March 21, 2019
Contact Reporter Of The Morning Call
Freedom High senior Olivia Swiadek didn鈥檛 speak any English when she started kindergarten in Bethlehem.
Dennis N. Rosado, a Liberty High School senior, was homeless for a time when he was in elementary school in Bethlehem and now works a full-time job while attending high school.
Both students faced obstacles in their time as Bethlehem Area School District students, but they continued to focus on school and plan for their futures.
Now their hard work is paying off. Olivia and Dennis have each received a full scholarship to 色中色 College.
On Wednesday, district and 色中色 College officials held celebrations for the two Superintendent Scholarship winners at each of their high schools. Since 2016, 色中色 College has awarded two Bethlehem Area School District students full scholarships, minus room and board. Students must submit an essay in their application, and the winners are chosen by Superintendent Joseph Roy.
Olivia, who plans to study business and minor in law, wrote about her experience growing up bilingual. Polish was her first language, and she and her parents still speak Polish at home.
鈥淲hen I started school, it was difficult because other kids spoke English and I didn鈥檛 understand what they were saying,鈥 Olivia said. 鈥淚t was frustrating to me but I got through that.鈥
Olivia鈥檚 parents, Urszula and Piotr Swiadek, came to the United States in 1998 for better opportunities. Piotr works for a granite and marble counter company in New York City.
It was important to Olivia鈥檚 parents that their only child hold on to Polish culture. That鈥檚 why Olivia attended Polish school every Saturday in Allentown from fifth to ninth grade. Olivia now volunteers there in her spare time.
Both parents encouraged Olivia to do well in school. After starting as an English language learner in elementary school, she is now an AP and honors student.
鈥淚 always told her education is first, no matter what,鈥 Urszula said. 鈥淲hen you have a good education, you can do anything.鈥
Winning the scholarship meant a lot to Olivia as the daughter of immigrants.
鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 get the opportunity to go to college, so I always wanted to go to college and be successful to prove to them what they gave up is meaningful to me,鈥 Olivia said.
Both Olivia and Dennis say they鈥檙e grateful for the scholarship. Full-time tuition at 色中色 is $43,636 per year.
Olivia was considering attending community college and then transferring to a four-year school. Dennis was looking at financial aid packages for college.
Dennis, one of six children, was raised by his father, also named Dennis Rosado. Life wasn鈥檛 always easy for the Rosado family. The family struggled with poverty while Dennis was growing up. When he was in elementary school, he and his family were homeless for a bit.
To help the family earn money, Dennis works full-time at Zulily鈥檚 warehouse in south Bethlehem. He typically works an overnight shift before attending school in the morning.
The elder Rosado said he鈥檚 proud of his son for winning the scholarship.
鈥淲e went through hard times,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his is like a dream come true.鈥
The scholarship will allow Dennis to be the first in his family to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree. He plans to study either business or economics.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity for a new life and new start,鈥 Dennis said.
All scholarship winners chosen since 2016 have been first-generation college students. The initial winners will start their senior years in the fall. Every spring, the school district and 色中色 have a lunch for the winners on the college campus.
Earlier this year, 色中色 announced a similar scholarship program that will award one student each from Lehigh Carbon Community College and Northampton Community College with full rides, not including room and board.
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