BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO GROUPS
December 12, 2002
The Trinidad and Tobago Alliance and the Trinidad and Tobago Ex-Police Association have awarded scholarships to four Borough of Manhattan Community College students.
“BMCC students excel, and we are very pleased that other organizations recognize this, and support our outstanding students with scholarships,” observed BMCC President Antonio Pérez.
Nikeisha Brathwaite, an engineering science major at BMCC, received a scholarship of $1,500 from the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance. Brathwaite is from Belmont, Trinidad. She graduated from Bishop Anstey High School in Trinidad. At BMCC, Brathwaite is a peer mentor on campus, and she is a member of the Society of Women Engineers. After graduating from BMCC, Brathwaite plans to transfer to a four-year college to earn her bachelor’s degree. Brathwaite lives in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. She was recognized at a scholarship awards luncheon in November at El Caribe Country Club in Brooklyn.
The Trinidad and Tobago Ex-Police Association awarded all three of its scholarships this year to BMCC students. The association of former members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service awards $1,000 scholarships to students of West Indian and/or Caribbean heritage.
“I was very proud that all three of this year’s scholarship winners are BMCC students,” said Witfield Felix, director of scholarships at BMCC. “In addition, I am happy that these students were selected for scholarships because each of them had expressed some need for financial assistance and this is one of the few scholarships for which international students can apply.
Helen Charles, a Trinidad native, who currently lives on Staten Island, received a scholarship from the Trinidad and Tobago Ex-Police Association. Ms. Charles is a freshman at BMCC. She hopes to become a nurse. “I was ecstatic that I was selected for this award and recognition from people from my homeland.”
Keneisha George from Tobago also received a scholarship. Ms. George is a business administration major at BMCC, who lives in Hollis, Queens. “Receiving the scholarship has been a blessing for me, it is the beginning of greater things to come,” said George. “It has given me more motivation and energy to continue striving for excellence and at the same time to make my family, friends and country proud.” After graduating from BMCC, she intends to pursue a major in marketing and international business.
“Ultimately, my goal is to be a member of the team leading my country into a new era,” she said.
Marsha Williams is another scholarship recipient. Ms. Williams, who is from Jamaica, is a human services major at BMCC. “As an international student, I especially appreciate this scholarship,” Williams said. “It helps pave the way for me to go to a four year college,” she continued. She plans to transfer to City College to major in psychology after her graduation from BMCC. Williams lives in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
All four students who received scholarships are international students. Charles, George, and Williams also received certificates of recognition from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and New York City Councilmember Yvette Clarke.
Borough of Manhattan Community College has a very large international student population and an even larger population of U.S. residents who were born outside the United State. Approximately 10 percent of the student body is comprised of international students. More than 50 percent of all BMCC students were born outside of the United States. Caribbean students are particularly active at BMCC. For the past several years, Caribbean students have been elected to head the Student Government Association at BMCC.
