Announcing the 2019 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars

They are the next generation of social workers, advocates, journalists, IT professionals, doctors, teachers, and public servants – NYCHA residents pursuing their degrees at City University of New York colleges, and this year’s recipients of NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarships.

On September 17, NYCHA and CUNY celebrated 25 residents for their academic excellence, leadership, and contributions to their communities at the 14th annual NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Program awards ceremony, held at Borough of Manhattan Community College.

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 $200,000 in scholarships. This year, the program celebrated the award of its 200th scholarship.

NYCHA Chair and CEO Greg Russ congratulated the scholars and told them to always remember their strength as they continue their studies and head out into the working world; he urged them to never let anyone make them feel powerless. He also talked about the importance of programs like the scholarship and how he wants to have conversations with residents about more empowerment programs: “We have to invest in the social capital of NYCHA; if you invest in the individual, and the family, we can achieve great things.”

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 NYCHA/CUNY alumnus 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.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer also addressed the winners. She congratulated them on their achievements, spoke to them about her role in city government, and encouraged them to join their community boards because “we really need you to be part of that, we need your voices.”

In addition to Chair Russ and Borough President Brewer, speakers at the ceremony included Ian James, Special Assistant to the Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost at CUNY, and Millie Molina, Senior Manager for Events and Communications Services at NYCHA.

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

Congratulations to the 25 2019 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars:

2019 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars

Jaquasia Barrett
Medgar Evers College
Sheepshead Bay Houses

Kiara Lue Cintron​
Hunter College
Baruch Houses

Carolyn Forde​
Lehman College
Albany Houses

Christopher He
Hunter College
Smith Houses

Mohammed Zahirul Islam
College of Staten Island
Stapleton Houses

Elaine Kuang
Hunter College
Marlboro Houses

Maribel Pichardo​
Hunter College
Ingersoll Houses

Mariah Rivera
Hunter College
Sotomayor Houses

Tiffani Winstead​
Lehman College
Butler Houses

2019 Regina A. Figueroa Memorial Scholar

Ayana Chung
Kingsborough Community College
Queensbridge South Houses

2019 Levine Family Scholars

Jeremy Albino
Hunter College
East River Houses

Yanna Almonte
Hostos Community College
Grant Houses

Eric Coyotecatl​
The City College of New York
Taft Houses

Fatoumatta Drammeh​
Medgar Evers College
Marlboro Houses

Christine Ladera​
The City College of New York
Taft Houses

Alia Medina
The City College of New York
Williamsburg Houses

Xiao Mei
The City College of New York
Triborough Campos Plaza

Suchi Rahman​
The City College of New York
St. Nicholas Houses

Dayra Rivas
The City College of New York
Forest Houses

Dalia Saavedra
The City College of New York
McKinley Houses

2019 Kofi Hormeku Scholars

Jennifer Briggs
Hunter College
Cypress Hills Houses

Jonathan Dixon
John Jay College
Queensbridge Houses

Briana Fernandez
York College
Pink Houses

Xavier Vazquez
Medgar Evers College
Pink Houses

Quandaisha Wyman​
Medgar Evers College
Breukelen Houses