Lead the Way First Generation Scholar Spotlight: John Dixon
Written on November 12th, 2008 at 10:12 am by Pete Bekisz.
About John
Johnathan Dixon is cognizant of the responsibility that goes with being a recipient of the Leading the Way First Generation Scholarship.
He understands he is leading the way for others, in particular his older brother.
“That’s motivation in itself [to succeed],” said the Rochester resident and freshman biochemistry major.
Dixon hopes that his pursuit of a college degree will inspire his older brother to follow suit. So far, he seems to be succeeding.
“He got his GED and now he’s thinking about going to Monroe Community College,” said Dixon.
The Leading the Way First Generation Scholarship was the brainchild of former admissions counselor and two-time Keuka graduate Gerald Thompson. Dixon was exactly the kind of student Thompson believed Keuka should reach out to, and not simply because he would be the first person in his family to attend college.
Social responsibility is something Keuka tries to instill in all of its students. Dixon had it long before he filled out a Keuka application.
While a student at Wilson High School, Dixon served his community as a member of Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy’s Youth Advisory Council. The Council held a Voice of the Youth Forum in the middle of 2008 and compiled the observations offered by the 200 youth who attended. The Council shared those observations with the mayor and his commissioners.
Dixon was also involved in the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, mentoring students in grades 7-9 with an eye toward helping them build strong relationships with school personnel and family members.
“I love working with kids,” said Dixon, who plans to attend medical school and become a pediatrician.
He has prepped for that career by working at Park Ridge Hospital. Dixon delivers surgical supplies, something he started doing in high school and continued to do while attending Keuka.
He hopes to expand his hands-on, real world experience at Keuka through Field Period, a required internship program. It’s one of the reasons he chose Keuka.
“I like having the opportunity to experience my major before going into it.”
