Press Release – July 21, 2016 (New York, NY) — The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) will present 12 New York college students with a $2000 scholarship at the 2016 annual College Scholarship awards breakfast at FPWA headquarters on July 27, 2016 at 9 a.m. Recipients are college juniors and seniors who were selected for their individual abilities to overcome adversity and excel despite challenging circumstances. Dozens of nominations were submitted from FPWA member organizations and each of the recipients were chosen because they stood out among a diverse field of applicants.
Among the recipients are Nepalese immigrant Neha Basnet, who is working to pursue a degree in nursing so as to one day mentor and give back to young women in her home country; Demetrius Johnson, a young man who has been placed in 30 different foster homes and now aspires to be an elected official; and Alexander Philip Torbor, whose entrepreneurial spirit developed from his high-school sandwich making business to an internship at MasterCard. All of the scholarship honorees are in college and working tirelessly to turn adversity into advantage.
According to Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of FPWA, “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.”
About the College Scholarship Recipients:
- Alexander Philip Torbor, CUNY Baruch College – Close to completing a B.A. in Business and Finance, Alexander’s entrepreneurial fire initially took hold in high school when he invested earnings from a part-time restaurant job to fund a cafeteria sandwich-making business. Alexander founded a business entrepreneurship club at Baruch and is now interning at MasterCard to help expand their New York City TechHub. Referred by Henry Street Settlement.
- Demetrius Johnson, New York University – A young black man who has grown up in foster care, including placements in 30 foster homes and a broken adoption, Demetrius just graduated from St. John’s University with an Associate’s degree in Business Administration. This fall he will transfer to New York University to pursue a B.A. in Politics. He aspires to attend law school and become an elected official to help reform the foster care system for future generations. Demetrius was referred by Edwin Gould Services for Children & Families.
- Bibi Morium, CUNY Baruch College –Bibi has fought stereotypes that a woman’s worth is only in the home. Through the support of the Henry Street Settlement, she is currently interning at Alliance Bernstein to pursue her interest in economics. Bibi’s scholarship will enable her to pursue future study and bring benefit to the daughters of future generations fighting culturally-ingrained gender stereotypes. Referred by Henry Street Settlement.
- Yuan Chen, SUNY New Paltz – Yuan entered the foster care system during her sophomore year in high school, a challenging experience that has shaped her identity in ways she had not anticipated. FPWA’s scholarship will help her complete her final two years of study at SUNY. Referred by Forestdale, Inc.
- Raymi Echavarria, CUNY Hunter College – An immigrant woman of color and first-generation college student, Raymi aspires to pursue a career helping her to enable young people, particularly in low-income and underserved communities, get access to much-needed resources. She currently studies sociology and public policy and hopes to one day work in a position to influence education policy on a large scale. Referred by Cypress Hills Local Dev. Corp.
- Neha Basnet, Brooklyn College – Neha immigrated to America from Nepal when she was five years old. After becoming aware of the large-scale issues of sex trafficking, she felt inspired to make a difference in the lives of other young Nepalese women not afforded the same opportunities as she was. During her senior year of high school, she ordered dozens of pieces of handmade jewelry from Nepal to sell in her community to raise $300 to sponsor a young Nepalese girl’s schooling. She is currently pursuing a career in nursing and hopes to one day return to Nepal to mentor young women. Referred by Goddard Riverside Community.
- Desire Nizigama, Stony Brook University – Desire’s experiences growing up in Burundi and Central Africa have inspired her to study a Master’s or Doctorate in medicine, specifically female & reproductive health, so that she can return home and help others in need. Her family currently lives on public assistance and FPWA’s grant will allow her to fund a college degree. Referred by Goddard Riverside Community.
- Alexus Murray, John Jay College – Alexus attends John Jay College of Criminal Justice where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Currently a senior, she balances her studies with two jobs and caring for her ailing mother. The scholarship will allow her to finance the rest of her schooling. Referred by Goddard Riverside Community.
- Jhoel Peguero, Lehman College – Jhoel’s family came to the United States from the Dominican Republic. Since his parent’s separation, he was raised by his single mother; her strong will and determination has inspired him to overcome his own personal struggles and pursue a higher education. He dreams of one day achieving a Master’s degree in Social Work. Referred by Hudson Guild.
- Xue Lin, Hunter College – Chinese immigrant Xue transferred from University at Buffalo to Hunter College so that she could study Education. She has worked as a teaching assistant with younger children and hopes to one day be a primary school teacher. Referred by Big Brothers Big Sisters.
- Aderys Adames, Queens College – Born in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, Aderys was raised as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic by parents who had left their native country to grant her access to new opportunities. Aderys currently studies at CUNY Queens College. She currently serves as a College Bridge Coach with Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC), working to guide college bound seniors from her old neighborhood through their college application process. Her work with the CHLDC has taught her the power of community residents to affect change despite societal barriers. Referred by Cypress Hills Local Dev. Corp.
- Larissa Jimenez, SUNY Old Westbury – Larissa grew up in Queens, New York and attended Brooklyn Lab School for high school. A rigorous college readiness program helped her ultimately get accepted into Ithaca College and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Program. Due to financial hardship and a high number of student loans, Larissa transferred to SUNY Old Westbury, where she is now working to finish a degree in Media and Communications. Referred by Cypress Hills Local Dev. Corp.
The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) is an anti-poverty, policy, and advocacy nonprofit with a membership network of nearly 200 human-service and faith-based organizations. FPWA has been a prominent force in New York City’s social services system for more than 92 years, advocating for fair public policies, collaborating with partner agencies, and growing its community-based membership network to meet the needs of New Yorkers. Each year, through its network of member agencies, FPWA reaches close to 1.5 million New Yorkers of all ages, ethnicities, and denominations. FPWA strives to build a city of equal opportunity that reduces poverty, promotes upward mobility, and creates shared prosperity for all New Yorkers.
