As our Plansoen Scholars begin the new year, four scholars will be graduating in May. This past year they have helped during the rummage sale, attended Wednesday night dinners, assisted in and attended morning worship. As you read their update along with their plans for the future, you will see that they are doing well and grateful for our prayers, support, and assistance. When you see them in the coming months, greet and thank them for their presence among us.
Rev. Dr. Don Dempsey
Plansoen Scholarship Director
An Update from Plansoen Scholar Enjo Salonga:
Dear Friends and Family of the First Presbyterian Church Community,
I hope you are all doing well and keeping safe. I am now in my last semester of undergrad at Lake Forest College. In January, I moved to Chicago to participate in an off-campus program while completing a for-credit internship. Due to my growing medical condition that impacts my digestive tract, I am back home in Waukegan to stay closer to my doctor. Nevertheless, I can still go to school, work on my internship, and attend church.
I am currently a Solar Mapping intern at Trajectory Energy Partners. I help develop solar panels across Illinois, especially in low-income communities. Part of my job is to look for open land to lease and implement solar panels that will benefit communities. Complementary to my internship, I am finishing up my Senior Thesis to complete my majors in Economics and Environmental Studies. I am assessing the energy equity and the efforts to attain energy justice through the Illinois Solar for All Program. This is a statewide incentive designed to help develop solar energy for low-income communities, which Trajectory Energy also takes advantage of.
Last semester, I also applied to several Economic Ph.D. programs, and I am happy to share that I received my first offer from one of the universities. This brings me closer to fulfilling my dreams of becoming an Environmental Economist. Soon, I will reveal the school where I start my next journey!
Besides my academics and internship, I stay active in my community. I am helping support my high school, Warren Township, in Gurnee, IL to help pass a referendum that will provide funding to save many of the programs that I benefited from as a student. Meanwhile, at college, I am the Treasurer for Omicron Delta Kappa, a national prestigious honors society. Recently, the executive board and I held an induction ceremony to welcome the biggest incoming class of student leaders. I also joined the College Life Committee to support the Dean of Students in helping rebuild the community on campus. Lastly, on Sundays, I attend church to catch up with many of you that I developed great relationships with. Others, please feel free to say hi to me and the rest of the scholars. We usually sit next to the Dempsey’s in the front!
Overall, I along with the rest of the Plansoen Scholar will forever be grateful for this opportunity. So far, everyone has been very welcoming to us. Joining this church during my senior year has been one of the best experiences in college. I am blessed to have an extended support system. Please continue to pray as I work on getting the proper treatment to live a healthy lifestyle with my chronic disease. In return, I hope to continue volunteering and giving back to this church community. Perhaps I can meet many more of you along the way! For now I am going to enjoy these last months of college and look forward to what my future has in store!
Sincerely,
Enrique “Enjo” Salonga