On the LEADING EDGE SCHOLARSHIPS RECOGNIZE INFLUENTIAL STUDENTS
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s a high school senior, Mazel Genfi chose Quinnipiac without setting foot on campus. Coming from the South Bronx, she found herself in a different world and longed for some reminders of her Ghanaian heritage. She was surprised to learn that the University didn’t have a chapter of the African Student Union. After meeting other students of African descent, she started one. Her initiative is one of the reasons she was awarded the Judith Jones Frank Endowed Scholarship for Student Leadership last fall. Genfi and the three other recipients of student leader scholarships have at least one thing in common. They don’t just want to attend classes for four years, collect a diploma and leave. Rather, they want to leave their mark. Their scholarships differ from traditional ones in that they were funded by many individual contributions from alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the University instead of one large gift; and rather than being school-based, they were awarded specifically to student leaders based on merit. The other recipients are senior Connor LaChapelle, who received the Carol Boucher Endowed Scholarship for Resident Assistants; sophomore Ali Munshi, the Student Government Association Scholarship; and junior Marcquan Parris, the Cheryl Barnard Orientation Leader Scholarship. James L. Totten ’87, senior technical adviser for Exxon Mobil Corp., was a lead donor
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for several of these scholarships. His experience as a student leader motivated Totten to be part of these efforts. “Many students don’t get compensated for their leadership roles on campus. College is expensive, so I wanted to help build an endowment for student leaders,” he said. He noted that many students who serve in student government or in clubs do not have time for part time jobs. “This is an important way for me to contribute not only to them, but to the longterm health of the University,” he added. While at Quinnipiac, Totten was a resident assistant, was active in the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and also was a student representative to the Quinnipiac Board of Trustees for two years. He has remained connected to Quinnipiac, serving as the Alumni Association president and alumni representative to Quinnipiac’s Board of Trustees. As president of the newly formed African Student Union, Genfi is shepherding the club through the recognition process with the Office of Campus Life, after which it will be chartered and eligible for funding. Genfi and other club members are planning a festival with foods enjoyed in Ghana and other African nations such as Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Sudan. “Whether in class or out, I enjoy being vocal and innovative, being the voice of the people,” says the sophomore communications major, who is considering a career as an entertainment lawyer. She is looking forward to a study abroad semester in London next fall.
Photo: Autumn Driscoll
By Janet Waldman
Student leadership scholars, from left: sophomores Mazel Genfi and Ali Munshi and senior Connor LaChapelle. Junior Marcquan Parris was studying abroad and could not be present for the photo.