(Orange, CA) - Santiago Canyon College (SCC) student Madelyn Walker was recently crowned “Miss City of Orange” at Chapman University.
Walker, 19, recently finished her third semester at SCC where she is majoring in biology with the intent of transferring to the University of California Los Angeles or the University of California Irvine as a pre-medical student. A member of SCC’s STEM academy and an honors student, Walker plans on pursuing a career as a cardiologist.
Although Walker says she originally planned on attending a university following her high school graduation, a last-minute decision to de-commit led her to enroll at SCC.
“It has been the greatest decision I made,” she says. “In addition to a freshman honors scholarships that I was awarded last year, the scholarship money I earned becoming Miss City of Orange has allowed me to pay for the entirety of my first two years of college, paying for 84 units of classes. I advocate for the Miss America Organization in conjunction with community college because not many people know that it’s possible to pay for half of their undergraduate tuition this way.”
In addition to her studies, Walker volunteers as a health scholar in a hospital in West Covina, taking vital signs and assisting nurses with patient care. The position is part of a pre-medical program affiliated with UCLA. Thus far, she has worked 380 clinical hours in 12 departments and received a certificate from UCLA in pre-licensed clinical care. She also volunteers at STEM-related events, including SCC’s Community Science Night and advocates for women in STEM fields.
Outside of pushing toward her educational and career goals, Walker loves to travel and will spend her winter break in Berlin, Germany where she will continue learning German while taking online intersession classes. She also speaks Spanish and creates lifelike pencil sketches of people, which she often gifts to her subjects.
As part of her duties as Miss City of Orange, Walker will have the opportunity to compete at the Miss California scholarship competition in June 2019.
About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College (SCC) serves more than 17,000 credit and noncredit students each semester. In 2017, SCC was ranked #13 among the 50 Best Community Colleges in the U.S. by College Choice, a leading authority in college and university rankings and resources. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and careers, and provides courses for personal and professional development, as well as customized training for business and industry. The college is recognized for its adult education program which keeps the working adult - and senior - in mind by offering flexible schedules, and community locations. Serving the residents of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Tustin, and Villa Park, SCC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
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