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With donor generosity empowering her every step forward, Dominique breaks down barriers to build the future she’s always envisioned at UMass Dartmouth.
Without a doubt, Mardochee Dominique ’27 was “made to be an entrepreneur.” Born in Brockton, MA, and raised in a single-parent household, she knew what it took to be successful in this field from life experiences: resilience in the face of adversity, self-motivation to pursue her goals, and a vision to create something of her own. From the very beginning of her academic adventures, she was a determined scholar with a heart set on owning and running a company one day.
While the pressure of higher education can intimidate students on the cusp of a new chapter, Dominique faced it with confidence and fearlessness. She had a clear sense of purpose for her future when she dually enrolled in UMass Dartmouth classes through the Commonwealth Collegiate Academy as a Brockton High School senior, giving her a head start on her entrepreneurial studies and equipping her with the skills needed to be her own boss in the future. This decision made another very easy—she’d officially become a Corsair the moment her diploma touched her fingertips.
“Since I took two classes at UMassD during high school, I couldn’t think of a better place to go to college,” said Dominique, now a first-generation Honors College student studying management and concentrating on her leadership development. “I knew I made the right choice when my orientation leader, Felix, taught me a really important lesson: at the end of the day, college is what you make it, and nobody can rob you of your experience.”
This sentiment became a guiding principle for Dominique as she cracked the spine of her own story, focused on making the most of her time on Ring Road. She found her niche as a member of the Frederick Douglass Unity House and an event coordinator for both the Black Student Union (BSU) and the Haitian American Student Association (HASA), forging forever friendships and organizing events that celebrate culture, diversity, and unity on campus.
While Dominique had the drive to thrive in every aspect, paying for her education was a hurdle she struggled to leap over. She explained, “The financial burden of college was extremely heavy on my mother’s back, especially as my sister advanced her education and my grandmother’s medical bills started to pile up. I had to find a way to help her, so I turned to applying for scholarships.”
Scholarship support allowed Dominique to complete her first year as a Corsair without any financial strain distracting her from exploring her passions. Without the need to commit to a full-time job to make ends meet, she gained hands-on experience by interning with the Brockton Area Transit Authority, an opportunity she seized to stimulate her professional growth. She said, “I helped them increase the frequency of a bus route from one hour to thirty minutes, and it just so happened to be the one that I would take all the time.”
Dominique recognizes the impact that donor generosity has had on her journey thus far, a deep gratitude blooming in her heart for those wanting to make a difference for UMass Dartmouth students seeking a brighter tomorrow. “I’m incredibly grateful for my scholarship, and I don’t know if I would have been able to continue my education without the help of donors,” she said. “I know I’ll advance my career with this support, hopefully to the point where I’ll be in the position to do the same thing for someone like me.”
Each step forward that Dominique takes is one closer to fulfilling the dream of a little girl from Brockton who wanted nothing more than to build a successful future for herself. At the right institution with the right support, she’s well on her way to making it a reality—proof that when you invest in someone’s future, the impact lasts forever.