Rasmussen College Awards 110th Anniversary Scholarships

RIVERVIEW, Fla. — Joaquin Rosales received a $5,000 academic scholarship from Rasmussen College at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the schoo’ls new Tampa/Brandon campus.

The Riverview, Fla. resident was selected from a nationwide field of 1,800 applicants and is the first Tampa/Brandon campus student to win the scholarship.

Rasmussen College is celebrating its 110th year by awarding 110 scholarships and will accept scholarship applications through Dec. 31.

After graduating in 2006 from East Bay High, Rosales attended Hillsborough Community College full time. Eventually, a full-time job at APAC Customer Services Inc. chipped away at his schooling until he stopped going altogether.

During an 18-month hiatus from school, Rosales said he "realized how important school was and how difficult it can be to get ahead without an education."

While in the break room one day at work, he found and read a Rasmussen College brochure, and because the school was nearby he checked it out. Offered a tuition discount, he was encouraged to apply for the scholarship.

"Some of my HCC credits transferred," he said. "This would allow me to get a fresh start."

He decided to enter the program of network administration, which he figured could help him advance within APAC.

"We are delighted to have Joaquin Rosales as a student at our campus," said Maggie Cook, director of the Tampa/Brandon campus. "He will pursue his career goal of becoming a computer network professional through our expanding School of Technology and Design."

Rosales, a volunteer at Iglesia ACyM el Encuentro, a Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, hopes his renewed dedication to getting an education will inspire the youth there.

"I want to provide a good example for my younger brother, too," Rosales said. "I didn’t know he looked up to me, but I’m realizing he’s a copy of me. I want to help him go in the right direction."

For details about the scholarship and the college, go to www.Rasmussen.edu/110Years or call the Tampa/Brandon campus at (813) 246-7600.

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