2/24/04

JANDON FOUNDATION EXPANDS SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO LOW INCOME STUDENTS

Scrapbook of 2004 scholars

Like many high school seniors bound for college, Marie Feltio has had to struggle with SATs, college applications and housing arrangements for September. But unlike many of her peers she has not had the support of parents and has had to overcome obstacles that many 18-year-olds would find daunting. Losing her mother at age 10, Marie has had to negotiate the world largely on her own.

But Marie is getting support from a unique scholarship program that offers students more than tuition. It offers them a family. 

Marie, a Westchester Scholar, is one of 15 students from across Westchester County who on May 11 were awarded scholarships by the Jandon Foundation, a private foundation created by Jane and Don Cecil of Harrison. In cooperation with Westchester County, the Jandon Scholarship program helps to send promising young students from low-income families to college.

Since the program began in 1999, 65 young people have been awarded up to $10,000 over four years in scholarships and have become part of Jane and Donald Cecil’s extended family. In addition to financial support, the Cecils hold twice yearly functions to bring the scholars together and offer advice and moral support. Because of the program’s success, the Cecils expanded the program again this year, offering 15 scholarships. The program began offering 12 scholarships in 2000 and continues to add scholarships each year.

“Not only have Jane and Don Cecil invested more than $1 million to finance this program, but they have become personally involved with these young people,’’ said County Executive Andy Spano. “This is perhaps the most rewarding program that Westchester has become involved with. This year, we had our first group of Jandon graduates. It was exciting to see the difference we made in these young people’s lives.’’

Jane and Donald Cecil said they too were moved by the graduation of the first group of Jandon Scholars. 

“When we started this program in 1999 we hoped to make a difference in these young people’s lives, but we never guessed what a big difference it would make in our lives,’’ said Don Cecil. “It has been tremendously fulfilling to see these young people grow and become successful, and to know that because of our influence many of them have said they plan to give back to their communities once they are settled in their careers.’’ 

In addition to helping the Cecils locate applicants for the scholarships through the county’s Department of Social Services, Westchester created a mentorship program for 7-11th graders called Westchester Scholars to help groom students for the Jandon program. So far, it has been working with three Westchester Scholars becoming Jandon Scholars last year, and three again this year.

To be eligible for the Jandon Scholarship program, a student must attend a public high school in Westchester and be a member of a family with an income below the poverty level. A selection committee chooses scholars based on junior-and senior-year grades, Scholastic Aptitude Test scores and good character. Students submitted essays as well as school transcripts, letters of recommendation and other documentation. To encourage students to complete their education, the program offers an increase in the amount of the scholarship for each year they remain in school. Freshmen receive $1,000, sophomores, $2,000, juniors $3,000; and seniors, $4,000. 

Westchester Scholars were selected on similar criteria. Students with a B average or better who have good attendance records and participate in extracurricular or community service programs were eligible. 
This year’s Jandon Scholars came from nine school districts throughout Westchester. Many of the young people have had obstacles to overcome ranging from financial difficulties to little or no family support. 
The following is a list of this year’s scholars: 

Elizabeth Belanfante - Elizabeth, 18, attends Mount Vernon High School. She has been a member of the National Honor Society since 2002, and is currently president of her school’s Honor Society chapter. She teaches Sunday school at her church, is in the choir, and is the church Youth Treasurer and Secretary. She has received several awards during her high school career, including a certificate of appreciation from Mayor Ernest Davis, the Yale Book Award, AKAP Community Service Award, and school awards for English, Chemistry and analysis. Elizabeth will be attending Columbia University in the fall and wants to become a pediatrician.

Lucia Brea - Lucia, 17, is a senior at Gorton High School in Yonkers. She recently became a U.S. citizen. She moved here from the Dominican Republic and is thankful for the better living conditions and freedoms she now has. Lucia hopes to find a career that will allow her to go back to the Dominican Republic and help improve the living conditions there. Lucia is in the National Honor Society, and was recognized by the National Society of High School Scholars. She is very active at school, where she plays tennis and does track, helped plan the prom and publish the senior yearbook. She also teaches economics to elementary school students through the Junior Achievement Program. Outside of school she volunteers for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Latino mentoring program.


Michael Caputo -Michael is a senior at Port Chester High School and will be 18 in June. In addition to taking three AP courses, chairing the class ring committee, being on the prom committee, in the choir, and a peer mentor, Michael devotes much of his time volunteering at a local senior center serving meals to the elderly. He lives with his disabled father, and was raised mainly by his great-grandmother. It is because of her that he volunteers at the senior center where she attended programs before she died. Michael also works for Westmore News as an office assistant after school a few days a week. He is in the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He is also a Westchester Scholar.

Jairo Cruz- Jairo is a senior at Yonkers Middle/High School and will be 18 in June. He plans to attend Pace University in the fall. A Westchester Scholar, Jairo is in the National Honor Society as well as the Superintendent’s District Honor Society. He is well on his way to achieving his dream of becoming a forensic scientist and a doctor. Jairo has led blood drives at his school, as well as the collection for the March of Dimes, he volunteered to help clean up Westchester Parks and plans to volunteer at the Westchester Medical Center over the summer. He also has two part time jobs, one at a hospital, and one as a bus boy in the restaurant where his father works. 

