President Ammons Awards Scholarships at the Harlem Children Zone

Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons awarded $175,000 in scholarships to students at Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) in New York, NY.  Ammons met with the administration of HCZ as well as with parents and students to award scholarships on the spot to students who meet scholarship requirements.  Five students, who will be the first generation in their family to attend college, were recipients of the scholarships.

Dominique Bradham-Riddy was awarded a Life-Gets-Better Scholarship totaling more than $100,000.  This presidential scholarship provides four years of tuition and fees, room, board, books, $500 per semester stipend, internships and a laptop.  Bradham-Riddy plans to major in engineering and pre-med.  The other students included:
Falilou Barry, business and engineering;
Jainelle Gailard, psychology;
Brittany Williams, science/pre-med; and
Deloris Witcher, science/pre-med
According to Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO of HCZ, this is first time a university has offered scholarships to students at HCZ.

“We have worked with these students since they were in sixth grade to make sure they were academically prepared for college and the high-skills job market,” said HCZ President and CEO Geoffrey Canada. “By offering our students these scholarships, Florida A&M University is knocking down one of the biggest remaining barriers to success for these kids. We are thrilled that the college is giving our kids this opportunity.”

President Ammons said the students at the Harlem Children Zone are talented.

“The students at the Harlem Children Zone are talented and driven,” said Ammons. “Florida A&M University can help them discover who they can become and succeed to their fullest potential.”

The funds for the scholarships come from private donations.

About the Harlem Children Zone
Under the visionary leadership of its President and CEO, Geoffrey Canada, HCZ continues to offer innovative, efficiently run programs that are aimed at doing nothing less than breaking the cycle of generational poverty for the thousands of children and families it serves.

All HCZ programs are offered free to the children and families of Harlem, which is made possible by donations.