student stories
JALISIA BURNO
CLASS OF 2026
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Student Leader Scholarship
“Receiving this scholarship from the MCC Foundation allows me to fully focus on my education and give my attention to the activities and organizations I’m a part of without the constant worry of how my tuition will be paid. It truly lifts a financial burden off my shoulders and motivates me to keep pushing forward.”
Jalisia Burno was born and raised in Rochester, New York. In high school, she was involved in student government, the swim team and New York Distributive Education Clubs of America Inc.—an organization that prepares emerging high school and college leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in business and marketing.
“Education is something I deeply value, and it is my top priority,” she said. “However, the cost of my college education falls entirely on me.”
Jalisia’s parents attended Monroe Community College and both went on to four-year institutions. In fall 2024, Jalisia began classes at MCC. To afford tuition and expenses, she works two jobs—as a summer camp counselor and at Wegmans.
“There have been many nights filled with stress and exhaustion,” she said, “yet I still push through to complete assignments, study and meet my responsibilities. This is a true testament to my determination, resilience and the value I place on my education.”
In addition to her studies and earning a place on the dean’s list, Jalisia—who lives in the residence halls—is heavily involved on campus: as a member of the swimming and diving team in her first year and as president of the Student Government Association in her second.
“Balancing my leadership roles, athletics and work has not been easy,” she said, “but it has strengthened my work ethic and taught me how to manage challenges head-on.”
Rochester is Jalisia’s home base, and she’s planning to stay, aspiring to further her education and ultimately earn a master’s degree in business administration from University of Rochester’s Simon Business School.
RYAN CRAGLE
“Every extra dollar for room and board or tuition coverage is a dollar I could spend on a lesson, a repair to my guitar or just something to help the well-being of my family. It provides me with every extra minute I can get so I can bridge that gap and obtain my goal of spreading the joy and grace music brings into the world.”
CLASS OF 2026
MUSIC PERFORMANCE
The Wentworth Family Scholarship
Ryan Cragle grew up in Hilton, New York, living on a tight budget with his parents and three siblings. He credits his high school years after the pandemic as the time when he blossomed, becoming interested in photography, chess and the guitar. Invited by his aunt and uncle to attend a famous jazz guitarist’s performance at Eastman Theatre during his senior year, Ryan was inspired. He picked up a broken old acoustic guitar lent to him by his grandparents and learned to play.
No matter what career path he chose, Ryan knew he wanted to become a better guitar player. He decided to attend Monroe Community College because of its affordable tuition and the music program’s rigorous professional instruction. Ryan favors jazz, and he now has the opportunities and confidence to perform at a professional level, and the insight to imagine how he can turn his passion into a steady career.
At MCC, Ryan is involved with the Forum for Music program, hosts open-mic events with the Student Music Association, is a member of the chess team and is learning a bit of Japanese. Outside of MCC, he performs occasional gigs.
Ryan is incredibly indebted to his parents for being supportive of his goals in life.
“Music is not known to be the most profitable career, but my parents have supported my decisions despite that,” he said. “Receiving a scholarship has profoundly impacted my pursuits in music performance by alleviating some of the financial strain on my family and me, giving me more time to study, practice guitar and help provide a greater sense of independence within myself.”
ELIAS FLOWERS
“Receiving the Steven Harbou Memorial Scholarship helps alleviate the costs of supplies, books and living expenses. It allows me to work fewer hours so I can spend more time with my daughter and be there for her when she needs me.”
CLASS OF 2027
OPTICAL SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES
Steven Harbou Memorial Scholarship
In 2011, eager to try living in a new city, Elias Flowers moved from Memphis, Tennessee, to Rochester, New York, to study chemical engineering at the University of Rochester. After studying there for several years, Elias felt burnt out and decided to take some time away from school. What started as a couple of semesters off turned into years. After a series of jobs—including door-to-door sales, traffic control and various positions in retail—the birth of his daughter in 2022 finally motivated him to return to college.
Elias has met many people in his three years as a driver for Amazon. As fate would have it, one of those people was able to put him in touch with a friend: Monroe Community College Professor and Director of Optical Systems Technology Dr. Alexis Vogt.
“Once I spoke to Dr. Vogt and heard how passionate she was about optics, I was convinced that MCC was the place to be,” he said. Elias visited MCC and toured the optics labs. “It seemed like a natural fit,” he said. “I felt it was the right time to get back to school, before my daughter gets older.” Elias started taking classes at MCC part time at age 30, and it means a lot to him that Dr. Vogt is his advisor. He appreciates the personal connection.
Between working, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and raising a 3-year-old, Elias doesn’t have much free time, but when he can, he enjoys fishing, building computers and gaming. His next steps are to find a job in Rochester’s optics industry, finish his coursework, settle down and grow his family.
CONNOR KLUTE
“Receiving these scholarships means a great deal to me, as they significantly ease the financial strain associated with housing and transportation, allowing me greater stability and enabling me to dedicate more time and energy toward my studies. I’m deeply grateful for your kindness and support, which truly makes a meaningful difference in my life.”
