A scholarship committee of city employees selected 50 high school seniors to receive the 2017 Philadelphia City Scholarship. The scholarship – intended for Philadelphia graduates who will attend college in the five-county area – provides recipients $1,000 per year for up to four years of college.
Scholarship recipients were selected from a pool of 247 applicants representing 74 high schools in the city. The selection criteria included students’ GPAs, financial need demonstrated through FAFSA forms, resumes, and personal essays that were reviewed by a mayor-appointed, 24-person committee.
“I am going to Temple to study to be a pharmacist, and this scholarship will reduce the financial challenge of investing in my future,” said Yasmeen Hassan, a scholarship recipient from Lincoln High School. “I want to work in medicine and help people; helping people is a must. Temple is big college and I’m excited to stay in Philadelphia but also get out of my comfort zone explore a new part of the city. I’ve had family members go to Temple and I’m so excited to go to a diverse college, meet new people, and start my career.”
Selection committee members represented many city departments, including PHL International Airport, the Office of Adult Education, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Commerce Department and others.
“As a review committee member, it was amazing to read about all the dedication to academic and leadership potential our youth have in the City of Philadelphia,” said Phil Brooks, an employee in the Talent Development division of the Commerce Department. “I am inspired by the many accomplishments and challenges students have persevered through in their lives so far. I was moved by the level of excellence, value and pride each student took in describing their story and this gives me a great deal of hope that our workforce in the city will be filled with bright, educated and creative minds.”
The 2017 scholarship winners are:
- Miranda Abazoski, Science Leadership Academy, attending Temple University
- Ayyah Alhuraibi, Julia R Masterman High School, attending University of Pennsylvania
- Muneeba Arshad, High School of Engineering and Science, attending Drexel University
- Taylor Brennan, Archbishop Ryan High School, attending Temple University
- Nhi Cao, Preparatory Charter School, attending Drexel University
- Katrina Cheng, Academy At Palumbo, attending Drexel University
- Samantha Coronado, High School of Engineering and Science, attending Community College of Philadelphia
- Demetrius Correa, Community Academy of Philadelphia, attending La Salle University
- Gregory Damas, Cristo Rey High School, attending Villanova University
- Alexsis Davis, High School of Engineering and Science, attending Temple University
- Manthita Diawara, Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School, attending La Salle University
- Alyssa Diprospero, Nuemann and Goretti High School, attending Drexel University
- Katerina Evangelou, John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, attending Drexel University
- Darnell Faison, Central High School, attending Temple University
- Mikaela Fegley, John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, attending Neumann University
- Amina Fong, Central High School, attending Drexel University
- Amanda Fritsch, Saul, Walter B. High School, attending University of the Sciences
- Victoria Gargano, Academy at Palumbo, attending Holy Family University
- Dianna Gavrykh, Saint Basil Academy, attending Temple University
- Moesha Grant, Science Leadership Academy @ Beeber, attending West Chester University
- Lily Guo, Furness, Horace High School, attending Penn State Brandywine
- Yasmeen Hassan, Lincoln, Abraham High School, attending Temple University
- Lauren Holman, Central High School, attending Lincoln University
- Rifa Islam, Science Leadership Academy, attending Drexel University
- Khadijah Jackson, Hardy Williams Academy, attending Holy Family University
- Mingwang Jiang, G. W. Carver High School of Engineering and Science, attending Drexel University
- Aliyah Key, Mastery Charter Pickett, attending West Chester University
- Gina Lepore, Northeast High School, attending University of Pennsylvania
- Xian Li, Furness High School, attending Temple University
- Julie Liu, Central High School, attending Temple University
- Helen Ly, Academy at Palumbo, attending University of Pennsylvania
- Tiffany Ly, Academy at Palumbo, attending Drexel University
- Alexandra Monteiro, Academy at Palumbo, attending Cabrini University
- Ceonna Morris, Mastery Charter Pickett, attending Cabrini University
- Angela Myronovych, Central High School, attending Drexel University
- Thao Nguyen, Little Flower High School, attending Drexel University
- An Nguyen, South Philadelphia High School, attending Temple University
- Jenny Ni, Academy at Palumbo, attending Drexel University
- Jamairah Obeng, John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, attending University of the Arts
- Carolina Rivera, Central High School, attending Philadelphia University
- Anjekilal Rogers, Bodine High School, attending Drexel University
- Kiana Rosado, William W. Bodine, attending Drexel University
- Sheba Roy, George Washington High School, attending Drexel University
- Aida Samasa, High School of Future, attending La Salle University
- Tamia Santiago, Roxborough High School, attending Drexel University
- Tashi Unkow, Constitution High School, attending Drexel University
- Dilnozakhon Utkurova, George Washington High School, attending Drexel University
- Lila Vanni, Philadelphia Performing Arts: A String Theory Charter School, attending Drexel University
- Clinbin Ya, Preparatory Charter, attending Drexel University
- Jennifer Zhang, Hill Freedman World Academy, attending Drexel University
All students who applied for the city’s scholarship received a free download of Scholly, a scholarship search application created in Philadelphia, to help search for and apply to additional scholarships.
“As a Philadelphia company, Scholly is proud to be able to support Philadelphia students on their journey to pay for and graduate college,” said Christopher Gray, Scholly’s founder and CEO. “Students here have so much potential and it’s great to work with the Mayor’s Office on this initiative.”