5 Mesa Community College Mortuary Science Students Chosen to Compete in Houston for SCI Scholarship

Back Row: Melissa Bidon and Bryce Bunker;  Front Row: Shannon Cochrane, Andrea Handley, and Brienna Yarger
Back Row: Melissa Bidon and Bryce Bunker;
Front Row: Shannon Cochrane, Andrea Handley, and Brienna Yarger

Mesa, Arizona – February 12, 2014 – SCI has announced the thirty candidates that were selected to travel to Houston, TX to compete for the 2014 SCI Scholarship; five of which attend the MCC Mortuary Science Program in Mesa, Arizona.

Bryce Bunker, Shannon Cochrane, Andrea Handley, Brienna Yarger and Melissa Bidon will be flying out to stay at the Woodland’s Resort in early April, with 25 other students to compete for fifteen $3,000 scholarships and fifteen $500 scholarships.

250 Mortuary Sciences students from around the country filled out applications to begin the process; 110 students completed the process to be considered for the top 30 spots. The process includes writing a 200-250 word personal statement answering pre-determined questions; providing transcripts proving a 2.5 GPA or higher; and submitting a 3-5 minute video verbally answering three questions.

Judging panels were created, consisting of 11-20 retired or semi-retired SCI Professionals, and submissions were reviewed beginning in January.

“Reviewing every submission is hard work,” says Committee Member William Aaron of Sun City, Arizona, “However, this program is a wonderful experience for both committee members and applicants. We are privileged to meet and get to know up and comers in the industry, and it gives students a chance to learn more about the company.”

The final phase of the SCI Scholarship competition will be April 2-4, 2014. All 30 finalists will be invited, all expenses paid, to meet and interview with the Company’s Selection Committee in Houston, TX. For 2 ½ days, four panels made up of 7-9 people will interview each student. They are judged on their answers and eloquence; scores are calculated and averaged at the end of the sessions. The top 15 scores will receive $3000, applied directly to student loan or tuition balances. The remaining 15 will also receive a $500 award.

For more information, you may visit http://scischolarships.com/