2023 Scholarship Recipients
Anissa Johnson
BS, Information Technology
John Nunes Technology Scholarship
After Anissa graduates, she plans to pursue a career in cyber security. Anissa says of CW, “The support here at CW has established a new sense of confidence in me. It no longer feels like a dream. It seems more attainable now than ever.”
Cindy M. Lopez
BBA, Healthcare Services Administration
CWCF Shining Star Scholarship
When Cindy graduates from CW with her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Services Administration, she hopes to advance in her current position serving the uninsured population at her organization.
Cindy says of CW, “it’s a school that has flexible hours and a great support system. You can reach out to all different people and there is always a helping hand. No matter what point I am at in my life, CW is always there to advance and meet my needs and goals. This also makes my parents, family, and friends proud of my accomplishments ”
Kimberly Lopez
BBA, Healthcare Services Administration
CWCF Shining Star Scholarship
Kimberly is looking to work in a long-term care facility, hospital, or an insurance company after she graduates CW, with the ambition of becoming a manager one day. Her educational goal is to obtain a Ph.D.
Kimberly says that CW will help her attain her goals with the knowledge she has obtained with the background experience and information shared by the professors. Kimberly received her Associate’s degree in Medical Assistant Management in 2022, which helped her gain clinical experience in the administration aspect of the healthcare field. She is now prepared to carefully make decisions both from a patient’s and an organization’s viewpoint. Throughout the three years of attending college, Kimberly says she has “learned how to properly format research papers and case studies; my writing skills have improved and I’ve learned how to successfully work in teams.”
Lizbeth Encarnacion
BBA, Healthcare Services Administration
Jeanne B. Sutkowski Scholarship
Lizbeth plans to pursue a job in some type of business management/administration, after she graduates CW. After Lizbeth lands the job she wants, she will go back to school to obtain her Master’s degree. Lizbeth says, “CW will help me attain these goals through internships and their career services center, where they help students with their resumes and assist students with getting jobs after they graduate.”
Olivia Smith
AAS, Medical Assistant Management
Alumni Scholarship
Olivia’s main goal after she graduates CW is to go to nursing school. The College of Westchester helped Olivia gain knowledge, skills and experience. CW also helped her in her career path. On top of that, she gained additional skills in communication and problem solving, which helped her to achieve her goals and helped Olivia increase her confidence.
Shaneika McKenzie
BBA, Business Administration
William R. Pappallo Scholarship
Shaneika says, “as a person who has limited access to certain opportunities, The College of Westchester and its Foundation have already helped me with this amazing and generous gift to help push me further and nearer to graduation.” CW has given Shaneika so much hope that she believes no matter what she has or doesn’t have, it is possible to win. No matter how terrible or rough life gets, Shaneika will always push through and “rise up like a phoenix from the ashes.”
Shawn Ofurhie
BS, Interactive Digital Media & Marketing
Kenneth R. Theobalds Scholarship
Shawn’s goal after graduating CW is to become a mogul and establish generational wealth, while making a positive impact in the universe we all share. One thing CW has given Shawn is the opportunity to find that confidence inside him to be a leader no matter where he is. “Fear is a mighty companion, but you should be its master instead of letting it control you, so you can soar as high as the sky.”
Luana Araya
AAS, Business Administration Management/Marketing
CWCF Shining Star Scholarship
Luana’s goal after she graduates The College of Westchester is to retain all the information that she has learned and to apply it to the career path that she wants to be in which is either owning her own salon, or creating her own cosmetic company.
Gianna Hamilton
BBA, Business Administration
CWCF Shining Star Scholarship
After graduation, Gianni plans to obtain a job in her field and start on her master’s degree. CW has helped Gianni by providing an affordable program that puts her on the right track to succeed.
Jaren Hatcher
AAS, Computer Network Administration
CWCF Shining Star Scholarship
Jaren feels like he has it in him to succeed and be a leader. With the resources the college provides, Jaren believe anything is possible and that he is capable of achieving his goals.
