FPWA Awards Scholarships to Students That Have Excelled Under Challenging Circumstances

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Left to Right: Christopher Fagan, Coordinator of College Retention Services – Henry Street Settlement; Jameelah Smith-Pressley, Memorial Baptist Church; Blanche Centeno-Hatwood, Program Manager, FPWA; Natasha Jackson, FPWA College Scholar (College of New Rochelle); Ahmad Jarara, FPWA College Scholar (Binghamton University, SUNY); Destini Torres, FPWA College Scholar (Albright College); Gaby Cordero, FPWA College Scholar (Binghamton University, SUNY); Jeremy Lopez, FPWA College Scholar (University at Albany, SUNY); Vanessa Leung, FPWA Director of Member Initiatives; Jennifer Jones Austin, FPWA CEO and Executive Director; and Tamara Weathers, 2005 FPWA College Scholar.

(New York, NY) —The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) awarded six New York college students with a $2000 scholarship, five of which were presented at the 2015 annual College Scholarship awards breakfast at the new FPWA offices located at 40 Broad Street. Recipients included college juniors and seniors who were selected for their individual abilities to overcome adversity and excel despite challenging circumstances. Nominations were submitted from FPWA member organizations and each of the recipients were chosen because they stood out among a diverse field of applicants.

“All of our college scholarship recipients have exhibited a tremendous amount of strength, courage and determination to thrive in the face of adversity,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director, FPWA.  “Everyone deserves a fair chance to further their education, and that’s why FPWA works with our member agencies to help ensure that students like the FPWA college scholars have the supports and resources needed to succeed.”

During the awards ceremony, students shared their personal stories of challenges and triumph. The scholarships will go towards everything from tuition, to books, to studying abroad. On hand for a few words of encouragement was a 2005 FPWA college scholar, Tamara Weathers, who used the scholarship to pursue a degree in Sociology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Tamara has since pursued a Masters in Social Work and is an Emergency Room Social Worker at Stony Brook University Hospital.

Among this year’s college recipients are a single mom and several young people overcoming personal and professional hardships.

About the College Scholarship Recipients:

Natasha Jackson is a single mom, full time worker, and student at The College of New Rochelle. She was nominated by Memorial Baptist Church and is committed to receiving her degree while raising two children.

Ahmad Jarara was nominated by Henry Street Settlement where he has gone since his sophomore year of high school. This is the first scholarship Mr. Jarara has ever received. He is a rising junior at Binghamton University, SUNY.­

Destini Torres, a rising junior at Albright College was raised by a single mom in New York City public housing on the Lower East Side. She is determined to not allow where she came from to define her future, and will use the scholarship for tuition and studying abroad.

Gaby Cordero, whose goal is to become a medical specialist in obstetrics and gynecology, is a student at Binghamton University, SUNY.

Jeremy Lopez would like to pursue a career in Computer Science and has a keen interest in nutrition. He is a student at the University of Albany, SUNY.

Ms. Torres, Ms. Cordero and Mr. Lopez were all nominated by Henry Street Settlement.

FPWA awards scholarships to college juniors and seniors annually to enhance the educational experience of some of New York’s neediest students.  Having a strong interest in assisting students throughout their college years, FPWA provides financial support to students in their junior and senior years because there are fewer scholarships available to students as they become upperclassmen.  To date, FPWA has given away more than half a million dollars in scholarships.

About FPWA

The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) is an anti-poverty, policy, and advocacy nonprofit with a membership network of nearly 200 human-service and faith-based organizations. FPWA has been a prominent force in New York City’s social services system for more than 92 years, advocating for fair public policies, collaborating with partner agencies, and growing its community-based membership network to meet the needs of New Yorkers. Each year, through its network of member agencies, FPWA reaches close to 1.5 million New Yorkers of all ages, ethnicities, and denominations. FPWA strives to build a city of equal opportunity that reduces poverty, promotes upward mobility, and creates shared prosperity for all New Yorkers. Visit them at www.fpwa.org and follow us Twitter and Facebook.