Scholars in the Arts
"I am fascinated by the breadth of Art History and by how painting teaches a culture about itself."
Menachem Sahler
“My studies always came before everything else. It’s not that I am all work and no play, rather I think it’s more that I am good at knowing when to work and when to take a break.”
- Program: 2011 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Recipient
- Resides: Troy, NY
- Hometown: Amherst, MA
- Age: 23
- Community College: Springfield Technical Community College
- Four-year College or University: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Engineering
- Other Interests: Architecture, International Economic Development, Mathematics, Nonprofits, Outdoor / Mountaineering / Camping, Philosophy, Politics and Diplomacy, Religion, Sciences, Tutoring / Mentoring, Volunteer Work, Cycling, Baking/Cooking
Biography
Profile: When Menachem Sahler was asked by the Foundation his reasoning for why he wanted to transfer to a university after completing community college, he responded: “I love learning and I love what I am learning and want to continue. Simple as that.” Menachem will major in civil engineering at RPI, one of the top engineering schools in the nation, and he obviously doesn’t mince words. Like a lot of engineers, he is analytical and to the point...but he also possesses, as do all the JKCF Scholars, a strong sense of community service. Menachem attended Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) and is the first to admit that is where he learned to apply himself, and where he learned to prioritize. “Before I started college I was not serious at all about school...when I started at STCC I started taking classes that I was interested in and meeting instructors that truly wanted me to succeed and my outlook slowly changed.” After a year Menachem realized that not only did he enjoy learning, but he found science and engineering fascinating and decided to pursue those studies on a career path. The result: A near perfect GPA.
Inspiration: There were several teachers at STCC who had a strong influence on him. One in particular was George Costa, “who went above and beyond what is expected of an instructor and took from his own time to help me with my projects and studies.”
Aspiration: Menachem will be majoring in Civil Engineering at RPI and hopes to have a career in that field and possibly in academia or both.
Making a Difference: The future engineer showed his humanitarian side as well when he volunteered with “Engineers Without Borders” on an
Accolades: From his future alma mater, RPI, Menachem was presented with the institution’s Award of Excellence in Science and Mathematics. At STCC he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa.
Interesting Fact: “I take some pride in not being sure of anything.”
Other Scholars Like Menachem
Caitlin Blais
College Scholar
Amherst College
Travis Tindell
College Scholar
Sewanee: The University of the South
Melissa Osborne
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
Reed College
Rosario Alejandra Pozzo
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
University of Miami