I am currently a Junior at Rutgers University New Brunswick, double majoring in Information Technology and Informatics and Human Resource Management. As of recently, I have been inducted into two national honor societies, Rutgers Gamma Nu Eta (ITI Program Honor Society) and Chi Alpha Epsilon (The equal opportunity fund Honor Society). Also, I am currently a Dean's List student, with a GPA of 3.640. With my current number of credits, I may be eligible to graduate in January 2017. However, I currently work part time as a Helpdesk Manager at the New Brunswick Chancellors Office of Information Technology Services and an Audio Visual Technician at the Rutgers New Brunswick Student Centers. This summer I am extremely excited to be serving as a Human Resource Analyst Intern at JP Morgan and Chase Co. in NYC. I am very grateful to have been a recipient of your scholarship in my first year at Rutgers and I enjoy learning about how the organization continues to grow.
Best,
CJA
Hello!
First I would like to thank CWCY for helping me pay for my college endeavours and serving as an inspiration to continue my collegiate efforts. I am currently a rising sophomore at Rutgers School of Engineering pursuing a B.S in Biomedical Engineering on the Tissue, Engineering and Molecular Biology Track and a minor in Computer Science (concentration on Bioinformatics). School is going well and I’ve been able to get involved in several ways on campus my freshman year.
I was involved in various clubs throughout the Fall and Spring. I’m a member of ODASIS. The Office for Diversity and Academic Success in the Sciences which serves to increase the numbers of Hispanic, African-American, Native American, and EOF students majoring in the sciences by providing a more supportive environment. I volunteered to be a panelist for high schoolers interested in stem and medicine on Rutgers Day and participated in various ODASIS programs. I’m also a member of MEET, the Minority Engineering Educational Task or Rutgers chapter for the National Society of Black Engineers Chapter. During the year I worked as an Engineering Career Fair Liaison, Shadowed the Technical Excellence Chair Position, Assisted with activities for Young Engineers Day, and I’m currently running for the Technical Outreach/Research chair position. I was also involved with SWE, Society of Women Engineers. I served as SWE’s Freshman Representative for the 2016-2017 school year, worked with the Interval Vice President & High School Outreach Committee. I hosted potential female engineering students in my dorm as well as served on panel for students to ask questions regarding being a female in a stem major at a large research institution. I was also a member of RUBMES, Rutgers Biomedical Engineering Society and I’m currently in the running for 2020 Class Rep. I participated in Gospel Choir and the Companion Club. For the companion club I helped foster service dogs in training for the disabled and those in need and served as a sitter. And finally I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Reilly Douglass Engineering Living Learning Community which afforded me the opportunity to live in all-women's dorm my freshman year. Through the LLC I was able to apply to take a class called Intro to Scientific Research which designated me as a Douglass Science Scholar. As a Douglass Science Scholar I applied and was accepted into Project Super a program that placed me in a research lab where I worked during my spring semester and will continue to work in for the summer as a undergraduate research assistant. My lab is part of the Rutgers Stem Cell Research Center and is under the Biomedical Engineering Department and I am currently working on improving protocol for dopaminergic neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells and human embryonic stem cells under Dr. Rick Cohen and MD-candidate Astha Saini.
I would like CWCY to know that the foundation holds a special place in my heart and that I would not have been able to focus and achieve all that I have this semester without the contributions of the CWCY foundation.
-Brenda Okereke
I have recently finished my second year at the University of Maryland, College Park. I am double majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice with Communication. I made the Dean’s list for fall 2016 and my current GPA is 3.5. When I graduate I plan to work with the Criminal Justice field to aid with inclusion and diversity.
I am active on campus in many organizations. One of which is SSLC (Student Success Leadership Council)/UMSuccess, where I was the secretary. We host and promote many events to lower the retention rate of black students at the University of Maryland. I am also an Ambassador for one of my colleges, where I help with recruitment, mentoring, and providing input to improve the college. In addition, I am a member of the Police Advisory Review Council, where we work with the police department to bridge the gap between police and students. In addition, I volunteer in a program called EDGE where I host and mentor incoming minority students. Also I was recently accepted into the T. Howard Foundation, which is a competitive internship program for business students.
I found that being out of state and a minority at a major state University has many challenges. This motivated me to create the Out of State Association for minorities, which allows students to be part of a community and network with people that look like them. This organization is still new but has already helped a few students.
Last Summer I interned at the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office. This Summer I will study abroad in Rome, Italy. This experience will allow me to evolve and thrive with the communication aspect of my major, which will help me with learning different aspects of communication on a global level. I will be able to compare the key components of communications that are derived from the culture. In addition, Rome has an emphasis on government affairs which will give man a unique insight into my field.
Antoinette Brimmer
Hi!
My name is Conni McKenzie and I am a 2015 graduate of Piscataway High School. I currently attend the University of San Francisco and will be a third-year student come this fall. A few years ago, I met Celebrate Women Celebrate You as a terrified high school senior with no clue of what to expect of my college experience. Although I originally had no intention of going far to school, I ended up choosing my school because of the opportunities it would give me. However, being far away led to several challenges, such as having to deal with being on my own, making new friends, and doing almost everything for myself.
Since then, I have underwent significant personal, social, academic, and professional growth. I have learned quite a bit about myself and learned to communicate with others in a variety of settings. I managed to continue something I loved, dancing, while completing my studies. I now find myself extraordinarily busy with class, work, rehearsals, volunteering, and other extra-curricular activities in my schedule!
Yet, this craziness has not hindered my success. I have averaged to present at a 3.97 GPA, gaining no less than an A- in any class. I have also found myself two steady jobs, one of them being a tutor, to help give me some professional experience while I am school. Of course, I am also dancing plenty, and involve myself in as many classes and productions as I can manage to be a part of.
I would like to thank Celebrate Women Celebrate You again for the wonderful contributions you have made towards my education. The scholarship funds made the transition into my first year a lot smoother and gave me less to worry about as I adjusted to university life!
Known as the ultra-quiet, timid dancer, who was accepted into a gifted and talented high school for fine arts dance skills, since the age of 3, dance was my passion, not to mention my voice. I could release all of my inner feelings at the ballet barre or on the stage. Fast forward several years and I’m teaching dance to children at my church—these experiences introduced me to my love of teaching and my new passion to become the best teacher possible. As the big sister in my household, and soon-to-be graduated Spelman woman, I’ve got to set a good example and make my mark. It is the least I could do to show my gratitude for all the opportunities I’ve been given—such as being accepted into the 21st Century CCLC Summer Learning Camp during the summer of 2016. This summer, I am excited to begin my journey as part of the Summer Teaching Fellowship to bring what I’ve learned about being a strong educator to students of diverse backgrounds in an urban environment and to help create a new generation of thinking individuals. I have earned my spot on the Dean’s List Fall semester 2016 with a 3.9 GPA and I have ended the school year on the Honor Roll (Spring semester 2017) with a 3.7 GPA. I am extremely thankful for the great opportunities I have been given over the past few years and I will continue to remain humble and hardworking as I begin my journey to graduation this year!