West Babylon Senior High School student presented with $17,000 scholarship during pre-game awards ceremony
(Long Island, NY) Six local high school students took to the (Citi) Field last night to receive $17,000 scholarships from Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Tri-State Area (RMHC-NYTSA). As the winners of the 2015 RMHC Scholars Scholarship, the graduating seniors from New York and New Jersey were honored during a pre-game awards ceremony for their outstanding academic achievement and community involvement. Held for the first time at Citi Field, the event was attended by 150 past RMHC scholarship recipients and supporters of Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Six local high school students received $17,000 scholarships from Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Tri-State Area. Photo Credit: RMHC-NYTSA.
This year RMHC-NYTSA will be awarding $775,000 in scholarships to 44 area students across its four scholarship programs: RMHC Scholars Scholarship, RMHC/African American Future Achievers Scholarship, RMHC/Asian-Pacific Students Increasing Achievement Scholarship and RMHC/Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources Scholarship. As the largest local scholarships program in the region, RMHC-NYTSA is dedicated to supporting exemplary students in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut areas who may face difficulties paying for a higher education.
Sage Chasen, 18, of West Babylon Senior High School in Long Island. Photo Credit: RMHC-NYTSA.
The recipients of the 2015 RMHC/Scholars Scholarship are:
- Sage Chasen, 18, of West Babylon Senior High School in Long Island is the founder of the school’s a cappella group APOP (A cappella Performers Opposing Pollution), which seeks to help the environment through music. He will be attending Lehigh University and majoring in Civil Engineering
- Andrew Duffy, 17, of Spring Valley High School in Rockland County is valedictorian of his class and volunteers with the Nyack Homeless Project. He will be attending the University of Rochester and majoring in Neuroscience.
- Stacy Lin, 17, of The Bronx High School of Science in the Bronx is part of the National Honors Society and has been a member of various community organizations, such as the Chinese-American Planning Council. She will be attending St. John’s University for the 6-year Doctor of Pharmacy Program.
- Hannah Pyrzynski, 17, of Dover High School in New Jersey is a Special Olympics volunteer and has been named Morris County Scholar Athlete. She will be attending Messiah College and majoring in Special Education.
- Muniba Siddiqui, 17, of Astor Collegiate Academy in the Bronx is actively involved with Sky Vegetables, a greenhouse that grows edible, pesticide free plants. She will be attending the University of Vermont.
- Yinge Zhao, 17, of The Dalton School in Manhattan regularly volunteers at a local hospital and has done research on Alzheimer’s disease. He will be attending Brown University and majoring in Chemistry.
“These remarkable young men and women were selected not only for their academic achievements but also because of the leadership they have demonstrated in their communities,” said Christopher Perry, Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Tri-State Area. “The RMHC scholarship program is committed to investing in young people who are making a positive difference in the world and to those around them.”
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area
For over 20 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Tri-State Area has been creating, finding and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Their signature programs include scholarships to help provide access to a college education for students who need and earn it, and community grants to support a variety of local children’s charities in the areas of medicine, crisis intervention, civic and social services, education, and the arts. The organization also provides needed support to 5 Ronald McDonald Houses, which are “homes away from home” allowing families to be with their hospitalized children for extended periods of time. For more information, please visit www.rmhcnytristate.org or contact 732-623-8639.
