Nicolle Fernandes has dreamed of going to college since she was a young child, motivated in part by having opportunities her mother lacked growing up in Brazil. 

"I was constantly encouraged by my mother to be involved with my community and take my studies seriously," says Fernandes, of Gloucester, MA.

It turns out that listening to mom pays off. Fernandes and Haley Hadge, of Sutton, MA, are the second pair of recipients of the Mancuso English, Humanities, and Social & Behavioral Sciences Scholarships. They will enroll at Framingham State this fall with 100 percent of their tuition, fees, room and board covered by the scholarship. The two students will have the opportunity to take all four years at Framingham State at no cost, but must meet certain scholarship requirements in order to have it renewed each year.

The news, coming in the midst of a tragic global pandemic that has upended the economy, provides major relief to both students and their families.

"To have the opportunity to attend college at no cost eradicates the financial pressure that stems from immense college loans," says Hadge. "As an English Major with no debt I see my opportunities as endless as long as I apply myself to all degrees of interest that I seek out."

English Professor Halcyon Mancuso created the scholarships through a $2.5 million financial commitment to FSU that was announced in 2018. There are two Mancuso Scholarships awarded at Framingham State every year. One will always be reserved for an English major, which is the subject Mancuso has taught for many years, and the second will rotate each year between majors in the humanities and social sciences.

Hadge says she is excited to pursue her passions at FSU, which include journalism and American Sign Language (ASL). Eventually, she would like to earn her PhD.

"As I look forward at my future at Framingham State I am eager to learn from the challenging course work that will be stepping stones of knowledge, to form relationships with my fellow Mancuso Scholars and Professor Mancuso, and to begin planning out the next chapters of my life without having to worry about debt diminishing these possibilities," says Hadge.

Fernandes is majoring in Political Science at FSU, which includes a pre-law concentration. She hopes to eventually become an attorney.

"I have noticed that Framingham students are very interconnected and I cannot wait to see this for myself through extra-curricular activities, the classroom, and the help that is available if I need a hand," she says.

Mancuso designed the scholarship opportunity with an emphasis on career-readiness. Mancuso scholars will be required to participate in at least two meaningful internships prior to graduation and also will need to complete a curriculum offered by the Office of Career Services and Employer Relations.

The students must also maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, participate in at least one extracurricular activity each semester, and write a paper at the end of each academic year reflecting on their career and academic growth.

To learn more about the Mancuso Scholarship, visit www.framingham.edu/mancuso-scholarships.