The Sky’s the Limit for NYCHA-CUNY Scholars
Some of NYCHA’s and the City’s most promising young scholars were honored at the 10th annual NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Awards Ceremony held at Borough of Manhattan Community College on September 22. The 15 highly motivated young residents, all enrolled full-time at a CUNY college, were selected for the $1,000 award from more than 100 NYCHA applicants, based on their outstanding academic achievement and record of community service.
The honorees’ personal essays that were part of the application process described how stable and affordable housing at NYCHA, and a world-class and affordable public education at CUNY, helped them overcome obstacles and set out on a firm course to achieve their goals. “You are agents of change in your families and your communities,” General Manager Michael Kelly told the honorees. “Change is something we spend a lot of time talking about at NYCHA — how we can make things better for today and the future. And one of the keys to that is education.”
“Each of you has a unique story,” said Mr. Kelly, “but you all share a sense of aspiration. And you all know the great value of public institutions like NYCHA and CUNY.”
“Education is my priority,” said honoree Nancy Villavicencio, before the ceremony began. “My parents [who emigrated from Columbia and Ecuador] didn’t have a chance, so they encouraged my sister and me to achieve.”
In addition to helping pay college costs, “winning allowed me to see the other winners’ inspiring stories,” said David Ventura, who is primary caregiver to his disabled brother after recently losing their mother. David’s mother told him, “Never give up on what you do.”
“Know where you want to go, and have a vision or plan for making that dream a reality,” Cheryl N. Williams, Associate Dean for Special Programs at CUNY, told the scholarship winners. “Having affordable housing in an area of the nation where that is not a given, and being at the best urban university in the nation — the sky is the limit!”
“The greatest asset at NYCHA is the people that make this place their home,” declared Councilmember Mark Levine, a contributor to the scholarship program. “Remember the service part of your commitment. This is a city that needs your talent.”
Former scholarship winner Ebony S. Johnson, who kept in touch with the program as encouraged by Tischelle George, Assistant Director and Scholarship Program Manager in REES, told the most recent winners, “Two years ago, as a NYCHA-CUNY scholar, I found one of the best support systems I could have. Always reach out to your NYCHA family.”
The scholarship was established in 2005 with fees paid to the Department of Communications by production companies for filming at NYCHA locations. The program is now maintained by contributions from City Councilmembers’ discretionary funds. In 2011, NYCHA established the Regina A. Figueroa Memorial Scholarship as a part of the program, to recognize the academic and civic achievements of disabled NYCHA residents enrolled at a CUNY college. Since 2005, NYCHA has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships — $15,000 this year alone. Applications for the 2016 NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship will become available in May.
