PHILADELPHIA – A scholarship review committee composed of 20 City employees selected 53 high school seniors to receive the 2018 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 over 300 applicants. The selection criteria included GPA, financial need demonstrated through FAFSA, resume, and personal essay. Students’ leadership abilities and academic achievements were considered by the review committee, which consisted of representatives from City departments including Philadelphia International Airport, the Office of LGBT Affairs, the Office of Youth Engagement, and the Mayor’s Office of Labor to name a few.

“As a product of the Philadelphia school system, I relate to this stage in the students’ lives,” said committee member Alycia Speas, a clerk typist at Philadelphia International Airport. “The anxiety of not only getting into college, but also paying for it is at an all-time high. Stress is alleviated when you come across a scholarship that is targeted to you. I am happy to be a part of this Philadelphia venture of assisting kids, once like myself, with a positive step toward their futures.”

“Philadelphia has many free opportunities that have aided me throughout high school financially, academically, and interpersonally – this scholarship included,” said Destiny Samuel, a scholarship recipient and Mastery Charter School – Shoemaker Campus graduate who will attend Swarthmore College. “I am excited to attend college near Philadelphia because ultimately I want to contribute to the growth of my hometown.”

The 2018 scholarship recipients are:

  • Maimouna Bah, Murrell Dobbins High School, attending Temple University
  • Amber Bolli, John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, attending Drexel University
  • Mikayah Booker, Central High School, attending Drexel University
  • Jordyn Caldwell, Central High School, attending Drexel University
  • Gabriella Camacho, John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, attending Temple University
  • Nyla Champion, Kensington Health Science, attending Temple University
  • Srisa Changolkar, Julia R Masterman High School, attending University of Pennsylvania
  • Karolyn Chen, Philadelphia High School for Girls, attending Drexel University
  • Lokwing Cheng, Academy at Palumbo High School, attending Drexel University
  • Shanewaz Chowdhury, Julia R Masterman High School, attending Drexel University
  • Amman Dean, Northeast High School, attending Holy Family University
  • Steffi Delphin, Philadelphia Performing Arts High School, attending La Salle University
  • Amirah DeVoue, John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, attending Neumann University
  • Hakiem Ellison, Mastery Charter School – Lenfest Campus, attending University of Pennsylvania
  • Valeriia Gurtovia, George Washington High School, attending University of the Sciences
  • Sajedah Haj, William W Bodine High School, attending Jefferson – East Falls
  • Kira Hudson, William W Bodine High School, attending Drexel University
  • Remiah Hughes, Girard College High School, attending Drexel University
  • Tajnia Hussain, Science Leadership Academy, attending Temple University
  • Ling Jie Sun, William W Bodine High School, attending Drexel University
  • Amanda Lam, John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, attending Drexel University
  • Amy Lin, Central High School, attending Temple University
  • Jingru Lin, Academy at Palumbo High School, attending Villanova University
  • David Ly, George Washington Carver High School of Engineering & Science, attending Haverford College
  • Armin Mahdavi, Swenson Arts and Technology, attending West Chester University
  • Shania Martin-Robinson, Academy at Palumbo High School, attending Neumann University
  • Sharone Mathew, Central High School, attending Community College of Philadelphia
  • Monique Miles, Murrell Dobbins High School, attending Cabrini College
  • Sahir Muhammed, Commonwealth Charter High School, attending Temple University
  • Joanna Myrtaj, Philadelphia Academy Charter High School, attending Drexel University
  • Rohan Nainan, George Washington High School, attending University of the Sciences
  • Tracy Ng, Central High School, attending Drexel University
  • Diana Nguyen, Philadelphia Academy Charter High School, attending University of Pennsylvania
  • Keely Nilan, St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls, attending Saint Joseph’s University
  • Trinity Niroda, Parkway Center City Middle College, attending Jefferson – East Falls
  • Yazmin Pabon, Parkway Center City Middle College, attending Temple University
  • Mariah Pagen, Esperanza Academy Charter High School, attending Penn State Abington
  • Rachel Pierson, George Washington High School, attending Holy Family University
  • Jermaine Presbery, Abraham Lincoln High School, attending Eastern University
  • Sarenna Roeung, Central High School, attending Drexel University
  • Lauryn Sakil, Philadelphia Performing Arts High School, attending Temple University
  • Destiny Samuel, Mastery Charter School – Shoemaker Campus, attending Swarthmore College
  • Brian Schindler, Father Judge High School, attending Temple University
  • Nadiyah Scott-Black, Crooked Places Made Straight Christian Academy, attending Cheyney University
  • Sopheary Sok, Science Leadership Academy, attending Drexel University
  • Sofia Sultana, Horace Furness High School, attending Penn State Brandywine
  • Pichkeorasmei Thong, Mastery Charter School – Thomas Campus, attending La Salle University
  • Ayona Tilghman, Kensington Health Sciences, attending La Salle University
  • Auria Unland, Arts Academy at Rush High School, attending Jefferson – East Falls
  • Thuy Vo, Community Academy of Philadelphia, attending Drexel University
  • Toan Vong, South Philadelphia High School, attending La Salle University
  • Wen Xin Weng, Mastery Charter School – Thomas Campus, attending Drexel University
  • Zakira Jackson, George Washington Carver High School of Engineering & Science, attending Temple University

Learn more about The Philadelphia City Scholarship here: https://www.phila.gov/documents/philadelphia-city-scholarship-program-application/ 

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