Announcing the 2019 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars

October 1, 2019September 26, 2019 Michael Corwin

They are the next generation of social workers, advocates, journalists, IT professionals, doctors, teachers, and public servants – NYCHA residents pursuing their degrees at City University of New York colleges, and this year’s recipients of NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarships.

On September 17, NYCHA and CUNY celebrated 25 residents for their academic excellence, leadership, and contributions to their communities at the 14th annual NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Program awards ceremony, held at Borough of Manhattan Community College.

The NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship is awarded to residents in full-time CUNY programs with at least a 3.0 GPA. All awardees received $1,000 that can be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, books, and fees. Since 2005, the scholarship program has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships. This year, the program celebrated the award of its 200th scholarship.

NYCHA Chair and CEO Greg Russ congratulated the scholars and told them to always remember their strength as they continue their studies and head out into the working world; he urged them to never let anyone make them feel powerless. He also talked about the importance of programs like the scholarship and how he wants to have conversations with residents about more empowerment programs: “We have to invest in the social capital of NYCHA; if you invest in the individual, and the family, we can achieve great things.”

The scholarship program includes the NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship and the Regina A. Figueroa Memorial Scholarship for residents with disabilities, both funded by the New York City Council; the Levine Family Scholarship, funded by NYCHA/CUNY alumnus Jeffrey Levine; and the Kofi Hormeku Scholarship, provided by Nehemiah Economic Development, Inc., for residents living in Brownsville, East New York, or Ocean Hill, Brooklyn.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer also addressed the winners. She congratulated them on their achievements, spoke to them about her role in city government, and encouraged them to join their community boards because “we really need you to be part of that, we need your voices.”

In addition to Chair Russ and Borough President Brewer, speakers at the ceremony included Ian James, Special Assistant to the Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost at CUNY, and Millie Molina, Senior Manager for Events and Communications Services at NYCHA.

To learn more about the NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship, click here.

Congratulations to the 25 2019 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars:

2019 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars