(New York, NY)
– On Monday, August 19, FPWA presented 12 college students from across
New York City with a $2,000 scholarship
at FPWA’s annual College Scholarship awards breakfast. The event, which
was held at FPWA’s headquarters in Lower Manhattan, honors junior and
senior-year college students who demonstrate financial need and have
academically excelled despite significant personal
adversity.
“Almost all of us in this room talked about facing and overcoming poverty,” said
FPWA Director of Programs Aleciah Anthony. “We heard from single
parents, from individuals who lost their parents, from individuals who
lived in foster care. Those circumstances do not come to you in
isolation. We should feel united, not only in our
adversity, but how we overcome those adversities. What’s more important
is that you own the challenges and experiences that have led you here.
We should not look at those experiences in shame or guilt because those
experiences will shape, not only who you
are, but who you are to become.”
All
the award recipients demonstrate sheer determination to advance their
education. Many of the students selected for the scholarship are paying
for college with loans and
financial resources independent of their parent(s), some grew up in the
foster care system, others are juggling school and work as new mothers
and fathers. They have become leaders in their communities. Their areas
of study range from Political Science, Economics,
and Environmental Science to Film & TV Production, Coastal
Environmental Studies, and Human Biology.
“Access to higher education is one of the key pathways to economic equity,” said
Chief Program and Policy Officer Emily Miles. “Everyone should
have access to the same opportunities that anyone in the world does. In
this room, we have future social workers, engineers, pharmacists,
scientists, and leaders. It’s important to note that
nobody ever makes it on their own. We make it because of the support of
our families, of our communities, and of the organizations and programs
that we are a part of. At FPWA, we are proud to be joining the
community supporting our college scholarship recipients.”
FPWA
has awarded scholarships to New York’s college juniors and seniors
experiencing challenging circumstances for more than 30 years.
Upperclassmen often have fewer opportunities
for scholarships than freshman and sophomore students despite their
significant need. Students were recommended for the scholarship by
FPWA’s network of community-based member agencies. This year’s
scholarship awards will help contribute to tuition, books,
healthcare coverage, and studying abroad.
Students who received the awards attend the following colleges: Albright College, Baruch College, CUNY Lehman College, Long Island University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mercy College, New York University, SUNY Albany, SUNY University at Buffalo, Queens College CUNY, University of Virginia and Stony Brook University.
Source: Mercury
