The Red Hook Initiative awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships to 11 young people from the Red Hook Houses who are beginning or returning to college this fall. The scholarships were awarded during a dinner at Tini Wine Bar Café in Red Hook with special guests from the Carver Scholarship Fund, a generous supporter of the awards.
Ranging in worth from $350 to $2,000, the scholarships will enable many young people to attend college where money may have been an obstacle. This was the first large round of scholarships from the Joan Bennett Stewart Scholarship Fund, an RHI program that began in 2007 with a generous donation from Stewart, a lifelong resident of the Red Hook Houses. Considering that only 3.4% of residents of the Red Hook Houses have a college degree, these young people are boldly creating change for themselves, their families and their community.
The scholarship awardees are: Anthony Barnes, Long Island University, first semester, sophomore year; Troy Chisholm, New York City College of Technology, first semester, sophomore year; Elizabeth De La Cruz, New York City College of Technology, first semester, freshman year; Kerbi Desir, Clinton Community College, sophomore year; Antasia Johnson, Medaille College, first semester, sophomore year; Michael Johnson, Medgar Evers College, first semester, freshman year; Nneka Kirnon, Borough of Manhattan Community College, first semester, freshman year; Frances Medina, University of Michigan, first semester, sophomore year; Courtney Robinson, Borough of Manhattan Community College, second semester of college; transfer student; Tamika Sampson, Swedish Institute, first year, second semester; and Ann-Quette Wade, Stony Brook University, first semester, freshman year.
To contribute to the Joan Bennett Stewart Scholarship Fund, donate online to www.rhicenter.org/donate.html.
