West Windsor, N.J. – Madelaine Benowitz (A.A., Education) knew her way around Mercer County Community College (MCCC) long before she enrolled as a college freshman in Fall 2020. Her grandmother was on the Business faculty for many years, and her dad is a popular instructor in the Culinary Arts program. Madelaine attended the MCCC’s summer program, Camp College, for years. Mercer has been her second home.

Clearly, the teaching profession is in Benowitz’s genes. She is studying Elementary Education and has benefitted from classes with Professor Theresa Capra every semester. “She is really great at what she teaches,” Benowitz said. “She is knowledgeable and flexible.”

“The foundation for everything happens in elementary school. It will be an honor to teach the next generation,” she said.

Benowitz graduates with high honors and will transfer to Rider University in the fall to complete her bachelor’s degree in Education.

Due to the pandemic, Benowitz took most of her classes online. She says that virtual learning presented some challenges, but also some benefits. One of the challenges was staying motivated, which Benowitz conquered by planning her schedule carefully and learning to work efficiently and independently.

On the flip side, Zoom enabled Benowitz to develop connections with a wider swath of students. She got fully immersed in student life and leadership, mirroring her experience as a student at Robbinsville High School. She served as president of Alpha Theta Gamma, Mercer’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and was active in Student Government, serving as a senator and public relations officer. She was vice president of the Future Educators Club. And, she was the only community college student among this year’s national officers for Future Business Leaders of America - Phi Beta Lambda. She regularly connected with her FBLA counterparts at other colleges on Zoom.

“I have genuinely enjoyed my extracurriculars. I chose activities that have helped me grow, meet people and serve my community,” Benowitz said. “I have met like-minded individuals, I have gotten scholarship opportunities, and my advisors have been great.”

While Benowitz acknowledges that these are uncertain times, she is enthusiastic about the future and says that the challenges she and her classmates have faced make them better prepared for the future. “These experiences have equipped us with the skills necessary to succeed. I’m excited to continue my academic journey.”

 

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Education graduate Madelaine Benowitz