Announcing the 2021 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars
Most of this year’s recipients of the NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarships spent the past two years pursuing college degrees to become scientists, journalists, nurses, and teachers in the face of a global pandemic – and they were recognized for their hard work at a virtual award celebration on November 10.
NYCHA and CUNY virtually celebrated 35 residents – the highest number of scholarships in the award’s history – for their academic excellence, leadership, and contributions to their communities at the 16th annual NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Program awards ceremony.
NYCHA Chair & CEO Greg Russ wished the scholars the best in their education. He also said: “The city is coming back from COVID though the effects of certain challenges continue, and I hope the awards will alleviate some of those barriers you might encounter. I’ve heard so many good things about this year’s winners – in addition to pursuing your degrees, many of you volunteer in your communities or work full-time or juggle parenthood. Some of you overcame significant obstacles to pursue college education. Many of you are first-generation Americans, living out your and your parents’ dreams of higher education. I wish you all good luck.”
The NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship is awarded to residents in full-time CUNY programs with at least a 3.0 GPA. All awardees received $1,000 that can be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, books, and fees. Since 2005, the scholarship program has awarded more than $224,000 in scholarships.
The scholarship program includes the NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship and the Regina A. Figueroa Memorial Scholarship for residents with disabilities, both funded by the New York City Council; the Levine Family Scholarship, funded by Jeffrey Levine; and the Kofi Hormeku Scholarship, provided by Nehemiah Economic Development, Inc., for residents living in Brownsville, East New York, or Ocean Hill, Brooklyn.
This year, the scholarship program expanded to include three new scholarships. NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES), which oversees the NYCHA-CUNY awards, established the Kisha Jackson Memorial Scholarship in honor of its beloved colleague who passed away in 2018. Ms. Jackson was a 20-year NYCHA employee; she spent four years as the REES Zone Coordinator for Downtown Brooklyn, connecting residents in her zone to economic and educational opportunities. The scholarship is awarded to residents living in Downtown Brooklyn. The Fund for Public Housing, a non-profit that supports NYCHA and its residents, introduced two new scholarships: the National Grid Scholarship (thanks to a grant from the public utility company to the Fund) and NYCHA Youth Now, which expands the youth-centered leadership program to include scholarships for residents ages 18 to 24.
In addition to Chair Russ, speakers included City Council Member Helen Rosenthal; Claire McLeveighn, Deputy Director of the Fund for Public Housing; Terry Yarde, Manager of NYC Agencies for National Grid; and Ian James, Deputy to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment at CUNY.
Council Member Rosenthal highlighted a scholar from her district, Katherine Pinzon of WSUR, who attends Baruch College, sharing words from Ms. Pinzon’s employer about her dedication and hard work. “I’m confident that everyone receiving this scholarship tonight would receive the same accolades from the people around them,” Council Member Rosenthal said. “I know that you have worked so hard. You really need to recognize how powerful you are and how powerful the work is that you’ve done. Congrats. Keep working as hard as you are; you will reap enormous benefits from it.”
To learn more about the NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship, click here.
Congratulations to the 35 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars of 2021:
Regina Figueroa Memorial Scholar
Ayana Chung
Medgar Evers College
Ravenswood Houses
Kisha Jackson Memorial Scholar
Zhi Jie Kuang
Baruch College
Ingersoll Houses
NYCHA-CUNY Scholars
Mirelys Aldarondo
College of Staten Island
West Brighton Houses
Katherine Pinzon
Baruch College
WSUR
NYCHA Youth Now Scholars
Maya Alexander
Baruch College
Straus Houses
Alma Alonzo
Baruch College
Ravenswood Houses
Ahbab Ashraf
Hunter College
Astoria Houses
Elyon Clyde
Baruch College
Dyckman Houses
Fatumata Dibaga
Lehman College
Adams Houses
Helen He
Hunter College
Douglass Houses
M’Niyah Lynn
Baruch College
Wagner Houses
Jackeline Ortiz
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Riis Houses
Julia Vigay
Baruch College
East River Houses
Jackie Yee
Hunter College
Rangel Houses
National Grid Scholars
Kiara Cornish
Baruch College
Red Hook East Houses
Natasha Crump
New York City College of Technology
Sumner Houses
Laure De Los Santos
Queens College
Whitman Houses
Fatoumatta Drammeh
Medgar Evers College
Marlboro Houses
Meggen Fernandez
LaGuardia Community College
Cooper Park Houses
Jelani Henry
Hunter College
Bay View Houses
Jennie Liao
Brooklyn College
Coney Island Houses
Monae Ollivierre
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Farragut Houses
Xue Qin Ruan
Medgar Evers College
Lafayette Houses
Julia Zhang
Hunter College
Marlboro Houses
Levine Family Scholars
Badiallo Diawara
The City College of New York
Howard Houses
Erika Hodge
The City College of New York
Fort Independence Street-Heath Avenue
Carmen Huang
The City College of New York
Amsterdam Houses
Alia Medina
The City College of New York
Williamsburg Houses
Rania Saleb
The City College of New York
King Towers
Kevin Suriel
The City College of New York
Borinquen Plaza II
Francisca Vallejo
The City College of New York
Carver Houses
Kofi Hormeku Scholars
Kenoy Frith
Baruch College
Van Dyke I Houses
Jensie Mueses
John Jay College
Pink Houses
Adonis Perez
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Cypress Hills Houses
Branda Sicot
Brooklyn College
Brownsville Houses