CLASS OF 2026
2 + 3 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
Linda Curran ’79 Memorial Student Aide Endowed Scholarship
The Thompson Family Endowed Scholarship
Gilbert J. Hatch Endowed Scholarship
Connor Klute is a “maker”—a creative problem-solver and innovator who engages in hands-on creation and experimentation. He chose Monroe Community College to pursue his passion for mechanical engineering technology, computer-aided design and additive manufacturing.
Growing up below the poverty line in a family of eight without a reliable foundational infrastructure has taught Connor resourcefulness and resilience, motivating him to persist through numerous challenges. His path has been driven by a deep passion for engineering, but it’s also been shaped by persistent financial hardship and stunted access to financial resources and reliable support.
After graduating from Salamanca High School in 2021, Connor moved to Rochester in search of a better environment. He worked in retail for three years, barely making ends meet. Intrigued by MCC’s certificate-level Mechanical Engineering Technology Program, he started classes and discovered the 2+3 program with Rochester Institute of Technology, which would allow him to further his career and education far beyond what he initially set out to do.
Now living on campus and working part time as a teaching assistant, Connor is president of the Engineering Leadership Council and is active with the Robotics Club and esports team—all the while pursuing personal projects, including building a fully 3D-printed high-fidelity Bluetooth speaker.
“My main priority is clear: I want to deepen my education and technical skills to achieve a modest, sustainable livelihood centered on creative making,” he said.
Upon graduating, Connor will transfer to RIT, with hopes of earning his master’s degree and building a career as a mechanical engineer, specializing in creative, custom and innovative design projects.
CHLOE VEGAS
CLASS OF 2024 and 2027
NURSING
Jyoti and Mahendra Nanavati Endowed Scholarship
Patrick P. Lee Foundation Scholarship
The Thompson Family Endowed Scholarship
Ebersman Family Endowed Scholarship
“Beyond the financial support, these scholarships have meant something deeper—they have been a reminder that others believe in my potential, even on days I doubt myself. They’ve helped me stay the course, even after 12-hour shifts and full days of classes. They have given me the strength to keep going and the belief that my dreams are worth pursuing.”
Chloe Vega and her older sister were raised by their father, a single parent, with the support of their grandmother. When Chloe was 10 years old, her mother rejoined them, making the family whole again. Sadly, when Chloe was 16, her mother unexpectedly passed away.
“Losing my mother at an age when I needed her most was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through,” she shared.
A 2019 graduate of Hilton High School, Chloe moved from away from home at 20, married at age 21 and enrolled at Monroe Community College, earning her associate degree in surgical technology in 2024. While in the program, she had the opportunity to shadow in a hospital operating room and discovered she liked surgery. She was hired by Highland Hospital and now works full time in the labor and delivery operating room.
Chloe believes that education is a tool to pave the way forward. She’s inspired by her grandmother, who was a registered nurse for many years in an intensive care unit, and wants to build a future her mother would be proud of. To do that, she decided to return to MCC to pursue a second degree, this time in nursing. Now in her second semester, she attends classes three days a week and, having maxed out her Pell Grant, is relieved to be able to cover this year’s tuition costs with scholarships instead of loans.
“I am very excited to one day work as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and become one of the most trusted people for women and their families during such a vulnerable time,” Chloe said. “Family has always been at the heart of who I am, and they continue to be my greatest motivation. I have had to overcome financial hardship to support my educational goals, but with motivation and determination, I have and will continue to figure out my finances to so I can complete my degree.”
ANDREA ZUNIGA
“The scholarships I have received have greatly supported my education and growth in the field of mechanical and automation systems. This helps cover tuition and associated program costs and has greatly lessened my level of stress. I have been able to build the skill and confidence I need to advance in my career and work toward becoming a professional in automation. I am grateful to the donors who are making it possible for me to earn a robotics degree.”
CLASS OF 2027
ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION
Baldwin Richardson Foods Workforce Development Scholarship
TechRochester Scholarship
Brittany “Andrea” Zuniga grew up in San Diego, California, in a low-income household and helped her immigrant parents raise many of her seven brothers and three sisters. She was put into special education classes early after being diagnosed with a learning disability, and her educational journey since then has been shaped by both challenges and determination.
At 22, Andrea moved to Rochester, New York, with her then-partner. As a single mother of a 6-year-old son and with an interest in automation and a desire to build a career in that field, she was encouraged to enroll at Monroe Community College. The first in her generation to attend college, she’s taking courses part time at the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center at the MCC Downtown Campus.
“Throughout my time here, I have taken courses in electrical systems, PLC programming, mechanical hydraulics and FANUC robotics,” she said. “Each of these has prepared me with the skills I need to succeed in automation and move closer to my long-term goals of becoming an automation engineer.”
While taking both in-person and online classes, Andrea works full-time 12-hour shifts for CBRE Group Inc., a third-party company that maintains robots at Amazon’s fulfillment centers. She credits MCC for giving her the knowledge essential to her chosen field and the opportunity to pursue her passion. With her degree in hand, Andrea is looking forward to taking advantage of the many opportunities Rochester has to offer.