News & Updates
The Harvey Lincoln Student Scholarship recognizes students attending ATD Network colleges who are committed to furthering their education despite significant educational, personal, and financial challenges. This year’s winners exemplify resilience and determination, pursuing their goals while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
We are proud to recognize the 2026 award recipients, Nicole Anyanah of Montgomery College (Maryland) and Darvin Figueroa Cortes of Harford Community College (Maryland), for their perseverance, leadership, and commitment to strengthening their communities.
Nicole Anyanah
Montgomery College (Maryland)
Raised in a single-parent household by her mother, Nicole Anyanah learned early the values of discipline, integrity, and financial responsibility. Watching her mother work long shifts as a caregiver while providing stability for her family inspired Nicole’s decision to pursue accounting — a field where she hopes to combine technical expertise with ethical leadership and service.
At Montgomery College, Nicole found both opportunity and purpose in the Macklin Business Institute (MBI) Honors Program, a competitive program that provides full tuition support and emphasizes experiential learning. As accounting lead for the student-run MBI Café, she manages financial records and helps guide key business decisions. When rising supply costs threatened profitability, Nicole worked with her team to analyze expenses, adjust pricing strategically, and communicate transparently with customers — strengthening both the café’s operations and her own leadership skills.
Her understanding of business expanded further through the Enactus project, through which she supported microloan initiatives for entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Working with a single mother in Togo who used a small loan to grow her home-based business reinforced Nicole’s belief that financial knowledge can be a powerful tool for community uplift. The experience reshaped her understanding of accounting — not simply as balance sheets and compliance but as a tool to empower families and strengthen communities.
“Business is not just about profit but about people and using financial knowledge to empower others.”
Nicole has also used her skills to expand opportunity on campus. As an organizer of Montgomery College’s annual “Raptor Tank” business pitch competition, she mentors aspiring student entrepreneurs as they develop and present their ideas for startup funding. Through workshops, planning sessions, and one-on-one guidance, she helps participants build confidence and translate their ideas into actionable plans.
Her commitment to community impact extends beyond campus. As a board member for FACES (Freeman Assists Communities with Extra Support), she helps review grant proposals and allocate funding to local nonprofits and small businesses serving low-income residents in Montgomery County. The experience has strengthened her ability to think critically about long-term impact and equitable access to resources.
Grounded in both her African heritage — as the daughter of a Ghanaian immigrant — and her American upbringing, Nicole approaches education as both personal advancement and collective responsibility.
“Education is not only personal advancement but a responsibility to give back.”
Next year, she plans to transfer to complete her bachelor’s degree in accounting and ultimately earn her CPA credential, with aspirations of pursuing graduate study in business — and possibly law. Wherever her path leads, Nicole is determined to use her expertise to help businesses grow responsibly, support families, and strengthen the communities they serve.
Darvin Figueroa Cortes
Harford Community College (Maryland)
Darvin Figueroa Cortes has demonstrated exceptional resilience and determination in pursuit of his education and his commitment to health care. After moving to the United States from Honduras as a teenager, he navigated a new school system and language while remaining focused on his long-term goal: building a career dedicated to service and patient care.
His commitment to health care was shaped even earlier through his experiences supporting ophthalmologic and medical brigades serving communities in Honduras. Acting as an interpreter for visiting clinicians from the United States and Canada, he witnessed firsthand how compassion and clinical expertise could transform lives. Those formative experiences inspired him to pursue nursing — a profession where science and empathy intersect.
At Harford Community College, Darvin pursued a triple major in nursing, biology, and chemistry while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. He has served as president of the Honors Program and vice president of the Student Nurses Association, leading initiatives that foster peer mentorship, student engagement, and academic support. Through these roles, he has shared strategies for success and guided fellow students as they navigated rigorous academic pathways.
“Every step I have taken has been worth it. Every sacrifice, every late night, and every challenge has brought me closer to the person I was meant to become.”
Darvin also played a key role in Nursing Success Workshops for incoming cohorts, offering candid insight into time management, resilience, and the importance of seeking support. Many participants credited his mentorship with helping them feel more confident and prepared for the demands of nursing school — a testament to his leadership through empathy and example.
During his practicum at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Darvin cared for critically ill patients, deepening his understanding of what presence, dignity, and compassion look like in practice. The experience reinforced his belief that health care extends beyond clinical expertise to seeing and supporting the whole person. He brings that perspective into both his academic work and community engagement.
“Being an international student taught me to turn differences into strengths — to build bridges between communities and use my experiences to serve others.”
Darvin views his background and lived experiences as sources of strength that allow him to connect meaningfully with diverse peers and patients. Looking ahead, he plans to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and work in critical care, combining scientific expertise with empathy to improve patient outcomes. He remains committed to mentoring other students and demonstrating that resilience and dedication can transform obstacles into opportunities for growth and service.
The Harvey Lincoln Student Scholarship provides need-based scholarships for community college students who have persisted in their studies despite educational, personal, or financial obstacles and who are attending ATD Network institutions.