Destiny Crooks
BBA, Business Administration
The Mayor Joseph Delfino Scholarship
After graduating from CW, Destiny plans on working with a successful company that aligns with her long-term goals and/or pursue a Master’s degree in business or accounting. Destiny says, “I see myself growing my knowledge with the help of the CW staff and all the support they continuously offer.” She is beyond determined to learn more and make a great life for herself.
Kenneth Ferron
AAS, Computer Network Administration
Radford Quesada Networking Scholarship
As an immigrant from Jamaica and father of two young boys, Kenny’s greatest motivation is to set an example to them that with hard work and dedication, their possibilities are endless. After earning his degree, Kenny’s goal is to start his own business so that he has the opportunity to help bridge the unemployment gap in minority communities. With CW’s help, Kenny will soon have all of the necessary tools to accomplish this goal.
Ricardo De Jesus Jr.
BS, Interactive Digital Media and Marketing
Webster Bank Scholarship
After Ricardo graduate, he wants to use his knowledge of graphic design and marketing to work as a Digital Designer for Madison Square Garden. Ricardo hopes to use his connections from CW, his experience and what he learned to help make this a reality.
Angelita Lopez
BBA, Health Services Administration
CWCF Shining Star Scholarship
Angelita’s goal is to land her dream career helping the elderly get the assistance they require in a simple way where they are not confused or misled. The other side of Angelita’s dream career is to work in a facility where youths can come for Mental Health issues and feel comfortable to talk and not feel judged. Angelita wants to help individuals feel positive about themselves, and CW is helping her attain these goals by instilling the knowledge that is needed to succeed. CW has a great team that does not give up on her and keeps encouraging Angelita so she can fulfill her dreams to graduate and receive her bachelor’s.
Maritza Farias
BBA, Accounting
The Doris Metzger Miller Datakey Scholarship
Proceeding her graduation from CW, Maritza wants to go to graduate school to obtain her Masters. She would prefer to get both degrees in succession from the other. Maritza wants to work as an accountant at a corporation or as a business analyst. She aspires to be her own boss and at some point further down the road, open her own small business, a firm. CW has helped Maritza with her goals in both a financial and academic manner. The cost of the school was significantly lower than other schools she applied to and monetarily it was the best option. Additionally, the 3-year bachelor’s degree program is a big motivator; less time to achieve more. CW is the first road Maritza is paving to make her dreams real destinations.
2021 Scholarship Recipients
Lila Kirilla
Entergy Powers Diversity Scholarship
BBA, Business Administration
“Waking up every day in fear of not being able to pay for the next month’s tuition is not a pleasant feeling, but dropping out is not an option. I came a long way since January 2019, and I am here to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration. I am proud of myself and I want to make my family proud too.”
Jessica Pinos
Doris Metzger Miller Datakey Scholarship
AAS, Business Management/Marketing Online
“I am extremely happy to be back in school and to be a little closer to getting my degree. I look forward to using my skills in my everyday life. Another reason why finishing school is crucial for me is that I want to set a good example for my children; I would like them to complete their college education one day. I always tell my kids how important it is to learn and to finish school but sometimes they reply “but you didn’t finish school” but now they will see first-hand that no matter what obstacles come your way, one must always persevere and keep working towards your goal. ”
Jose Alvarez
John Nunes Technology Scholarship
BS, Interactive Digital Marketing and Media
“After being here I came to realize that it did not really matter how big or small a college is, in fact I prefer a smaller college due to the single fact that CW has a supportive community. This college has been great to me and I’ve learned so much from attending. My focus is anything art related and I’ve been learning things that I normally would not learn anywhere else and it is definitely helping to build my career as an artist in the future. I want to keep learning more so that I can achieve my lifetime dream of creating my own graphic novel/webcomic.
I truly do love the fact that my major also includes marketing since it’s very important when advertising one’s products. I’ve attended CW for about two years now and I know there’s still more to learn. I want to continue to grow so that I can use the knowledge I obtain here to benefit others and myself.”
