FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Board of Regents Recognizes Student Scholarship Awardees, U.S. Presidential Scholars, a Teacher for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching About Holocaust and Human Rights and State Superintendent of the Year
Yonkers, East Ramapo and New York City Students from My Brotherās Keeper Communities Receive Vice Chancellor Emerita Adelaide L. Sanford Scholarships
Averill Park and Berne-Knox-Westerlo Students ReceiveĢżChancellor Joseph McGovern Scholarships
Webster Student Receives Regent Margaret Snow Vander Veer Scholarship
Long Island Student Receives Regent Emeritus Emlyn Griffith Scholarship
Clarence Student Named 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Finalist
Alexander Teacher Receives Regent Emeritus Louis E. Yavner Award
Mineola Superintendent Recognized as Superintendent of The Year
The Board of Regents today recognized outstanding 91°µĶųĘĘ½ā°ę students receiving Vice Chancellor Emerita Adelaide L. Sanford, Chancellor Joseph McGovern, Regent Emeritus Emlyn Griffith and Regent Margaret Snow Vander Veer Scholarships as well as New Yorkās 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program finalists at its June meeting. The Regents also honored two educators, the Regent Emeritus Louis E. Yavner Awardee, a teacher honored for contributions to teaching about the Holocaust and human rights, and the 2020 Superintendent of the Year.
āIt is my absolute pleasure to celebrate these exceptional students and educators for their hard work and dedication,ā Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said. āIn this uncertain time, when we have seen so much ābadā news, it lifts my spirits to be able to commemorate these wonderful accomplishments. Congratulations to you all.ā
āThese scholarships and accolades are well-deserved, and I congratulate each of our awardees and those we honor today,ā Interim Commissioner Shannon Tahoe said. āEach has worked for years and shown commitment to teaching and learning in unique ways. Iām thrilled to add my best wishes for these achievements.ā
Vice Chancellor Emerita Adelaide L. Sanford Scholarship
The Vice Chancellor Emerita Adelaide L. Sanford Scholarship is named after Dr. Adelaide L. Sanford, a long-time leader, scholar, activist, educator, community advocate and organizer. Dr. Sanford is the former Vice Chancellor of the Board of Regents and served on the Board for more than 20 years. She is also Honorary Co-Chair of the Work Group to Improve Outcomes for Boys and Young Men of Color, in recognition of her unwavering leadership and ongoing meaningful contributions to this effort.
The annual scholarship is awarded to My Brotherās Keeper (MBK) Fellows and graduating high school seniors from a NYSED-recognized MBK community. Scholarship funds can be used to assist with tuition, fees and books, and will be awarded annually over four years while the student is enrolled in college.
Through the generosity of Dr. Adelaide Sanford, this yearās number of scholarship winners doubled to four students.
āThe mission of MBK is to inspire, empower and connect young people to change the world and there are no better representatives of that vision than these students who are ready to move on to the next phase in their academic and life journeys,ā Regent Lester W. Young said. āThese students have worked hard to succeed and are passing on their knowledge by serving as mentorsātruly the backbone of MBK. I congratulate them on this award and on their bright futures.ā
"As America continues to wrestle with its identity and values, educators must endeavor to hold ourselves to the standards and ideals of our highest potential.ĢżWeĢżmust turn these moments of crisis into endless opportunity.ĢżOur children deserve no less," Vice Chancellor Emerita Adelaide Sanford said. " I am so pleased and honored to help shape theĢżfutures of the four scholarship recipients."
John Sosa Aguilar is an MBK Fellow graduating from Yonkers Montessori Academy (YMA). He will attend Manhattan College in the fall with a major in Business and Administration. He is the YMA MBK President, an MBK Mentor and served in the YMA student government.
Denva Nesbeth, Jr. is an MBK Fellow graduating from Bedford Academy High School in Brooklyn who plans to study Computer Science at Dartmouth. He is President of the National Honor Society Chapter at his school and participated in Medgar Evers College STEP program. He also serves his community as a member of the Borough Student Advisory Council.
Valentina Rojas Abreu is graduating from Saunders Trades and Technical High School in Yonkers and will study Biomedical Sciences/Pre-Med at Pace University. She is a Yonkers Partners in Education Ambassador and Scholar, Empress EMT Cadet, and participated in Debate Club and the Sophie Davis Health Profession Mentorship Program.
Kiara Ekeigwe is graduating from Ramapo High School in the East Ramapo Central School District. She will be a Pre-Med major at Duke University in the fall. She ran Track and Field, is the Class of 2020 Secretary and Social Studies Honor Society Vice President. She also served her community as a Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference Counselor.
Visit the Departmentās My Brotherās Keeper website for details on the initiative.
Chancellor Joseph McGovern Scholarship
The Chancellor McGovern Scholarship provides two scholarships to assist deserv