MCC business entrepreneurship student receives Cummings Scholarship

Growing up in a small town in Cambodia, Diamond Tin was inspired to become a business owner by his parents and grandparents, who he calls his role models and motivation. After moving to Lowell, he started at Middlesex Community College to study business entrepreneurship. For his hard work and dedication in the associate degree program, he was awarded a scholarship from the Cummings Foundation for his business idea. (Courtesy MCC)

Growing up in a small town in Cambodia, Diamond Tin was inspired to become a business owner by his parents and grandparents, who he calls his role models and motivation. After moving to Lowell, he started at Middlesex Community College to pursue a business entrepreneurship associate degree. Recently, he was awarded a scholarship from the Cummings Foundation to help him launch his business idea.

“Receiving the Cummings Scholarship means so much, not just for myself, but also for my family, as it helps lower the cost of school tuition, as well as my living expenses,” Tin said. “My business pitch for this scholarship was about an Escape Room project that I’m currently working on with my cousin to be open in Cambodia.”

The scholarship is part of a $100,000 grant the foundation gave to Middlesex in spring 2021. Grant funding supports students, such as Tin, who are completing MCC’s entrepreneurship certificate or associate degree and have a business idea they want to launch in the future.

“We look for students that are eager to complete their academic studies while exploring and oftentimes starting their entrepreneurial journey,” said MCC Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator Stacie Hargis. “We are very fortunate for the funding from the Cummings Foundation which allows us to support budding entrepreneurs in such a significant way.”

Tin is grateful to Hargis for her support in his entrepreneurship classes. In pushing him to work outside of his comfort zone, Hargis motivates Tin by reminding him of his passion for business and pursuing a career he loves. Now in his second semester at MCC, Tin feels excited about going to class every day, engaging in discussions, and helping his classmates.

MCC has been a “welcoming space” for Tin since he started, leading him to be less nervous about exploring his new area and happy to try different experiences. This includes participating in activities and events around the college community. A peer mentor for MCC’s Success Scholars Program, Tin is the vice president for the International Student Club and a member of the Asian Students in Alliance (A.S.I.A.) Club.

“I strive for the best, not just academically, but also to be involved in school activities as much as possible where I can gain a lot of experience along the way that is good for my resume as well,” Tin said. “I define myself as an outgoing person, but also diverse, which leads me to participate in so many clubs to get to know a variety of new things and make so many friends throughout my life.”

Tin is already looking ahead to after he graduates from Middlesex. While he has many different business ideas for the future – including opening a restaurant – he is focused on his education. Planning to transfer to a four-year school to earn his bachelor’s degree, he hopes to one day earn a master’s in business from Harvard Business school and “achieve this wonderful dream of mine.”

“I’ve always been brainstorming about my business ideas and opening them in the United States,” he said. “As I’m very young, I would like to work in a company to strengthen my ability as an entrepreneur and gather experience as I go onward in life.”