Aimee DeCesare - Aimee, 18, is a senior at Saunders High School. She lives with her mother and terminally ill sister in Yonkers. She works hard to help take care of her sister, while achieving excellent grades in school. Aimee was a Junior Docent at the Hudson River Museum and now she is an education intern there. She also has a part time job as a cashier. She has been in the Century Honors Program for Yonkers Public Schools during her four years of high school, and received the Greater New York Chapter Fullbright Association Sponsorship at Sarah Lawrence College and will be attending Fordham in the fall.

Ydalia Domingues -Ydalia, 18 is a senior at Sleepy Hollow high school. Her father passed away when she was only 5, leaving her mother to raise two daughters. Ydalia has been inspired by her mother’s strength and values the lessons she taught her about receiving an education. Ydalia followed her mother’s advice, earned excellent grades, and was inducted into the National Honor Society as well as the Foreign Language Honor Society. In addition to her part-time job at a doctor’s office, Ydalia is involved in school sports, playing volleyball, running track and cheerleading. She will be attending Quinnipiac University in the fall.

Marie Feltio - Marie, 18, is a senior at Mount Vernon High School. She will be attending Marymount College in the fall. Marie is a 2003 Westchester Scholar. Marie’s lost her mother at the age of 10, and has been with a legal guardian ever since. She is Junior Class Secretary, a member of the Yearbook Committee, Prom Committee, and Homecoming Club. She also works as an office aide, is a volunteer at the YMCA, and is a certified lifeguard. She was also elected Miss Mount Vernon by Mount Vernon High School students.

Shirley Garcia - Shirley, 18, is a senior at Fox Lane High School. She plans to attend the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the fall. Shirley moved to the United States with her parents from Peru. Her mother came first to work and raise money to finally send for Shirley and her father. Shirley has since become a U.S. Citizen, mastered the English language, and will now be the first in her family to go to college. Last year, her mother became very sick and was hospitalized. Shirley was by her mother’s side constantly helping to take care of her. Despite this, she managed to maintain excellent grades. She has volunteered many hours to local agencies that aid the growing Hispanic community in Mount Kisco, translating, helping people with job interviews, and teaching them computer skills. She also volunteers over the summer working with ESL students in the elementary school’s literacy program.

Yeshecah Jackson -Yeshecah, 18, is a senior at Mount Vernon High School. She has been in the National Honor Society for the past two years and the Language Honor Society for three years. She is active in the school’s Upside Down Club and the Explorer’s Club. At the age of 8 she lost her older brother in a violent fight. Her brother had wanted to play baseball for the Yankees so Yeshecah has decided to carry on his dream by going to school for Sports Management so she can one day work for the Yankees management team. She hopes to attend NYU in the fall. She received the Who’s Who Among America’s High School Students Achievement Award during three of her four years in high school. 

Rheem Khoury - Rheem, 18, is a senior at Yonkers High School. She will be attending Fordham University this fall. Rheem is in the National Honor Society, is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s High School Students, has received the Superintendents Club 90 Award, and the Harvard Book Award for Excellence Scholarship. She is the Student Government president and is also the president of her church youth group, a member of SADD, and a tutor. 

Michelle Nally---Michelle, 18, is a senior at Yorktown High school. She will be attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice this fall. Michelle shares an apartment with her aunt, paying her own rent, utilities, and food expenses. She works part-time in a clothing store as a Front Line Supervisor. At school she is involved in SADD, Key club, she is co-editor of the yearbook, and is a peer mediator. 

Andrew Tapp---Andrew, 18, is a senior at Sleepy Hollow High School. He will be attending SUNY New Paltz in the fall. Andrew, who was removed from his home in his sophomore year of high school, is now a ward of the court, and lives in a group home. He has changed schools several times due to his living situation, but has managed to maintain excellent grades and is enthusiastic about life and his future. This is Andrew’s first year at Sleepy Hollow and he already has become involved in school activities, serving as assistant director of a school play. Andrew deals with all types of people when he goes home everyday, all of them he feels are different from himself He says he manages to stay focused and positive, and cope with his living situation. 

Yesenia Veras -Yesenia, 18, is a senior at Sleepy Hollow High School. She will be attending Mount Saint Mary College in the fall. Yesenia had a difficult home life, but with the support of her mother and siblings she has managed to remain strong and focused on school. Yesenia is active in her church youth group, and the Latin American Student Organization at school. She has had several part-time jobs after school, including babysitting, office work, tutoring, and volunteering at a group home for teens. 

Nkechi Udogwu - Nkechi, 17, is a senior at Alexander Hamilton High School. Her parents were both incarcerated in the summer of 2000, right before Nkechi started high school. Soon after she was separated from her siblings and left to care for herself. She works part-time after school in order to pay her own bills and feed herself. She has had to do everything on her own, including college searches, applications, and learning how to apply for financial aid. Despite her hardships she has managed to maintain a high GPA. She is involved in several school activities including Key Club and the yearbook committee. She is also student council secretary. She received the Who’s Who Among American High School Students Achievement Award and is in the National Honor Society. She will be attending Pace University in the fall. 

Tamara Williams –Tamara, 18, is a senior at Mount Vernon High School. She will be attending SUNY Binghamton in the fall. Tamara is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. She plays varsity soccer, and is involved in several groups including the Hip Hop Dance Club, Delta Teen Lift, Delta Sigma Theta Inc., and the Love Shouldn’t Hurt School Program. She spends her summers working as a camp counselor for foster children. She lives with her mother.