ESL and Monroe Community College Announce Seventh Class of ESL/MCC Scholars

Photo: ESL Federal Credit Union

ESL Federal Credit Union and Monroe Community College (MCC) announced their seventh class of ESL/MCC Scholars on Jan. 16, 2024. 

The scholarship program is an earn-and-learn program to prepare students for a career in banking and finance. ESL says the selected students were recently welcomed to the ESL team at a scholars’ luncheon held at ESL headquarters in downtown Rochester. 

The three students selected for this scholarship program are:

1. Leonardo Nunez

2. Nasmere Johnson

3. Sujan Dhakal

According to ESL, students are offered a part-time, paid position at one of ESL’s 24 local branches, along with a $1,000 scholarship for each semester they participate. Students will have the opportunity to meet with and work in other departments at the company to further their professional experience.

ESL states that ESL/MCC Scholars benefit from professional skill development opportunities, mentoring, and exposure to a variety of career paths within the banking and finance industry.  In addition, MCC students also have the option to obtain academic credit for their work experience.

“The ESL/MCC Scholars’ Program provides an extraordinary opportunity to participating students in both their educational and professional journey,” said ESL Federal Credit Union  Executive Vice President/Director, Human Resources and Community Impact Maureen Wolfe.  “As we welcome the sixth class of scholars, we celebrate their accomplishments thus far and the partnership with MCC that allows us to live our Purpose to help our community thrive and prosper.”

“The ESL/MCC Scholars Program continues to be not only a remarkable opportunity for our students, but a wonderful example of a successful earn to learn program in our region,” said Gretchen Wood, Vice President, Institutional Advancement, Monroe Community College and Executive Director, MCC Foundation.  “MCC is grateful for ESL’s commitment to investing in our students, our region’s workforce of tomorrow.”

ESL says the long-term goal of the program is to retain the students upon graduation from MCC through either full-time employment at ESL, or as they work part-time while pursuing their bachelor’s degrees at a local college or university (with assistance from ESL’s tuition reimbursement program).  The program also supports an ESL initiative to recognize and value diversity and inclusion within the workforce.