Ohene Baffour
Walter Kann Scholarship Recipient
Major: Biology
A native of Ghana, Ohene first became interested in the medical field when he witnessed a
hospital patient die because there were no qualified healthcare providers available. The
experience left a profound impact on him, and motivated Ohene to pursue his own career in
medicine. Upon being accepted to Kingsborough, he became the first member of his family
ever to attend college – a tremendous of pride for his family. His future remains bright, too: he
was recently accepted to York College, where he plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Science.
With each passing day, Ohene comes closer to his dream of providing life-saving care to
patients. “Thanks to supportive faculty and generous donors, I am one step closer to achieving
my academic and professional goals.”
Zennia Fernandez
Post New York Alliance Scholarship
Major: Media Technology & Management
Zennia Fernandez had always been a standout student in high school, but it would take her
slightly longer to find her footing at the college level. During her second year at Brooklyn
College, Zennia experienced the infamous “sophomore slump,” and as her grades began to slip,
she decided to drop out. Fortunately, Kingsborough has provided Zennia with a fresh start, and
she has made the most of her second chance in higher education. As a Media Technology
Management major, Zennia has fallen in love with her classes and looks forward one day
working as a producer or director of photography/cinematography on her own groundbreaking
films. “There are so many students with great potential and who have a vision and voice, but
don’t have the means to prove themselves. My scholarship gives me the chance to prove
myself and have a career doing what I love.”
Symba Goddard
Southpole Foundation Scholarship
Major: Culinary Arts
Originally from Greneda, Symba set her sights on Kingsborough upon her brother’s positive
recommendation. At KCC, Symba has been able to turn her lifelong passion for cooking into a
viable career path by enrolling in the Culinary Arts program. Her academic accomplishments
have not gone unnoticed, as she recently received the first ever Culinary Arts Program Award
for Most Outstanding Student. After graduating from KCC, she plans on pursuing a Bachelor’s
in Food Systems and Technology, with her ultimate dream being to open up her own
restaurant. “As an International student, I have few options for financial aid. Thanks to the
Southpole Foundation, I was able to pay my tuition, stay in school and keep on track with my
coursework.”
Talia Gordon
Richmond County Savings Foundation Scholarship
Major: Liberal Arts
At Kingsborough, Talia has found her niche as a student and approaches her work with
tremendous vigor, focus and enthusiasm. The first member of her family to attend college,
Talia is passionate about music and entertainment; she plays the guitar and piano, is a
Broadway aficionado and hopes to one day work in the industry as either a talent scout or an
artist/composer herself. Her ultimate academic goal is to obtain a Master’s in Music.
“Sometimes, with scholarships, it is the simple things that make all the difference, like being
able to afford daily transportation to school. My scholarship transformed my life for the better,
and has brought my dreams more within reach!”
Ray Hsieh
National Grid Scholarship/Internship Award 2012
Major: Engineering Science
From an early age, Ray Hsieh demonstrated an aptitude for math and science, and as he grew
older and began thinking about his career, he became “naturally attracted” to engineering. At
Kingsborough, Ray has excelled in his studies and is currently looking to join the college’s
honors society, Phi Theta Kappa. Outside of the classroom, Ray has made an equally notable
impact, volunteering his time to tutor younger students and even leading a fundraising
campaign for the Sichuan earthquake victims. His long-term plan is to pursue an MBA and/or
an advanced degree in Engineering. “Donating gives students like me the opportunity to
achieve their goals. By receiving a scholarship, I was given a chance to be academically
successful and have a professional future.”
Farin Kautz
Gladys Brooks Foundation & Barclays Nets Community Alliance Scholarships
Major: Liberal Arts
Farin has played an active role on the Kingsborough campus. He is President of the Honors
Club, Vice President of the Political Science Club, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the Student
World Assembly, has attended the Salzburg program and is a member of the Resources for
Educational and Employment Opportunities (REEO). Last Spring, Farin was selected to spend a
month in Costa Rica to work on a number of community-building projects. Through his
involvement at KCC and beyond, it is clear that Farin has the talent, leadership, and civic
awareness to play an active role strengthening his community for years to come. After
graduating from KCC this year, Farin will attend Columbia University’s School of General
Studies. “There is no better investment than education.”
Nicole Kirschner
Ambrose Monell Foundation Scholarship
Major: Nursing
As the Assistant Director of a Home Healthcare agency, Nicole enjoyed her work, but it lacked
the “hands-on,” direct interaction with the patient. Her career was at a crossroads, so Nicole
decided to go back to school and pursue a degree in Nursing. Nicole chose Kingsborough
because of the college’s renowned Nursing program. Though she attends college on a fulltime
basis, Nicole still makes time to work at Thursday’s Child, an early intervention program where
she teaches autistic children. After Kingsborough, she aspires to continue her studies and
become a Nurse Practitioner. “My dream is to work at Maimonides Hospital as a Pediatrics
nurse, blending my love of children and nursing. Thanks to my education at Kingsborough, I am
closer to reaching that dream.”
