CCANY RECOGNIZES YOUNG LEADERS IN NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY
WITH SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING
 

BROOKLYN, NY, July 1, 2002 -- Seventeen high school seniors from the New York City area recently received scholarships for college from the Check Cashers Association of New York (CCANY), in partnership with Minneapolis-based Travelers Express/MoneyGram Company Inc.  CCANY is a not-for-profit trade association that serves more than 475 financial service centers from Long Island to Buffalo.

Now in its seventh year, the scholarship program, “Rewarding Young Leaders in Our Communities,” gives cash grants to outstanding high school seniors using a commitment to community service, perseverance in the face of significant obstacles, leadership skills in school, financial need and academic achievement as selection criteria. In total, CCANY and Travelers Express/MoneyGram awarded over  $35,000 to some of New York’s brightest future leaders.

One $7,500 scholarship was awarded to the most exceptional candidate, while first place winners in each of the five boroughs received $3,000 each. Second and third place scholarships of $1,500 and $1,000 were also awarded.

“These winners truly epitomize the dichotomy of our urban community,” said Sanford (Sandy) Herman, CCANY scholarship chairman, who has directed the effort since its inception. “All have excelled in school and are leaders in their communities. It’s a privilege to help these young adults achieve their goals.”

The 2002 winners were joined by Sana Khan, a graduate of Staten Island High School and a winner of a 2001 CCANY Scholarship, during a luncheon in their honor on May 14 at the Brooklyn Marriott Hotel. Khan is a biology major at Montclair (N.J.) State University and hopes to become a doctor.

The winners of the 2002 CCANY—Travelers Express/MoneyGram Scholarship Program are:

Grand Prize Winner ($7,500):   

Pan Pan Wong, Queens -- Francis Lewis High School

First Place Winners ($3,000):

Jimmy Mark, Bronx  -- Bronx High School of Science                                   

Ji Eun Lee, Brooklyn --  Brooklyn Technical High School 

Brad Biren, Staten Island --  Susan E. Wagner High School

Adalgisa Diaz, Manhattan -- Washington Irving High School

Carolina Chang, Queens -- Townsend Harris High School

Second Place Winners ($1,500):

Xin Lin, Bronx -- H. Lehman High School                                          

Evelina Asianyan, Queens -- Forest Hills High School 
(tied for second place with:)
Katherine Argyriou, Queens -- Francis Lewis High School

Atif Ahmad, Brooklyn  --  A. Lincoln High School                                       

Cheryl-Lyn Bentley, Manhattan -- Stuyvesant High School 

Prathima Nandivada, Staten Island -- Tottenville High School

Third Place Winners ($1,000):

Jacqueline Gonzales, Bronx -- Walton High School               

David Sokoler, Queens -- B. Cardozo High School

Anurag Gupta, Brooklyn  --  E.R. Murrow High School  

Rima Abdelkader, Staten Island -- New Dorp High School

Heather Jean Chin, Manhattan -- Stuyvesant High School

The Check Cashers Association of New York is the leading voice on legislative, regulatory and business issues that effect its members and the rights of consumers to access basic financial services in New York state. New York’s check cashers employ over 2,700 residents statewide and cash checks with a face value nearing $14 billion. The maximum check cashing fee, regulated by the New York Department of Banking, is 1.4% of the face value--the lowest rate in the nation.

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Note:  Prior to May 2004, the Financial Service Centers of New York (FSCNY) was named the Check Cashers Association of New York (CCANY). Consequently, press releases and articles during that time period reflect the organization's CCANY name.