.5 GPA. More information on Making A Difference scholarships.
Class of 2015 M.A.D Scholars
Alejandro Baez, of New York, NY, is a former HIV/AIDS peer counselor who participated in leadership development training and performed outreach to at-risk, low income adolescents for HIV prevention. Baez worked as a teacher at the Immaculate Conception Religious Education Program in Astoria, NY, and as a camp counselor at Camp Speers-Eljabar in Dingmans Ferry, Penn. He volunteered at the Manhattan Kids Club, the Sokol New York Gymnastics Program, at the Voices Against Brain Cancer Walk (formerly the “Have a Chance Walk”) and with the GO Project.
Ashley Cooper, of Boston, was a community organizer and volunteer for Boston’s Project HIP-HOP, which specializes in arts and activism training. She was a member of a street theater team that toured Boston performing “The War on Drugs.” She also communicated with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick for funding of drug rehabilitation in the Boston area. Cooper did patient transport for Beth Israel Hospital and worked at The Beacon House (Partners HealthCare), at the Tenacity tennis camp and The City School. She was a Spoken Word Artist at the Urbano Project and organized open mic shows around Boston.
Rebecca Liebman, of South Windsor, Conn., served for 13 years in the Girl Scouts of America and received its highest honor, the Gold Award. She served two years as editor of her high school newspaper and was selected to attend the Maccabi ArtsFest (journalism specialty) program. She founded and served as president of an Environmental Club, and initiated the school recycling program and black-out hours, and planned an annual Earth-A-Palooza fair in her community. Liebman also won funding from the Keep CT Cool Competition which she used to fund the fair.
Cheyenne Wyzzard-Jones, of Cambridge, Mass., served as a certified conflict mediator, was a member of her high school’s award-winning theater group, and was founder and captain of its Step Team. She served as a member of the Minority Student Achievement Network as well as the Cambridge Kids Council, and mentored teens through Harvard University’s Leading and mentoring Program. Wyzzard-Jones also worked as a volunteer at the Union Baptist Church and was a member of Emerging Black Leaders, a group focused on issues young black teens face in today’s society.
Benjamin Walter, of Bloomington, Ill., worked as a peer educator for Planned Parenthood Illinois and attended a four-day training program in Washington, DC, on sexuality education advocacy. He was the student representative and co-leader of his high school’s Gay Straight Alliance and served as the co-leader of the Students Embracing Diversity Club. Walter has also volunteered at the Salvation Army’s Safe Harbor as well at the Unitarian Universalist Church. He is an award-winning alto sax musician.
Zohar Zimmerman, of Greenbrae, Calif., worked in the Blind Leaders Innovation Program at Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco, and received a Leadership Fellowship Delegate position at the California Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities. He has served as a counselor-in-training at a camp for the blind and visually impaired, and has assisted elementary and middle school-aged children. Zimmerman also received an Award of Excellence for a documentary he created, he was selected to participate in a wilderness survival program (studying the water system of Calif.), and volunteered with Temple Rodef Sholom to rebuild homes in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.