Mariam Kurashvili
Follett Scholarship
Major: Fine Arts
Originally from the Republic of Georgia, Mariam first came to the United States as part of an
exchange program and fell in love with her new environment. At Kingsborough, Mariam has
overcome both linguistic and cultural barriers to make the most of her academic experience.
She has also made her mark on campus, winning the 2011 KCC Art Gallery Award for Animation
and the 2012 “Go Green” Contest. Mariam plans to go on to Hunter College, to pursue a
Bachelor’s degree in either Fine Arts or Performance Arts. She also aspires to attend graduate
school and become a teacher. “Support from donors allows us to grow as students and as
individuals. I hope use what I have learned and give back one day to future students by
becoming a teacher.”
Mushfica Masud
KCC Retiree Scholarship
Major: Media Technology & Management
Originally from Bangladesh, Mushfica has developed a passion for media broadcasting at Kingsborough,
and her long-term goal is to work in media/film production. She also maintains a very active presence
on campus as a CUNY Start Student Ambassador, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor
society for community college students, and in her work with KCC TV and KCC Focus. After
Kingsborough, Mushfica plans to continue pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Media Broadcasting and
Management. “A single donation can change a life. I am deeply honored and touched to be receiving a
scholarship from Kingsborough and the Retiree's Committee. I hope to be a role model for young girls in
Bangladesh and demonstrate that focus and hard work results in positive outcomes. “
Jon-Erik Mendez
Motion Picture Editors Guild Scholarship
Major: Media Technology & Management
For Jon-Erik, Kingsborough Community College runs in the family; his mother is a proud Alumna
of KCC’s nursing program. So it wasn’t a surprise that when Jon-Erik was struggling for direction
after dropping off of college, his mother recommended her alma mater as the ideal setting for
his big comeback. Though he started off as a Nursing student, Jon-Erik later gravitated towards
media and film. He has since taken on numerous projects, including completing the NYC Media
internship and participating in projects related to the Motion Picture Editors Guild. Jon-Erik’s
ultimate goal is to be a professional film editor. “My scholarship has helped me identify my
true passions—film and media editing—and provided me the means to take my career as far as
possible.”
Hadia Rashid
Student Achievement Award
Major: Biology
From day one, Hadia Rashid felt “at home” on the Kingsborough campus. At KCC, Hadia finds
her professors to be incredibly supportive of her studies and feels that they go above and
beyond the classroom to help her succeed. More than just a diligent student, Hadia has
enjoyed extracurricular triumphs as well; she recently received the 2012 Student Achievement
Award for her role in this year’s Phone-A-Thon, wherein she raised $1,100 alone for student
scholarships! After graduating from Kingsborough, Hadia hopes to pursue a career as a
pharmacist. In the meantime, she has a poignant message for past, present and future donors:
“your generosity is an inspiring example, and reminds us all to think about the greater
community and how to help others achieve success.”
Tatiana Rodriguez
Senior Administrators’ Fund Scholarship
Major: Alcohol and Substance Abuse Certificate
Having already received a BS in Psychology, Tatiana was faced with scarce job openings after
graduation. Her solution was returning to school for a certification in Alcohol and Substance
Abuse Counseling. Through her KCC internship experience her career goals were brought into
focus. Tatiana realized that she wants to work with a challenging population: substance abuse
patients who also suffer from mental illness. Tatiana was able to overcome her anxieties and is
now very confident in her skills and intuition as a therapist. “Thanks to my education at
Kingsborough and my internship I am now confident public speaking. If it had not been for
Kingsborough and the generous scholarship I received, I might not have found my voice.”
Colleen Turner
Motion Picture Editors Guild Scholarship
Major: Media Technology & Management
Colleen Turner was very drawn to work in the field of Television Production from a young age.
When it came time for college, she selected Kingsborough because of its outstanding academic
program in Media Technology and Management. Colleen is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the
honor society for community college students, and credits her success to hard work and focus,
but also to her wonderful professors who go above and beyond the classroom to ensure that
she and her peers get real hands-on experience. Colleen was selected as an intern for a fivemonth internship with NYC Media and the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and
recorded segments on Arts and Culture in Southern Brooklyn. The segments have been
broadcasted to over 1.5 million viewers in the tri-state area, and are played daily in NYC Taxis
throughout the city. Colleen plans to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Broadcasting after
graduating from KCC. "Kingsborough students are diverse and are not traditional students, but
we all share the same goal: furthering our education and improving our lives. Thanks to donors,
we are able to meet our goals and achieve the American dream."