Wildwood Student Hit the Mark with Scholarships

The financial cost of college education can be a major hurdle for students striving to complete a degree. Shreyaa Mark understands this well. That’s why she’s worked hard to make the most of every opportunity, including securing scholarships to fund her education.

One of the ways she did this was by completing the Missouri A+ program in high school. This program provides students with tuition up to 18 credit hours per semester for two years at a community college.

In fall 2019, Mark leveraged her A+ scholarship when she enrolled in courses at the Wildwood campus of St. Louis Community College. Although she had some reservations about starting at STLCC, the decision is paying off in more ways than one.

“While I thought STLCC would be a good place to start my college career, I didn’t necessarily think I’d earn an associate degree before transferring to a four-year university,” she said.

However, the events of this past year changed her perspective. They also sparked her desire to pursue a career in the medical field.

“The pandemic sealed my decision to continue my studies at STLCC due to my desire to continue living at home and taking an all online course schedule during these unsafe times,” she said. “After I graduate with my associate degree, I plan to major in biochemistry on the pre-medical track.”

Angela Sastry, sociology instructor, believes Mark has what it takes to achieve this goal.

“In my Sociology 101 course in spring 2020, Shreyaa stood out right away for her enthusiasm, joy of learning and inclusive attitude,” Sastry said. “She produced exemplary work, and her accomplishments reflect her ability to not only manage a challenging educational load, but also make the most out of every opportunity. I fully expect her to do great things and have an enormous impact on many people.”

Recently, Mark seized another opportunity.

This spring, she received a scholarship from the Wildwood Area Lions Club. These funds are now helping her cover the cost of her textbooks as she continues her studies at STLCC.

Larry Sontag, president of the Wildwood Area Lions Club, said Mark was selected for this scholarship because of her academic performance and ambitious career plans.

“When we created this scholarship in 2018, our goal was to help deserving students earn a degree or certificate at STLCC-Wildwood,” Sontag said. “In speaking with Shreyaa and reviewing her application, it was obvious to us that she is a bright and determined young woman with a plan to turn her passion into a profession. The Lions’ community service commitment is ‘We Serve.’ Providing a local college with a scholarship to help a local student fulfill her educational goals is one example of the many ways we meet this service commitment.”

In April, Mark was able to personally thank members of the Lions Club for the scholarship.

“I’m so appreciative of the Wildwood Area Lions Club for granting me this scholarship,” she said. “My experience at STLCC has been amazing. In a time when there’s still much uncertainly, it really means a lot to me to receive financial support to continue my academic studies.”