Danaya Sharp
Sterling National Bank Scholarship
BBA, Business Administration
“This scholarship will further my education. I had an amazing experience learning remote for the first time. I am very pleased and grateful for what I did learn from my professors. After obtaining my degree in Business Administration, I plan to own my own business. The professors have taught me all the skills that I need to know as a business owner. ”
Lillian Ferreira
Mayor Joseph Delfino Scholarship
BBA, Business Administration – Management Online
“I already feel blessed to be the first one in my family to have graduated from college with an associate’s degree. The knowledge that I have received will always provide me with an abundance of crucial resources that have and will continue to assist me in all aspects of life. In fact, education is so important to me that not only have I decided to return to college to attain my bachelor’s degree.
Education provides us with knowledge about the world around us. It helps us to understand, to be tolerant, to have opinions, and to improve our mindset and our lives. While I have faced hardships, I know that those are only temporary roadblocks. The education that I am receiving is invaluable. There is no amount of monetary value that can be placed on my education, nor can it be taken away from me.”
Rosana Escoto
Dr. William R. Papallo Scholarship
BBA, Business Administration
“I am no longer just dreaming about having a college degree; I am working on one. I am no longer limited to a life that is just okay, I have new plans and goals. I do not spend most of my free time on social media and TV. I am learning, expanding my knowledge in many subjects from Finances to Adult Development, from Technology to Business Writing and these are all pieces of a puzzle that is getting me closer to a better quality of life. Each day my confidence grows, each day I better my chances to get a job that I desire and not just a job that pays the bills. Every new skill I learn makes me proud and is another step towards the life I want. When we decide to do something different with our lives, we impact those around us. I want to be perceived as a victorious, hardworking and resilient woman. This scholarship will keep me moving forward with pride and encouragement.”
Caitlin Feliciano
Jeanne Sutkowski Scholarship
AAS, Medical Assistant Management
“Assisting in caregiving has always been my goal from childhood; this is because of the partiality of the healthcare system that pays little attention to the less fortunate. I have always wanted to improve the quality of life for everyone and be a stepping-stone for other unfortunate souls. Securing this scholarship will be a huge step towards the pursuit of these career dreams. Besides, with the help of the scholarship, I can assist others in the access of healthcare through several programs that I am planning to initiate at the community level. Once I am qualified, and with a secured career, I am planning on founding an organization which will assist people with special healthcare needs and those from marginalized demographics. I am confident that with the help of the scholarship, my future aspiration of helping others will be met.”
Nyah Pineda
Radford Quesada Scholarship
BS, Interactive Digital Media and Marketing
“I am in my second year and I feel like I’ve learned so much. While this year has been very hard, I continue to work hard. This scholarship would be one tremendous step towards being where I want to be in life when it comes to my career. This would open new doors for me and my educational goals. The scholarship would also allow me to continue at The College of Westchester and allow me to continue to use the great resources they provide there. As far as my classes if I do not understand something there is always someone I can talk to or go to for advice. I feel that this college was the right choice for me because it provides me with assurance that my education and time is not going to waste. I get to have first-hand experiences with professors that have been in the industry that I am looking forward to working in and they provide me with the necessary tools. But most importantly, CW has taught me to work hard, never give up and stay CW Strong!”
Trevonafaith Gordon
Honors Program Scholarship
AAS, Medical Assistant Management
“This scholarship will help impact my life by lowering my financial costs early on as well as ensuring I will be able to afford my future education. Thus, allowing me to invest in myself and continue to work hard earning my degree. This scholarship will benefit my educational goals, and I plan to continue to work hard during this pandemic and make sure I do everything in my power that will help me continue to grow and better my future.”
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Olivia Fleck
Entergy Powers Diversity Scholarship
BS, Interactive Digital Media and Marketing
Phi Theta Kappa
“The College of Westchester has been able to help me move into a field where I see myself working in for a long time and has helped me grow as an individual. This scholarship will help me in getting to the finish line of receiving my Bachelor’s degree in Interactive Digital Media and Marketing.”
Kerian Adams
Doris Metzger Miller Datakey Scholarship
AAS, Health Information Management
Phi Theta Kappa
“As a teenager and then a young adult, it wasn’t always clear which path I should take. I decided to attend The College of Westchester to bring an end to my meandering and attend an institution where the office staff, faculty and advisors are student focused and very personal. They constantly encouraged me from the registration process through orientation.
