Meet NYCHA-CUNY Scholar Glenn De La Cruz 

When Glenn De La Cruz learned she had been awarded a NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship for the second time, she felt both pride and gratitude. The $1,000 scholarship will help her purchase art supplies, books, and even a replacement laptop battery – but the support goes beyond the financial. 

“It’s also knowing that there was a committee of people who read my words, believed in me, and wanted me to persevere; that kind of support is priceless,” Ms. De La Cruz said. 

Ms. De La Cruz is one of 100 recipients of the annual NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship, which awards NYCHA public housing and Section 8 residents who attend City University of New York (CUNY) colleges with $1,000 to support their educational goals.  

This year, Ms. De La Cruz was chosen to speak at the scholarship ceremony, where she shared a message of perseverance and gratitude: “I wanted other students to know that no matter how many times life pushes you back, you can always move forward. It’s not always easy, but it is worth it.”  

Ms. De La Cruz is set to graduate from the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies (CUNY BA) program in May 2026. The CUNY BA allows students to build a customized major that taps into the various classes and resources at all CUNY campuses. She designed a one-of-a-kind major that combines art, religious and theological studies, and anthropology, exploring how creativity and belief intersect across cultures.  

“I’m interested in how people use materials like clay to express spirituality and tell stories,” Ms. De La Cruz said. “It’s about understanding not only how art is made but why it’s meaningful.” 

While Hunter College is her “home base,” she takes classes at several CUNY colleges: Lehman College, Queens College, and soon at both Baruch College and City College. “It can be chaotic traveling to different campuses, but I love it. There are so many resources, and each campus has its own community. I feel welcomed everywhere.” 

Born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx, Ms. De La Cruz grew up with her mother, who remains one of her greatest sources of strength. “It’s always been just me and my mom,” she said. “She’s my biggest motivation, and everything I do is to make her proud.” 

Ms. De La Cruz credits the Section 8 program with providing the stable housing she and her mother needed. Over the years, she’s become interested in how NYCHA programs support residents and engaged by NYCHA’s community events and opportunities: “I have been so impacted by how much help NYCHA actually gives. Whenever I check the website or go to events, I see how much they do, and it inspires me to give back.” 

Giving back is what Ms. De La Cruz plans to do in the future. “I didn’t always have a lot of guidance or mentors when I was younger,” Ms. De La Cruz said. “It took losing a scholarship from a private college and taking gap years to find mentors who encouraged me. Now I want to be that person for others, a positive reinforcement for kids who need direction and someone to believe in them.” 

She has worked with children as an after-school art and rock-climbing instructor and is currently trying to secure internships with children’s book publishers. In the future, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in art education and hopes to work with young people in a role that combines art, culture, learning, and mentorship. 

To learn more about the NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship, click here.      

To learn about the 2025 scholarship awards ceremony, click here.