Celebrating Achievement and Opportunity: 108 NYCHA Residents Receive CUNY Scholarships

For 108 NYCHA residents pursuing higher education at City University of New York (CUNY) campuses, October 2 was a day to celebrate hard work, perseverance, and the opportunities that education provides.

The students were honored at the 2026 NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Program Award Ceremony, held at NYCHA’s headquarters at 90 Church Street in Manhattan. Each recipient received a $1,000 scholarship to help cover educational expenses and support their academic and professional ambitions.

The annual awards program, a partnership among NYCHA, CUNY, and the Public Housing Community Fund, recognizes NYCHA resident scholars – for their accomplishments, leadership, and contributions to their communities.

NYCHA Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble welcomed the 2026 cohort and offered them her congratulations, acknowledging the grit each one brings to the pursuit of higher education while also handling life’s competing needs.

“Our scholars balance coursework with jobs, family responsibilities, and many other demands, while continuing to invest in their education and themselves,” Ms. Trimble said.

Established in 2005, the NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Program has grown significantly over the past two decades. At first supported mostly by production fees collected from film shoots that took place on NYCHA properties, the program has since expanded through City Council funding, private and corporate contributions, and memorial scholarships. Since its inception, the program has awarded over $700,000 in scholarships to NYCHA residents pursuing higher education.

This year’s winners attend CUNY colleges across the five boroughs, pursuing a broad range of academic interests, including nursing, psychology, social work, engineering, journalism, computer science, business administration, and the arts.

The 2026 ceremony recognized winners in seven categories, with awards underwritten by a range of organizations, including Amazon, Rise Light & Power, and the Nehemiah Economic Development, Inc.

The 2026 gathering also hosted the first presentation of the Scott Anderson Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of a founding board member of the Fund for Public Housing, now known as the Public Housing Community Fund, who passed away in June 2026.

A technology entrepreneur, civic innovator, and longtime advocate for public housing residents, Mr. Anderson was also a strong believer in the importance of expanding access to education and economic opportunity. This new scholarship recognizes NYCHA residents and Section 8 recipients enrolled at CUNY and carries forward Mr. Anderson’s ambition to help New Yorkers succeed.

Other memorial scholarships have also been established to honor former NYCHA employees Regina A. Figueroa and Kisha Jackson, whose dedication to NYCHA residents and their communities is reenacted in the creation again this year of more educational opportunities for new generations of residents.

The event celebrated the noteworthy individual accomplishments of this year’s winners, but it also underscored a larger purpose that is shared by NYCHA and CUNY: helping all New Yorkers to build ever more secure and promising futures.

“We know that stable housing and access to education are fundamental to creating economic opportunity,” Ms. Trimble said. “This scholarship program reflects our commitment to connect residents not only to housing, but also to resources that can help them build the futures they envision for themselves and for their families.”

She also thanked CUNY, the New York City Council, the expanding roster of program funders, and the wide range of NYCHA and CUNY staff whose work makes the annual celebration possible.

But her closing message was for the 2026 scholarship recipients themselves:”You earned this recognition through your hard work, persistence, and commitment to your education; we hope this scholarship serves as a clear reminder that your accomplishments are seen and celebrated. Congratulations!”