2008 Woodie Awards
Valedictorian goes from fear of deportation to college scholarship
Vanessa Colón
Issue date: 8/21/08 Section: Lifestyles
A generous benefactor has made a Bullard High School valedictorian's university hopes a reality.
Arthur Mkoyan, 17, said Wednesday that he'll be attending the University of California at Davis thanks to a Northern California woman who read about his plight and decided to help him in a big way.
Mkoyan, whose college dream was nearly destroyed by deportation to Armenia, will attend his first college choice after all.
Instead of going to community college, he's expected to attend freshmen orientation at the UC Davis campus Sunday.
A month ago, Mkoyan decided to go to Fresno City College because his family couldn't afford UC Davis and he didn't qualify for state and federal financial aid because he's neither a U.S. citizen nor a legal permanent resident.
Mkoyan finds it unbelievable that someone offered to pay for his college education.
"It's great someone is willing to help out. I'm excited and happy I get to go to Davis. I can't wait," Mkoyan said.
Mkoyan's benefactor, Sherry Heacox of Danville, Calif., was touched by his story and decided to pay his four years at UC Davis. Heacox operates a food-import business from home. Her husband, Hank, is an engineer.
"It was a compelling story. He was caught in the middle," she said in a phone interview Wednesday.
"The entire situation was a bad one. Sometimes you have to step up to the plate," Heacox said.
Another woman contacted Mkoyan's mother, Asmik Karapetian, to offer to help raise funds to pay for Mkoyan's education. The two women were the only people to contact the family offering help.
Heacox plans to join Mkoyan's family Sunday for Mkoyan's freshman orientation at UC Davis.
Heacox said she plans to pay $25,000 for the 2008-09 school year, including room, board, books and tuition. She said she already paid a deposit of $450 for Mkoyan's dorm room. She's spoken with UC Davis admissions personnel to arrange payments for Mkoyan.
UC Davis spokeswoman Julia Ann Easley declined to speak about Mkoyan or confirm his entry to the campus.
Arthur Mkoyan, 17, said Wednesday that he'll be attending the University of California at Davis thanks to a Northern California woman who read about his plight and decided to help him in a big way.
Mkoyan, whose college dream was nearly destroyed by deportation to Armenia, will attend his first college choice after all.
Instead of going to community college, he's expected to attend freshmen orientation at the UC Davis campus Sunday.
A month ago, Mkoyan decided to go to Fresno City College because his family couldn't afford UC Davis and he didn't qualify for state and federal financial aid because he's neither a U.S. citizen nor a legal permanent resident.
Mkoyan finds it unbelievable that someone offered to pay for his college education.
"It's great someone is willing to help out. I'm excited and happy I get to go to Davis. I can't wait," Mkoyan said.
Mkoyan's benefactor, Sherry Heacox of Danville, Calif., was touched by his story and decided to pay his four years at UC Davis. Heacox operates a food-import business from home. Her husband, Hank, is an engineer.
"It was a compelling story. He was caught in the middle," she said in a phone interview Wednesday.
"The entire situation was a bad one. Sometimes you have to step up to the plate," Heacox said.
Another woman contacted Mkoyan's mother, Asmik Karapetian, to offer to help raise funds to pay for Mkoyan's education. The two women were the only people to contact the family offering help.
Heacox plans to join Mkoyan's family Sunday for Mkoyan's freshman orientation at UC Davis.
Heacox said she plans to pay $25,000 for the 2008-09 school year, including room, board, books and tuition. She said she already paid a deposit of $450 for Mkoyan's dorm room. She's spoken with UC Davis admissions personnel to arrange payments for Mkoyan.
UC Davis spokeswoman Julia Ann Easley declined to speak about Mkoyan or confirm his entry to the campus.
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