BMCC Student From Albania Named Pearson Scholar

May 16, 2002

BMCC STUDENT FROM ALBANIA NAMED PEARSON SCHOLAR

Anjeta Osmanaj receives her scholarship award from Antonio Perez, president of Borough of Manhattan Community College.

(New York, NY) Anjeta Osmanaj of Bay Ridge has been named a Pearson scholar at Borough of Manhattan Community College. As a Pearson scholar, Osmanaj, who is a respiratory therapy major receives a scholarship award for $1250 per semester, the cost for full-time, in-state tuition, for up to three semesters. She is also eligible to receive up to $500 for summer study.

Osmanaj is one of six Pearson scholars who were recognized at a special presentation on Monday, May 13 at BMCC. She received an award for her spring semester scholarship on Monday.

Pearson Education gave BMCC $200,000 for scholarships for students in the health sciences. Pearson Education created the scholarship fund in memory of six BMCC students who were killed in the World Trade Center disaster and in honor of the medical rescue workers at Ground Zero. Pearson executives and some parents of the BMCC students who died in the World Trade Center attended the scholarship award reception on May 13.

To be eligible for the distinguished award, students must be enrolled in a degree program in nursing, respiratory therapy, health information technology, or paramedics. Borough of Manhattan Community College offers the only respiratory therapy and paramedic program in New York City. A BMCC scholarship committee selected students for the awards based on their academic achievement and an essay describing why they want to pursue a career in the health sciences.

Osmanaj says she has “always liked the medical field.” In her native Albania, she started college, intending to become a doctor. However, she dropped out of college to take care of her mother who became sick. Her mother suffered health problems as a result of heavy smoking. After the family moved to Brooklyn two years ago, she decided to study respiratory therapy.

A Dean’s List student, Osmanaj started at BMCC in the fall 2001 semester. “I like the professors in the respiratory therapy department,” she says. In addition to studying full-time, she also works as a tutor in the Science Department at the college, helping fellow students with anatomy and physiology. She also helps to tutor some of her friends in the Respiratory Therapy classmates.

She works part-time at the Tasty Pastry Bakery in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Osmanaj intends to earn a master’s degree.

share this story »