10 Young Women Earn Scholarships

THE RIVERDALE PRESS

By Rose Brennan

A street renaming might normally be all in a day’s work for the Bronx Rising Initiative. But on July 7, it also was part and parcel with naming 10 recipients of the Brandon Hendricks Scholarship.

The scholarship was named after Brandon Hendricks, an up-and-coming high school basketball player who was shot and killed last year.

But now, in his name, 10 students from city high schools each received $5,000 to aid in tuition costs for their colleges of choice.

All 10 are women and include Rachel Turbridy and Abigail Smith of the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music in Van Cortlandt Village, Ethnee Guzman of the American Dream Charter School in Mott Haven, Khaliya Reyes of Saint Raymond’s Academy for Girls in Parkchester, Esmeralda Valdes of Mott Hall V School in West Farms, Khalijah Robinson of Thurgood Marshall Academy in Harlem, Gabriela Encalada of the University Prep Charter High School in Mott Haven, Lucki Islam of Dreamyard Preparatory School in East Concourse, Rosselys Bare of the Bronx High School of Business in East Concourse, and Princess Della Tsivor of the Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School in Morrisania.

Turbridy plans to major in music performance at New York University. A French horn player, she hopes to both perform professionally and teach.

Smith plays both violin and piano, but plans to study biology at Stony Brook University on Long Island. Her ultimate goal is to become a pediatrician.

Berkeley announces high achievers

Berkeley College honored Bronx students Ledwin Amaro and Vanessa Justiniano by including them on its president’s list honor, while Martnia Montalvo was named to the dean’s list at the Midtown Manhattan college.