Chili cookoff funds Chap Champion ScholarshipAugust 01, 2024

Thanks to the Midland College (MC) Faculty Senate, a new scholarship—the Chap Champion Scholarship—is now available at MC.  The Chap Champion Scholarship is the result of funds raised from the January 2024 MC employee Chili Cook-Off, and nursing student Elvis Dominic is the first recipient of the scholarship.

“During fall 2023, members of the Faculty Senate voted to start a scholarship to be awarded to a Midland College student who had successfully completed at least one semester and would be continuing at MC the following year,” Shawna Lopez, MC Biology professor and 2023-2024 MC Faculty Senate president, said.  “We established a selection process stipulating that the student receiving the scholarship would be nominated by MC faculty and selected by an appointed committee.  We also set criteria and wanted the Chap Champion to be someone who actively engages with peers and instructors, displays a positive attitude, enthusiastically completes tasks, encourages peers to succeed, leads by example and possesses a track record of success.  

“After we had decided on a selection process and criteria, it was time to raise funds.  So, last January, we hosted an employee chili cook off and raised more money than we anticipated.  All funds raised were donated by MC employees and retirees.  It was a huge success, and a new tradition began at MC!”  

This past spring, the MC Chap Champion selection committee chose Elvis Dominic to receive the first Chap Champion scholarship.   MC Biology instructor Bethany Guajardo nominated him.

“Elvis Dominic is an incredibly positive student,” Guajardo wrote in the nomination letter. “He always greets me in the halls with a smile. I have also had the opportunity to see him actively participating in classes. He engages with his instructors and peers. I have heard from other instructors that he takes the initiative to lead. Elvis also takes advantage of opportunities to learn, even when these activities do not provide any physical gains (like a grade or extra credit). He participates solely to learn and get experience. Last semester, I helped Elvis with an out-of-class research project. He showed up every week during our meeting times to collect data and process samples. He is diligent and puts in the required time and effort in all that he does while still maintaining a charismatic and outgoing personality.”

Guajardo wasn’t the only MC instructor who took notice of Dominic.  Another MC Biology professor Joseph Schenkman has also been impressed with Dominic.

“Elvis epitomizes what the Chap Champion award is all about,” Schenkman said.  “Despite any external pressures, Elvis can be seen walking around with an infectious smile, spreading warmth and light wherever he goes.  He has a welcoming demeanor that makes people instantly feel comfortable, and he is always ready to lend a hand to his peers without hesitation.  His extroverted nature ensures that he is the life of the class, drawing people together and creating a sense of camaraderie within the classroom.”

Having only been in Midland for two years, Dominic is quick to say that he enjoys living in the Tall City and would like to stay in the area when he completes his nursing degree at Midland College.  Originally from Obrikom, Nigeria, Dominic and his family immigrated to Calgary, Alberta Canada when he was three years old.  When Dominic was 11, the family moved to Tucson, Arizona, and in 2022, the family came to Midland.

Dominic admits that the move from Tucson to Midland during his senior year in high school was tough, but he quickly made friends and found his place on the basketball court with the Midland High School (MHS) varsity team.  He graduated from MHS in May 2023 and immediately started taking classes at MC the next month.

“I wasn’t sure exactly what my career path would be at the time,” Dominic said.  “The first two college courses I took were English and Art Appreciation.  I really just signed up for them to see if I would like college.  I had a great experience during those first two classes, and I started to think about becoming a nurse.  So, last fall, I enrolled in prerequisite courses for MC’s Associate Degree Nursing program.  I was dreading having to take Anatomy & Physiology.  While I did well in my high school science courses, I wasn’t hyper-focused on science.   That changed at Midland College.  My Anatomy & Physiology professors, Shawna Lopez and Joseph Schenkman, explain hard things really well, and I picked up on science quickly.” 

Throughout his first year and while taking the rigorous prerequisite courses for admission into MC’s registered nursing program, Dominic maintained a 3.5 GPA.  

“Elvis is an exceptional, hard-working young man,” Lopez said.  “When he was in my class last year, he actively participated, was eager to learn and was almost always prepared.  However, what truly sets him apart is his unwavering positive attitude.  His classmates are drawn to him because of the positive energy he exudes.  He has a personality that is extremely well-suited for the healthcare field, where he will undoubtedly excel in providing comfort and care to his patients.”

It is no doubt, that Dominic’s positive attitude and willingness to work hard will serve him well as he begins taking nursing courses in a few weeks.  In May 2026, he will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree and be eligible to take the national registered nurse licensing exam.  He said that he then plans to begin work as a clinical registered nurse while completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing through Sul Ross State University.