Van Nuys Radiologic Technology Student Awarded 2020 CAPPS Memorial Scholarship

A Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts student was awarded a 2020 CAPPS Memorial Scholarship. Akram Shafik, currently enrolled in the Associate of Occupational Science (A.O.S.) in Radiologic Technology program, received this year’s California Association for Private and Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) Memorial Scholarship, the Mike Mikhail Memorial Scholarship for Recent Immigrants and First-Generation Americans, on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at the Van Nuys campus.

James Murrell, Van Nuys Campus Director and Executive Program Director for the Radiologic Technology program, presented the award in front of faculty, fellow students, and his family.

Shafik, a native of Cairo, Egypt, worked as a high-school and middle-school teacher for nearly 18 years before immigrating from the Middle East in 2012. With a desire to reinvent himself, Shafik initially enrolled in Brightwood College in 2017, then entered the RT program in 2020.

“One thing that sets Shafik apart is that he’s such a hard worker,” said Murrell. “He’s so willing to help other students in his class.” With coursework in various core sciences, including radiological safety, physics, and medical terminology, it is a 24-month associate degree program.

Shafik has surmounted many obstacles to making it this far in his program. Besides attending a full-time radiologic technology program, he also works a full-time job, juggling his familial commitments at home. In his native Arabic language, he assists his fellow recent immigrant students in taking the program. Often, they have late-night study sessions and start their next day as early as 4:00 AM.

Murrell and fellow students repeatedly cited Shafik’s tireless efforts to stick with the course and his willingness to explain more complex materials to struggling students.

Presentation onlookers included Shafik’s wife, Sarah, his two young daughters, and his brother-in-law (who happens to be a Limited X-Ray Technician program student at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts).

The award remembers the late Mohsen “Mike” Aziz Mikhail, a first-generation American and native of Cairo, Egypt. In 1966, “Mike boarded a plane to America with a dream and $11 in his pocket. After arriving in America, Mike worked as a CPA and held Controller-like positions at both public and proprietary educational institutions.”

Shafik said two quotes that have been mantras for him in life, and he feels apply to this award: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” along with “when life gives you lemons, make pink lemonade.” (Shafik says pink lemonade because it shows making the best of things and thinking outside the box.)

Nov. 8–14, 2020, is National Radiologic Technology Week, commemorating the vital role of medical imaging and radiation therapy in healthcare.¹ Learn more about Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts’ Radiologic Technology program. You can also review Van Nuys campus program offerings.

CAPPS has previously awarded Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts students the Sue Fleming Memorial Scholarship (2017, 2019) and the Marsha Fuerst Memorial Scholarship (2018).

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Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private, postsecondary educational institution operating six campuses across Northern California and Van Nuys, California. Gurnick of Medical Arts offers allied health, nursing, and medical imaging programs, including Radiologic Technology, MRI Technology, Ultrasound Technology, Physical Therapy Assisting, Vocational Nursing, RN, BSN, Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, and a Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Imaging.

Citations
1 “CAPPS Memorial Scholarships,” CAPPSline.org, The California Foundation for Private & Postsecondary Schools, 10/29/2020.