FPWA Awards Annual College Scholarships to 12 NY Students

FPWA CEO and Executive Director Jennifer Jones Austin (pictured far right) alongside New York college students honored at FPWA’s annual College Scholarship awards breakfast. Students pictured left to right: Jhoel Peguero, Bibi Morium, Alexander Philip Torbor, Neha Basnet, Alexus Murray, Raymi Echavarria, Yuan Chen, Xue Lin, Larissa Jimenez, Desire Nizigama, and Aderys Adames. (Click on the photo to increase its size.)

(New York, NY) —The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) presented 12 New York college students with a $2,000 scholarship at the 2016 annual College Scholarship awards breakfast held at its headquarters in Manhattan on July 27, 2016. Recipients are college juniors and seniors who were selected for their individual abilities to excel despite challenging circumstances. These young adults are individuals who have been identified by FPWA’s member agencies and have demonstrated a commitment to furthering their education.

FPWA CEO and Executive Director Jennifer Jones Austin, Chief Strategy and Program Officer Wayne Ho, and Director of Member Initiatives Vanessa Leung kicked off the program by welcoming the recipients. Program Manager Blanche Centeno-Hatwood presented the awards to the 12 recipients with representatives of the member organizations that referred the scholars, who spoke about each student’s unique qualifications and background. These included Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cypress Hills Local Development Corp., Edwin Gould Services for Children & Families, Forestdale, Inc., Goddard Riverside Community, Inc., Henry Street Settlement, and Hudson Guild.

According to Jones Austin, “The college scholarships are one of the many ways that we seek to address the needs of New York’s young people and potential future leaders, all of whom who have been through adversity yet are excelling in school or in their personal lives.”

For nearly 30 years, FPWA has awarded college scholarships to students who have overcome personal hardships and demonstrate financial need. FPWA decided to provide financial support specifically to students of junior and senior status since there are less scholarships available when students become upperclassmen. All of the scholarship honorees are working tirelessly to turn adversity into advantage.

 

Source: Mercury