HCC sonography student receives $500 memorial scholarship

Mar 27, 2024

HCC Diagnostic Medical Sonography student Marian Sicking (center) accepts the $500 Steven A. Baker Memorial Scholarship on March 27.

Marian Sicking of Southwest Houston, a Diagnostic Medical Sonography student at Houston Community College - Coleman College for Health Sciences, is a recipient of the Steven A. Baker Memorial Scholarship.

Ultrasound-Services, sponsor of the scholarship, presented Sicking with a $500 check on March 27.

Christopher Merkel, MBA, co-owner of Ultrasound-Services, created the scholarship program in honor of Steven A. Baker. Mr. Baker was a sponsor of Cherokee Children’s Home in Cherokee, Texas, and role model to Merkel during his time at the facility. The Baker scholarship program provides financial assistance to sonography students to help them achieve their goals and dreams.

Scholarship applicants needed to write an essay about the personal traits and life experiences that would make them stand out in the sonography field. Sicking wrote about her passion for the field.

“I always wanted to work in healthcare and help people, and I also love computers. I wrote about how my love for people and technology – and babies! – made sonography the perfect career for me,” Sicking said. “I really enjoy my classes, and I can’t wait to become a professional sonographer.”

“We believe Marian Sicking embodies the spirit of Mr. Baker through her essay and sonography program achievements,” said Shannon Merkel, RDMS, RCS, RVS, co-owner and clinical director of Ultrasound-Services.

Sicking serves as president of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Student Organization and will graduate in December 2024.