The support I received from day one has made the greatest impression on me. I am so happy to have found passion and look forward to going on to pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management.”
Vishal Paryag
John Nunes Technology Scholarship
BS, Information Technology
Sigma Beta Delta
“Since I was about five or six years old, I used to program TV remotes for my family. My grandpa used to fix and tinker with electronics. I think that may have been something that rubbed off on me as I found myself doing the same as I got older. So a major in IT seemed fitting for me. The beautiful thing about being an IT major is the various paths one can take such as networking, programming, cybersecurity, etc. Whichever path one decides to focus on, he or she can still change the way the world works, and I look forward to changing the world.”
Joseph Gonzalez
Sterling National Bank Scholarship
BBA, Accounting
Phi Theta Kappa • Sigma Beta Delta • i3 Scholar
“Numbers have always been in my life. It was this passion for numbers and complicated math that led me to CW’s Accounting program. My accounting degree will give me financial literacy and open doors to business opportunities. This scholarship will aid me in my future to make better business and economic decisions, not only for myself but for those around me and for those in my community, just as my father wished.”
Zyh’Ana Moody
Mayor Joseph Delfino Scholarship
BBA, Accounting
“One of my main goals is to travel the world, which is the reason why I want to become an international accountant, so I can help people all around the world in addition to my community. I feel like using your knowledge to help the people around you succeed is a beautiful thing, I mean we all want to reach the American Dream one day. Being that I’m the first out of my family to go to college, I feel like I have a purpose in this world, a task that I have to fulfill and I won’t give up until I cross that stage.”
Erika Labanda
Dr. William R. Papallo Scholarship
BBA, Accounting
“After obtaining my associate’s degree from CW, I held a great job for 9 years that allowed me to provide for my family. However, I knew I always wanted more. After 6 years, I finally decided to inquire about CW’s Bachelor’s program. I also decided to ask a wise professor at CW for his opinion and thoughts on what major to pursue because I was undecided between business and accounting. I am incredibly thankful to the professor for providing me with his professional feedback. Returning to school was the best thing I could do for myself as I know this is an investment in myself that will pay off. I am a proud CW student and can’t wait to see what great things I will accomplish after completing the accounting program.”
Chantal Dawkins
Jeanne Sutkowski Scholarship
BBA, Healthcare Services Administration
Sigma Beta Delta
“I chose my major, Health Services Administration, to make money. While I am passionate about helping others, I must be able to help myself first. Right now I am focused on me, getting to my goal of graduation with my bachelor’s and having financial stability. This is so important to me because of all I endured in my life. When I made the decision to go back to school, The College of Westchester was the only one to reach out to me to answer my questions, and I am so thankful. This scholarship will help me reach my educational goals by allowing me not to stress too much about my loan debt. I will also be able to start focusing on my future instead of the past and what I did not have.”
Kevin Santiago
Radford Quesada Scholarship
BS, Interactive Digital Media and Marketing
Phi Theta Kappa
Sigma Beta Delta
“When I had first started The College of Westchester back in 2009, the major was different. I had originally started with pursuing an associate’s degree in the Digital Media field. Now, it’s evolved into a media marketing type degree once they introduced the bachelor’s portion of it. From the original date up until this point, I chose digital media simply because I loved creating. Walt Disney was probably the one who changed me the most in terms of my art and what I would set out to do. And of course, my son. Everything I ever create and do is for him.
Receiving this scholarship will help tremendously in helping me focus on my educational goals and putting less of a financial strain on my family. Thank you for helping to make it all possible.”
Nicholas Mullings
Honors Program Scholarship
AAS, Medical Assistant Management
Phi Theta Kappa
“When I moved to the US, I knew this was a second chance to follow my dreams, and follow my dreams is something my grandfather always encouraged me to do. I called The College of Westchester and was introduced to the Medical Assistant Management major, which was exactly what I wanted. My plan is to graduate with honors and go straight into medical school to accomplish my dreams of becoming an anesthesiologist. I will accomplish my goal; I know I will.”