FPWA College Scholarship Awards Breakfast

On Thursday, August 5th, 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.

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.

• 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.