Thanks from 2008 Scholars

Radmila Abramova
I was born and raised in Azerbaijan and came to the United States four years ago. This is my third year at BMCC and I am majoring in nursing.  I want to become a nurse because I believe that I can make a difference in people’s lives. I am getting great experience doing my clinical hours at Lenox Hill Hospital, where I get to see a day in the life of doctors and nurses. The BMCC Foundation scholarship I receive  gives me the financial assistance I need to attend college and complete my studies which will lead me to the life of nursing. It really makes a difference in my life.
After getting my degree from  BMCC, I want to continue my education and get a Bachelor and Master’s degree in  nursing.

Catherine Aguirre
I left traditional High School at the age of fifteen and got my GED.  I attended College for the first when I was sixteen.  Several schools and many years later I am finally completing my Associates Degree at Borough of Manhattan Community College. I have been employed as a legal assistant for the past eight years, but as a single parent of a 12-year-old daughter, and the only source of income in our household, the scholarship I received from the BMCC Foundation made completing my degree possible.
I am graduating from BMCC this spring and hope to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree.  I am very interested in the legal studies program at St. John’s University.  My ultimate goal is someday get a Master’s Degree. None of these dreams would have been possible without the support I have received from the BMCC Foundation.

Gary Chang
Growing up as a first generation Asian American, it was especially difficult for me to navigate the ladder of success. Thanks to the BMCC Foundation, my academic odyssey was possible. Receiving a scholarship enabled me to focus on my academics, making success possible. I not only am able to devote more time to my studies, I now participate in extracurricular activities. In 2006, I became Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa, a renowned international honor society; in 2007, I became Vice President and subsequently became President of Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society, and, during that same year, I became a Financial Ambassador in the MoneyWorks Program, a scholarship co-venture by Merrill Lynch and the Financial Planning Association of New York.
I am pursuing a Liberal Arts degree and maintaining a 3.7 GPA and aspire to continue my studies at Columbia University. In a sense, the benefactors of the BMCC Foundation was the father figure I did not have, giving me the allowance for my schooling, and pointing me in the direction that I should travel.

Samantha DeRiso
I am a licensed practical nurse and have always wanted to be a registered nurse. I love working with people. Thanks to BMCC and the scholarship I received last fall, this dream of mine is almost a reality. The scholarship has motivated me to do the best that I can do and be the best person I can be. Along with my studies, I have been volunteering for an organization that helps raise money for the research and hopefully a cure for autism. It is called the GRACE Foundation and I love what it represents. I hope to continue doing good work to help others throughout my career and my life.

Xue Du
Born in Southeastern China, I am a Business major at BMCC, and am proud to have achieved a 3.62 GPA. During my first year at BMCC I volunteered as a Peer Mentor and volunteered in the Women’s Recourse Center. These experiences greatly influenced my life. This year I became a BMCC ambassador, helping new students make the transition into college. Thanks to good grades and my contribution to the college community, I received a BMCC Foundation scholarship and was elected a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. I am also participating in the Goldman Sachs Leadership Program at BMCC, where I am learning about career development from Goldman Sachs mentors.
My ambition is to get a Bachelor’s degree at Baruch College and eventually an M.B.A. The financial help I have received from BMCC Foundation has made my achievements possible.

Ahmadou MBoup
I came to the U.S. in 1998 to attend the Citadel Military Academy, but the next year was forced to withdraw when my family experienced an abrupt loss of income and could no longer pay for my education. I moved to New York City in 2000 and worked as a messenger, but I was determined to return to the realms of academia, and applied to BMCC. I began economizing as much as possible to have enough money to cover tuition, books and other supplies. I ate pizza everyday for lunch and dinner, living on a budget of not more than twenty dollars a week. I worked hard, and by my second semester I was earning A’s and a seat on the Dean’s List, and, thanks to the support of Dean Marva Craig, a full tuition scholarship from the BMCC Foundation. I will be graduating with honors and often reflect on the challenges and successes I have experienced as a student. BMCC has reshaped my academic and career aspirations, and I will always be grateful. I look forward to obtaining a B.A. in Political Science, then on my way to Law School. Thank You BMCC!

Chimzurum Muoka
I was born and raised in Nigeria, and attended school there, enabling me to obtain a high school diploma known as a West African School Certificate. My goal has always been to become a medical doctor, however, the high school I attended did not offer physics, a necessary prerequisite for medicine. I came to the United States in May 2006 and enrolled in BMCC whose promo “Start here. Go anywhere” deeply impressed me. I saw it as an avenue that would open great doors for me, especially when I learned that one cannot study medicine in the U.S. without a Bachelor degree. As a science major at BMCC I am studying with dedicated professors and am truly on the path toward accomplishing my goals and aspirations.
The BMCC scholarship has alleviated many of the financial hurdles I was facing, enabling me to focus on my education. I know that one day, thanks to BMCC, I will be one of the world’s great female physicians.

Ashleigh Suarez
I am nineteen years old, and I’m from Tuckerton, New Jersey. I came to New York in August of 2007, and the scholarship I receive from the BMCC Foundation has really aided me in continuing my education. I had a roller coaster ride of a senior year in high school. While my peers were sending out college applications, I was having back surgery. After the abundance of medical bills, college tuition seemed impossible for my single mother. With the help of the BMCC Foundation scholarship, I have been fortunate enough to attend college in my dream city.
Since I’ve been here, I’m working hard as a full time student, joining school clubs, and volunteering in my free time. I have plans to transfer to a four year school, and I have great interest in Psychology. Honestly, I believe New York City has inspired me to strive for excellence, and BMCC and its generosity are helping me along my way.