2024 Kaplan Scholars Focus on Social Impact and Lasting Change

Four Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) students—Business Administration major Emily Blanco, Small Business Entrepreneurship major Shaheim Kellum, Economics major Tymika Lawrence and Computer Science major Joseph Sahap—have been selected as Kaplan Leadership Scholars.

For almost 20 years, BMCC has partnered with the Kaplan Educational Foundation, which provides scholarships, stipends and a supportive community to guide students from associate degree programs to exceptional four-year colleges.

“Kaplan scholars have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and must qualify for federal financial aid,” says BMCC Scholarship Manager Sussie Gyamfi. “They also have to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.”

Many students, she says, meet these criteria, “So, we have to look deeper. Our Kaplan scholars are known for their perseverance and leadership skills, as well as their commitment to making a difference in their community and beyond.”

Kaplan scholar Emily Blanco sees marketing as a tool for social impact

“At BMCC, I serve as Secretary of the Marketing Club, was formerly President of the Business & Entrepreneur Club, and participated in the Reimagining My Community program,” says 2024 BMCC Kaplan scholar Emily Blanco. “I also work as a Social Impact Coordinator with LinkedIn.”

Born and raised in the Bronx, she still lives there today.

“I initially attended Pace University, but after taking a break from college, I decided to transfer to BMCC,” she says.

“I chose BMCC for its strong support for first-generation students, flexible programs, and convenient location, which allowed me to balance work and pursue my degree.”

In Fall 2024, Ms. Blanco will graduate with an Associate degree in Business Administration.

“My next step is to transfer to a four-year college to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing or business,” she says. “I aspire to work in marketing, with a focus on social impact, using business and marketing to create meaningful change by helping organizations connect with communities in impactful ways.”

When she learned she had been selected as a Kaplan Scholar, “I was thrilled,” she says. “I couldn’t wait to meet my new community and explore the opportunities ahead, knowing it was a significant step in my academic journey.”

Kaplan scholar Shaheim Kellum sees an MBA as his next step, making lasting impact as a CPA and more

Shaheim Kellum, a 2024 BMCC Kaplan scholar, grew up in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and now lives in the Riverdale section of the north Bronx.

Mr. Kellum started his higher education at Saint Francis College in Brooklyn Heights and built a career for two decades spanning music, retail and real estate, as well as co-founding and operating a limited liability corporation before enrolling at BMCC in Fall 2023.

“My decision to return to school  was driven by a desire to be a role model for my two children,” he says, and while completing his studies, Mr. Kellum works as a Recruitment Assistant in BMCC’s ASAP cohort program.

He plans to graduate from BMCC in Spring 2025, earning as associate degree in Small Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE).

His next steps are to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting, then an MBA in Business Administration. He will also sit for the New York State licensure examination for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs).

“My goal is to combine my entrepreneurial spirit and accounting expertise to create an estate planning practice that delivers meaningful financial guidance to those who need it most,” he says.

Another goal is to establish a public charter school, “because I believe in the transformative power of education and opportunity,” he says. “I’m dedicated to making a real, lasting impact that resonates across generations.”

Moving toward these goals, Mr. Kellum has faced serious challenges.

“I suffered a devastating medical accident during my first semester, followed by heart surgery in my second semester,” he says. “These events heavily tested my resilience.”

Tested or not, Mr. Kellum not only finished both semesters but earned a perfect 4.0 GPA and Dean’s List honors along the way and is a member of BMCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter.

In addition, he was selected to participate in the Summer 2024 Accounting Scholars Development Program at Howard University School of Business, a prestigious Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU).

Kaplan Scholar Joseph Sahap is on his way to a career as a multilingual technology specialist

Computer Science major Joseph Sahap was born in the U.S. but grew up in Sweden and Istanbul.

“After leaving New York as a child, I returned to pursue my higher education and gain unique experiences,” he says. “I chose BMCC because of its supportive community and location.”

His next step, after graduating from BMCC, is to transfer to Columbia University or another Ivy League college.

“My career goals are to become a software engineer and work with the intelligence community as a multilingual technology specialist,” he says. “This aligns with my interests and the fact that I speak eight languages.”

At BMCC, Mr. Sahap has been a part of academic and student cohort programs including Out in Two, the Achieversprogram, the first-generation student program Panther Partners, Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS).

In addition, he is completing an internship with the National Intelligence University (NIU) and a year-long project through CUNY Research Scholars Program (CRSP) with Computer Science Professor Hao Tang.

“Our work aims to improve urban accessibility for disabled, blind or visually impaired individuals,” says Mr. Sahap. “We’re doing this by developing software to integrate sensors that make sidewalks easier to navigate.”

Other projects he has worked on have included being selected in Summer 2024 by the Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence (ICCAE) Scholar program in Washington, D.C., where he engaged with over 20 cybersecurity and intelligence experts on the role of computer science and data analysis in national security.

For more information on the BMCC Kaplan program and other scholarship opportunities for students at BMCC, visit Scholarships, Awards and Other Opportunities on the BMCC website; stop by 199 Chambers Street, Room S-225A, or contact scholarship@bmcc.cuny.edu.