First State Manufactured Housing scholarship recipients announced

First State Manufactured Housing Association recently announced three recipients of the Manufactured Housing Scholarship Award for 2016-17. The $3,000 award will be shared among the following three deserving recipients.

Eric Nielsen, a 2016 graduate of Milford Senior High School, is attending George Mason University majoring in government and international politics. At Milford High School, Nielsen was vice president of the National Honor Society and participated in cross country, marching band, jazz band, pit band for spring musicals, Leo Club, bowling club and the Academic Challenge program. Outside of school, Nielsen is a member of Avenue United Methodist Church and the Sussex County Astronomy Society. He works part time at a local daycare facility. Nielsen is interested in obtaining a law degree and working abroad for the government. He enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family. Nielsen resides in a manufactured home in Milford.

Trevonte Cephas, a 2014 graduate of Sussex Technical High School, is currently attending Goldey-Beacom College majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing. At Sussex Tech, Cephas was a member of the Skills USA competition, which helped enhanced his customer service skills. Currently, he is an active member of Students with a Purpose, a Christian-based organization designed to give students at Goldey-Beacom the opportunity to fellowship and receive spiritual guidance and encouragement.

Also, Trevonte is a member of the college's student ambassador program. His role as a student ambassador is to assist the college in recruiting new and prospective students. As an ambassador he conducts group tours and provides prospective students with information about the college and campus. Cephas is proud to be working as an intern at WSFS Bank for the third time this summer. His goal is to graduate from Goldey-Beacom and to move up the company ladder to become a board member. When he is not at college, he resides in a manufactured home in Bridgeville.

Otoniel Perez, a 2014 graduate of Sussex Central High School will be a junior in the fall at the University of Delaware majoring in mechanical engineering. Perez participates in the following organizations: Resources to Insure Successful Engineers, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and RAILE. After graduation he plans on going into the automotive industry to help advance and create the cars of the future. He currently resides in a manufactured home in the community of Sand Hill Acres in Georgetown.

First State Manufactured Housing Association has provided $39,000 for 37 scholarship recipients since 1999, which are administrated by the Delaware Higher Education Commission. The scholarship program offered annually is available to high school seniors or former graduates who reside in manufactured housing within the State of Delaware for at least one year prior to application. For more information, go to www.firststatemha.org.