Westchester Insider: Westchester County Board of Legislators: Press Release: BOARD RECOGNIZES 2021 JANDON SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS.

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 14, 2021

 

BOARD RECOGNIZES 2021 JANDON SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS.

Jandon Foundation and County High School Students Highlighted in Video Presentation.

 

White Plains, NY — On Monday evening, the Westchester County Board of Legislators celebrated the generosity of the Jandon Foundation and the accomplishments of the 15 recipients of scholarships in the 2021 Jandon Scholars program.

 

In his opening remarks, Board Chair Ben Boykin (D – White Plains, Scarsdale, West Harrison) thanked the Jandon Foundation for its continued generosity and commitment.

 

He said, “Recognizing this important program has become a cherished tradition here at the Board … the Jandon Scholars program isn’t just a college scholarship – it is a guiding and generous hand through a student’s college career. It is set up to provide support and to reward effort and excellence. In addition, these students become part of a community of past Jandon Scholars with a shared experience for the rest of their lives, providing valuable mentoring and key contacts.”

 

In a video presentation, Alec Cecil, son of Jandon founders Don and Jane Cecil, said, “My sister, Leslie, and I have been honored with the opportunity to continue in our parents' footsteps. My parents were huge believers in the value of education and in assisting others to achieve success in life … Now to the graduates -- welcome to the community of Jandon Scholars … You have all achieved much, yet you have much more to do. While this scholarship is a reward for what you have accomplished so far, it is really designed to enhance your opportunity to succeed in college and beyond. Much is now expected of you: to work hard, complete school, pursue careers, families, community service, help others … Consider this as our investment for the enterprise that is the rest of your life. We hope to be your partners for the next four years and to help you succeed.”

 

You can view the video presentation, which includes photos of each of the 15 scholars as well as Mr. Cecil’s remarks here: https://vimeo.com/574157718

 

The program awards $12,000 over four years to academically-qualifying Westchester public high school seniors with limited resources to help them realize their dream of a college education. Since the beginning of the program, 320 scholarships have been awarded totaling $2 million dollars.

 

The Jandon Scholars program is unique in that it follows students through their college careers.  Awards are provided in annual, increasing increments as incentives, and scholarship recipients have access to a network of hundreds of alumni who have come through the program.

 

Below is a list of this year’s Scholars, the high schools they graduated from and the colleges they will be attending:

 

·         Luis Aguilar, Ossining High School -- Mercy College

·         Diamond Brown, Roosevelt High School Early Childhood Studies -- NYU-Tandon School of Engineering

·         Malik Hylton, Gorton High School -- Lehman College

·         Martinez Jean Claude, Mount Vernon STEAM Academy -­ Emory University

·         Kevin Leak, Woodlands High School -- Syracuse University

·         Opeyemi Majiyagbe, Riverside High School -- Skidmore College

·         Katherine Mora, Hendrick Hudson High School -- Columbia University

·         Katherine Quezada, Peekskill High School -- John Jay College of Criminal Justice

·         Evelyn Rios, Riverside High School -- Northeastern University

·         Isac Sacoto, Peekskill High School -- Cornell University

·         Nicole Santana, Riverside High School -- Hunter College

·         Gabrielle Sylvester, Mount Vernon High School -- New York University

·         Luisa Urgiles, Peekskill High School -- Binghamton University

·         Navaiya Williams, Yonkers Middle High School -- Brown University

·         Kayla Yan, Mamaroneck High School -- University at Buffalo

 

 

 

About the Jandon Scholars Program

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The Jandon Foundation believes that quality education should be accessible to all students, irrespective of their financial background. Together, with the Westchester County Board of Legislators, the Jandon Foundation administers the Jandon Scholars program, which seeks to level the playing field by supporting and encouraging promising young students from low-income families in their pursuit for higher education.

 

In the spring of each year, the Jandon Scholars Program awards 15 college scholarships, and the Jandon Scholars receive a total of $12,000 over their four years in college. To encourage students to complete their education, the Jandon Scholars Program offers an increase in the amount of the scholarship for each year the students remain in school. Students receive $1,500 their first year, $2,500 their second year, $3,500 their third year and $4,500 in their fourth and final year. These funds are given directly to the students to ensure the award will not diminish other financial opportunities. Students are required to submit their grades each semester in order to receive the next term’s scholarship funds. In addition to the scholarship money, Jandon Scholars are treated to social events during the year for networking, advice and support.

 

The Jandon Foundation is a private foundation created by Jane and Donald Cecil of Harrison, New York.  The Cecils funded the Mount Vernon “I Have a Dream” program in 1987 and began funding the Neuberger Museum of Arts’ “Writing Through the Arts” program in 1993.  The Foundation’s primary philanthropic interest lies in education with particular interest in helping students from financially disadvantaged and under-educated families succeed.