Twenty Years of Supporting NYCHA Residents’ College Dreams
100 NYCHA Residents Receive 2025 NYCHA-CUNY Scholarships
On October 17, NYCHA celebrated the achievements of 100 public housing and Section 8 residents who received 2025 NYCHA-CUNY Scholarships. This milestone year marks the program’s 20th anniversary of helping residents pursue their college dreams.
The NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship provides eligible public housing and Section 8 residents pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at CUNY schools with one-time $1,000 scholarships.
Joining family and friends at the event were featured speakers representing partners, funders, and scholars, including Claire McLeveighn, Chief Strategic Engagement Officer of the Public Housing Community Fund; Jessica Sherman, Chair of the Fund Advisory Council, Douglaston Development; Tischelle George, Ed.D., NYCHA’s Vice President of Learning and Development; Shanna Castillo, NYCHA’s Vice President of Partnerships and Initiatives; James Lu on behalf of Council Member Gale Brewer; and others.
One scholarship recipient, Glenn De La Cruz (a Bronx NYCHA resident who attends Hunter College), spoke about the power of learning and growing within a community.
“Each of us has our own story of late nights, challenges, and small victories, but together we represent something bigger: what’s possible when opportunity meets persistence and desire,” Ms. De La Cruz said. “Growing up in public housing has taught me that community isn’t just where you live, it’s how you live. It’s the neighbor who checks in, the teacher who believes in you, the people who remind you to keep going when things are hard. This scholarship honors that shared effort and reminds me that none of us succeeds alone.”
Since the program began in 2005, NYCHA has awarded more than 615 scholarships totaling over $615,000 in financial support to NYCHA residents in the five boroughs. The program was established by NYCHA’s Department of Communications, funded by fees from film and television productions at NYCHA properties. In its first year, 10 residents received scholarships to study the arts — film, dance, drama, journalism, and literature.
As the program grew, it was transferred to NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES), expanding in both its scope and funding. What began as an arts-focused award evolved into a scholarship open to students in any field, as long as they maintained a 3.0 GPA and were NYCHA residents.
“The longevity and growth of this program showcases the lasting impact of partnership and purpose; NYCHA is very proud to continue this tradition of recognizing excellence, lifting up achievement, and investing in the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our city,” said Josephine Melendez, Assistant Director of Adult Education and Training for REES. Ms. Melendez co-hosted the scholarship ceremony with REES colleague Pamela Arnett, Project Manager.
Over time, funding for the scholarship diversified as well, coming from City Council discretionary funds and private and public donors. Today, the scholarship continues to thrive thanks to the support of past and present funders, including the Levine Family and Kofi Hormeku, and with the partnership of the Public Housing Community Fund, which helped secure scholarship funds from National Grid, Rise Light & Power, and Amazon.
“For the past 20 years, the scholarship program has been a gamechanger for NYCHA residents, opening educational opportunities and helping them pursue their dreams,” said Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Public Housing Community Fund. “This program is more than just providing financial support – it’s about empowering residents to build fulfilling and thriving lives. We’re proud to support a record number of recipients this year and are committed to growing the program and deepening our investment in public housing communities across the five boroughs.”
Like Ms. De La Cruz, Hunter College student Chris Arzu also received one of the awards made possible by the Public Housing Community Fund — the Rise Light & Power Scholarship.
“I’ve come to understand that resilience is a shared trait among so many of us who come from NYCHA communities and CUNY schools,” Mr. Arzu said at the ceremony. “We juggle responsibilities, support our families, and still find ways to achieve. That’s why today’s celebration matters so much. The NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship is not just recognition of one person’s effort — it’s a gathering of stories. We’ve all walked different paths to reach this moment, and together, we show what’s possible when opportunity meets determination.”
Through the years, hundreds of recipients have shared their stories of resilience and achievement. Many have gone on to achieve their dreams of becoming doctors, lawyers, teachers, and professionals across industries, with a large number choosing to remain in New York City and continue contributing to the city that helped raise them.
“It has been a great opportunity to be part of this scholarship program and open doors to education and empowerment for our students to help them reach their dreams and aspirations,” said Dr. Ian James, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at CUNY, who has been involved with the scholarship since its inception and spoke at the awards ceremony. “Imagine the largest public housing agency in North America partnering with the largest public urban university; together we’ve built a bridge that has supported and produced dynamic, resilient students who are now doing great things in New York City and beyond.”
From its first 10 students to the 100 awarded this year (the most recipients in the scholarship’s history), the NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship has become a bedrock program that NYCHA public housing and Section 8 residents rely on in the pursuit of higher education – an example of the power of partnership when public institutions, public and private funders, and communities come together to invest in the next generation.
For more information about the NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship, visit: College Scholarships | OpportunityNYCHA – REES.