Danielle is our CRLS Class of 2018 awardee of the Aurora M. (Ciccariello) Leydon Memorial Scholarship, which she used toward books for school while an undergrad at Bates College.

“I graduated from Bates College in May 2022, with a major in psychology and a minor in African-American studies and concentrations in identity, race, ethnicity, poverty, inequity, and justice. Currently (2023), I am pursuing my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology (child and adolescent mental health) at Boston University Wheelock School of Education & Applied Human Development. I am passionate about working with underrepresented youth and hope to aid incarcerated youth in their mental health journeys.”

Ashia, our CRLS Class of 2014 awardee of the Mary Frances Monti Scholarship, holds a BA in Food Studies & Policy Studies from Syracuse University, where she researched components of equitable food systems. Since April of 2023, she has been a food writer for SELF Magazine, promoting delicious, nutritious, accessible recipes and writing about food in cultural celebrations such as Juneteenth. She previously wrote for Food & Wine and other print and digital publications. A food justice advocate, Ashia also has her own online platform, Nourished Palate, where she supports community initiatives and interviews Black visionaries in the food world.

“Each scholarship that I received during my journey entering undergrad, including the FOCRLS one, made a huge impact. Whether it went toward tuition, buying supplies, or textbooks, each dollar represented an investment in my future.”

Photo courtesy of Ashia (in Portugal, where she interviewed a restaurateur, about whom she wrote for Food & Wine)

Asif, FOCRLS’s CRLS Class of 2017 awardee of the “It Takes a Village” Multi-Year Scholarship, graduated in 2021 from Boston University with a degree in computer science. He’s now a software engineer for Chewy, the pet supplies ecommerce company, as well as a mentor through CodePath, a nonprofit dedicated to helping underrepresented students prepare for careers in the tech field.

“I came to the U.S. in January 2016, started in CRLS right away, then graduated in 2017. Coming from an immigrant family, we couldn’t afford the tuition for my college, so, I was very focused on getting as many scholarships as possible. Thanks to CRLS resources, I applied to 20+ scholarships and received 4 of them totaling about $15K, including the ‘It Takes a Village’ Scholarship from FOCRLS. The scholarships helped me tremendously during my time in college. I could focus more on my academics and other extracurricular activities and manage my own expenses rather than worrying about money.”

Photo courtesy of Asif

Mikaëla, our CRLS Class of 2022 awardee of the Cheri Kamen Memorial Scholarship in the Humanities is a member of the Princeton University Class of 2026. She’s developing her commitments to law, languages, equity, and justice.

“At Princeton University, I have had a variety of wonderful opportunities and have joined numerous organizations such as the Princeton Pre-Law Society and Princeton Students for Immigrant Empowerment, the latter of which I am the vice president. I have had such great experiences being able to gain exposure in the world of law and the multitude of ways of helping those who are disadvantaged, such as various translation projects in French and Spanish. My scholarship from Friends of CRLS was used towards my tuition, and it was of great help! I will always be grateful for the recognition, help, and generosity offered by the Friends of CRLS program.”

The Cheri Kamen Memorial Scholarship in the Humanities is sponsored by Ramie Targoff & Stephen Greenblatt.

Photo courtesy of Mikaëla

Ashrafur, FOCRLS’s CRLS Class of 2021 awardee of the “100 by 100” Cambridge Business Community STEAM Scholarship for Engineering, is a member of the Northeastern University Class of 2025.

“The FOCRLS Engineering scholarship helped me out a ton in my first year at Northeastern because it lifted financial pressure off of my shoulders which let me participate in various different activities instead of doing a work-study. I availed the time to try out clubs ranging from TV filming to making free toys for underprivileged youths in Roxbury to partaking in creating an electric car for F1 hybrid racing competition. Now I am actively participating in a volunteering program where we teach elementary and middle school students Lego robotics to pique their interest in STEM and also participate in a club called BAJA which is the same as Electric racing but non-electric. I think that having the time to participate in those activities in my first year helped me find my interests and hobbies. I am very thankful for receiving the scholarship!”

Photo courtesy of Ashrafur

Katya, the 2019 awardee of the Mary Frances Monti Scholarship, is working on her master of social work at the Columbia School of Social Work online advanced standing program on a clinical track with a focus on children, adolescents, and families.

A 2023 graduate of Simmons University, Katya is already a Case Manager at Reimagine Counseling. “This started as an internship for one of my classes, but I stayed on as an employee. They are a counseling clinic based in Quincy, Massachusetts, and specialise in individual, couples, family, and group therapy. I have been with Reimagine for almost a year and a half,” she told us.

“The scholarship I received via FOCRLS has made it so I am able to pursue my master’s and work towards licensure in my field. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to further my education and am excited to continue to work with and serve those in need.”

The Mary Frances Monti Scholarship is sponsored by
Neil & Kathleen Rosenburg.

Photo courtesy of Katya

Gassendina, the 2019 awardee of the Elaine Schear “Voice of the First Generation” Creative Writing Scholarship, graduated in 2023 from UMass Amherst with a degree in political science & journalism with plans to pursue a career in journalism now and a law degree in the future. 

“The FOCRLS scholarship helped me pay for school. Coming from a low-income household, I knew that it would be hard for me and my family to pay for college. Since I had the scholarship support, I was able to have more time for my studies and other career-related opportunities. The scholarship essentially enabled me to obtain and afford higher education.”

The Elaine Schear “Voice of the First Generation” Creative Writing Scholarship is sponsored by
Elaine Schear, Elaine’s friends & family members, and FOCRLS.

Photo courtesy of Gassendina

Sagyan, the 2019 awardee of the CambridgeSeven STEAM Award, is a 2023 UMass Amherst graduate with a degree in computer science. “After graduation, I am working as a full-time Software Engineer at TD Securities, the investment banking side of TD bank. I had initially interned there last summer and have taken the return offer.” 

“The financial support provided by the FOCRLS scholarship has relieved the burden of tuition fees, textbooks, and other expenses. Moreover, it has given me the flexibility to focus on my studies and explore opportunities such as internships, which have been very meaningful in giving me hands-on experience in my field of computer science.”

The annual CambridgeSeven STEAM award is sponsored by CambridgeSeven, the world-renowned architecture and design firm headquartered in Cambridge.

Photo courtesy of Sagyan

Nellisha, a 2019 awardee of a CRLS Core Values Scholarship, is a 2023 graduate of Howard University. She has accepted a job at CBRE, a global leader in commercial real estate services and investments.

“My FOCRLS scholarship contributed heavily to my freshman year funds. Because of the scholarship, I was able to minimize my debt as a first-year student at Howard and not burden my parents with taking additional loans during my freshman year. I’m very grateful for FOCRLS, and I hope the next scholarship recipient(s) are able to similarly benefit.”

Photo courtesy of Nellisha

Jake, our CRLS Class of 2022 awardee of the “100 by 100” Cambridge Business Community STEAM Engineering Scholarship, is a member of the Northeastern University Class of 2026.

“I’m studying Mechanical Engineering, and I’ve especially been enjoying my Mechanics of Materials class. This course has provided me with a deep understanding of how materials respond to various forces and loads, which is fundamental to my field of study. I’ve also really enjoyed the group projects I’ve had the privilege to collaborate on. My favorite so far has been working on a Plinko arcade game with motorized obstacles. I’m in the process of applying for co-op and will get one by the spring. The FOCRLS Engineering scholarship was very useful for helping with my tuition. My parents and I are very grateful.”

Photo courtesy of Jake