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Westminster student earns TRIO-related scholarship

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Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2023

Zoe Burkett ’25, a sophomore nursing major from Rices Landing, Pa., and a participant in Westminster College’s TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Mid-Eastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MEAEOPP) for the 2023-2024 academic year.

MEAEOPP awards $1,000 scholarships to the top 10 students from all TRIO programs in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. Burkett was awarded the scholarship based on outstanding academic achievement as well as involvement on campus as a student leader and in the community.

Burkett has twice been named to the Westminster College Dean’s List, which recognizes students who have achieved a 3.6 or higher GPA. She is a recipient of the merit-based Westminster Scholarship, as well as the Laura Bell Bretsnyder Scholarship and the William B. Davidson II Scholarship. She is also a member of the international high-IQ society, Mensa.

In addition to maintaining a strong GPA in a challenging field of study, Burkett is involved in several campus organizations. Aside from TRIO, she is a member of Habitat for Humanity, Agape, the Council for Exceptional Children and the Westminster College Dance Team. She serves as co-vice president of service and ritual for the sophomore honor society Lambda Sigma and is an officer for Dance Theatre.

Outside of the classroom, Burkett also finds time to give back to the community by volunteering with the Bread Basket, New Life Baptist Church’s food pantry that assists families in Lawrence County.

“Zoe’s career goals and community service focus show a commitment to practicing servant leadership and working for the betterment of others,” said Erik Austin, program director of Westminster’s TRIO SSS program.  

Burkett expects to graduate from the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing in spring 2024 and earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Westminster in May 2025. She hopes to eventually enter the field of psychiatric nursing.

Burkett’s TRIO engagement began as a high school participant with PennWest California’s Upward Bound program, which helps to prepare eligible high school students for success in postsecondary education.

Westminster’s federally-funded TRIO SSS program provides services and resources to first-generation, income-eligible students and students with disabilities to ensure they successfully navigate their college education. TRIO scholars have access to academic tutoring, academic success and wellness coaching to promote classroom achievement and personal wellbeing, support for learning and other disabilities, and career and college mentoring.

MEAEOPP’s mission is to advocate for the educational and cultural development of TRIO programs and all underrepresented and underserved individuals. MEAEOPP offers opportunities for professional growth for TRIO staff and through the creation and implementation of quality TRIO programming.

To learn more about Westminster’s TRIO SSS program, please visit https://www.westminster.edu/academics/trio.cfm or contact Erik Austin at austined@westminster.edu.