Help a deserving student in NYC earn a degree

Project Report | May 8, 2017
English Ball raises over $85,000 for scholarships

By Hastings Hill | Communications & Membership Manager

2016 Scholars at English Ball

St. George’s Society of New York hosted its annual gala, the English Ball, on 3 May at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. This year the Society honored two remarkable women for their impact on the Anglo-American community on both sides of the Atlantic: Natalie T. Pray, noted philanthropist and the first and only female President in the Society’s 247-year history, and Antonia Romeo, Her Majesty’s Consul General in New York and Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Trade.

In addition to celebrating the outstanding achievements of the honorees, the Society held a “Fund-A-Scholar” auction conducted by C. Hugh Hildesley of Sotheby’s. This year’s auction raised over $85,000 for the Society’s Scholarship Program, allowing us to continue providing support for well-deserving students.

Preceding the auction, 2016 scholar Sana spoke about her journey from Pakistan to Lehman College, and how her scholarship has allowed her to get a step closer to her goal of becoming a cardiac surgeon. You may remember her story from our August report.

She shared with attendees:

[The scholarship] gave me the opportunity to quit my job and dedicate my time towards internships, research groups, and mentoring programs—all of which actively support my education and career aspirations. Since that time, I am proud to share that I have co-authored three scientific papers and participated in a study abroad program to Australia, all while maintaining a 3.96 GPA. None of this would have been possible without the St. George’s Society Scholarship Program.

Education is something I believe everyone should have access to. I hope to inspire future generations to pursue their dreams, no matter what barriers they may face.

In entering my senior year, I thank St. George’s Society and their supporters for believing in me and providing me with the stepping-stone to becoming a cardiac surgeon.

I know I speak for all of [the scholars] when I express my most sincere gratitude and tell you that this program has changed our lives.

Through your contributions, St. George’s Society remains Lehman College’s largest scholarship benefactor, and in the fall will welcome the inaugural class of scholars from Hunter College, also in the CUNY system.

On behalf of the scholars and St. George’s Society, thank you for your support.

Sana speaking at English Ball

Links:

St. George's Society of New York

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Feb 7, 2017
Scholarship Case Study: Esthelle from Ghana

By Anna Titley | Executive Director

2016 Scholar: Esthelle from Ghana

Esthelle is majoring in Biological Sciences at Lehman College and her long-term goal is to pursue a career in medicine. Esthelle is also passionate about helping low-income students succeed in the classroom and one day hopes to launch an organization that provides access to good quality education and mentoring for less fortunate children. Esthelle was awarded a St. George’s Society Scholarship in July 2016 and will graduate this summer.

Esthelle’s story in her words:

“Growing up in Ghana I realized that kids who are raised in financially unstable homes are often marginalized by society. As a result, these kids usually lose hope in life and go wayward, either not finishing school, joining gangs, or never seeing any of their dreams become realities.

Moving to the South Bronx, I realized my experiences in Africa were the same as in the United States. In my opinion, society fails to provide low-income kids who struggle in school the necessary support and tools needed to be successful in life. At an early age, when these students do not have positive or supportive experiences in school or from their parents, they can be viewed as failures and rejected by society.

After attending college and pursuing medicine, I want to launch an organization that aids low-income kids by providing after school tutoring, opportunities to visit colleges, and find the right mentors they need to be the next Michelle Obama or Adam Clayton Powell, Jr..

Thanks to the St. George’s Society Scholarship, I am one step closer to my overall goal of being a great mentor to kids, not only in the US but in Ghana as well.”

Since the St. George’s Society Scholarship Program began in 2008, it has awarded 249 scholarships totaling over $720,000 and in 2013 the Society became Lehman College’s largest benefactor. In 2017, the Society plans to expand the program to include Hunter College, also in the CUNY system.

Thank you for your support!

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Nov 14, 2016
Scholarship Case Study: Rintu from Bangladesh

By Anna Titley | Director of Operations & Communications

2016 Scholar: Rintu from Bangladesh

St. George's Society’s 2016 scholarship recipients, including Rintu from Bangladesh, are extremely grateful for the funds awarded to them earlier this year. Our scholarship program assists promising students who have achieved excellent academic standing in their first three years but due to financial hardship are unable to complete their final year of undergraduate studies.

Rintu was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh and migrated to America five years ago. He is currently a senior in Accounting at Lehman College and his long-term goal is to qualify as a CPA and teach Accounting so he can improve the standard of life for his family.

Rintu has worked in restaurants and data entry jobs to pay bills and assist his family. Sadly, Rintu’s mother recently suffered a stroke and is now living with him so he can take care of her. Rintu knows that to really help his family he needs to stay focused on school and obtain the career he is working so hard for. Education has not always been an easy choice because income is so limited for his family and the St. George’s Society scholarship eases some of the financial burden, allowing Rintu to focus on his studies.

Rintu says: “My parents taught me to work hard to achieve my goals and never give up. My lifetime goal is to improve myself and the standard of living for my siblings and community through higher education. Lehman College has helped me realize even higher goals than I could ever have imagined for myself. I had always loved Math, but taking Accounting classes at Lehman emphasized that. These classes have shown me the fundamentals of accounting and how money works in the world.”

Dr. Ricardo R. Fernández, who retired as President of Lehman College earlier this year after serving in the role since 1990, said of the St. George’s Society scholarship program:

“Lehman College is proud to have such a prestigious organization as its number one donor. The generosity of St. George’s Society’s donors has helped almost 250 of our students earn their degrees and gain an important foothold on the path toward fulfilling their dreams and making the world a better place.”

Thank you for your support!

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