Financial Service Centers of New York Recognizes New York's Young Leaders with 2005 College Scholarship Awards

Tenth Annual Awards Ceremony to be held in Brooklyn on May 10th

BROOKLYN, NY, May 9, 2005 -- Ten exceptional New York City high school students on Tuesday will receive college scholarship awards from the Financial Service Centers of New York (FSCNY), formerly the Check Cashers Association of New York, in conjunction with Travelers Express/MoneyGram.  The scholarship program, called “Rewarding Young Leaders in Our Community,” is providing $38,000 to help young New Yorkers achieve their dream of attending college.

“This program is one of the many ways check cashers give back to their communities,” said Sandy Herman, chairman of the FSCNY scholarship program. “FSCNY is proud of the fact that we have helped so many students attend college. These young people are the leaders of tomorrow and come back to help improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. The entire city of New York can be proud of these outstanding students and citizens.”

FSCNY’s scholarship program awards one-time cash grants to outstanding high school seniors using the following selection criteria: a commitment to community service, perseverance in the face of significant obstacles, leadership skills in school, financial need and academic achievement.

Now in its tenth year, the FSCNY college scholarship program has helped 150 deserving students attend Ivy League and other selective universities and colleges. In total, over $295,000 in college scholarships have been awarded. In total, FSCNY members and partners have donated over $500,000 to deserving New Yorkers through the FSCNY scholarship, school uniform, and other community service programs. In 2003, the association received the Activa Award from the Financial Service Centers of America, the industry’s national association, for its exemplary community service.

The FSCNY scholarship first place award winners receive a stipend in the amount of $4,000 toward the cost of their freshman year of study at an accredited two or four-year college or university.  Second place award winners will receive $2,000. In recognition of the program’s 10^th anniversary, FSCNY and Travelers Express/MoneyGram also selected one citywide grand prize honoree to receive a one-time award of $10,000 towards the cost of college and a computer system.

“These scholarship winners are truly the best and brightest. These young men and women epitomize the future of our community,” said Hank Shyne, FSCNY’s executive director. “All have excelled in school and are leaders in their communities. The association and our members are proud to help these young adults achieve their goals.”

The Financial Service Centers of New York is the industry’s leading voice on legislative, regulatory and business issues and the rights of consumers to access basic financial services in New York.

The winners of the 2005—Travelers Express/MoneyGram Scholarships are:

Grand Prize Winner ($10,000):

• Alon Bonder, Brooklyn
  Fort Hamilton High School

First Place Winners ($4,000):

• Zhao Xiao Min, Manhattan
  Seward Park High School                            

• Misael A. Nunez, Bronx
  Bronx Leadership Academy

• Luka Krstic, Queens
  Grover Cleveland High School                       

• Janiper Chae, Queens
  Townsend Harris High School

• Pamela Michal Chan, Queens
  Francis Lewis High School

Second Place Winners ($2,000):

• Annie Shek, Bronx
  The Bronx H.S. of Science                            

•  Jung You Shin, Bronx
   Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy

• Ifeoluwa Bamgbose, Queens
  Thomas A. Edison Vocational/Tech H.S.      

• Andrea Gavora, Queens
  Townsend Harris High School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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