About the Scholarship

"Greetings everyone! My name is Mohamed Amechtak and I'm an incoming freshman majoring in Cybersecurity at Rochester Institute of Technology! I would like to begin by expressing my sincerest gratitude to the wonderful team behind the Kevin Shaw Jr. Foundation for choosing me as a scholarship recipient! As we all grow and progress in the age of technology, we must not be strangers to the dangers that arise from information leaks. One in three Americans have experienced identity theft at some point in their lives. Instead of watching the situation fester and worsen over time, I wish to be involved in the solution and I believe that the resources provided to me by the Kevin Shaw Jr. Foundation will significantly aid in my journey towards helping solve the problem. It is a wonderful initiative to aid underprivileged people of color in achieving their dreams and contributing to the betterment of society. Once again, I'd like to express my thanks to the Kevin Shaw Jr. Foundation, congratulate my fellow colleagues for their acceptance, and wish them luck in pursuing their goals and aspirations."

"My name is Denver Kelley. I grew up in Queens, New York and come from a Jamaican/Cuban heritage. I am of the utmost gratitude for receiving the scholarship. It will aid me in attending the University of Connecticut and beginning my future career as a pharmacist. My major is pharmacy studies with a minor in business fundamentals. In the long term, I hope to conduct research and find cheaper alternatives to medicines that cannot be afforded by the marginalized."

“Ava Aimable was born and raised in Jamaica, NY. After seeing firsthand how mental health has been neglected in society, especially in POC communities, she took action. Ava has volunteered with multiple organizations such as LuvMicheal which employs adults with autism and Kids 2, a summer getaway camp designed for adults with moderate to serious physical and mental disabilities in Upstate New York. In the future, Ava hopes to serve her community further by becoming a clinical psychologist. This fall Ava will be studying at Columbia University in the City of New York pursuing her love of psychology.”

"The Kevin Shaw Jr. Foundation gave me so much more than financial support. Of course, college is expensive and my family is very grateful for every dollar that we were given, but the Kevin Shaw Jr Foundation made me realize something even better. While at our scholarship ceremony, I got to interact with several young men and women going through life changes that I was about to face. Hearing the testaments of students currently at schools such as MIT made me realize that one of the best forms of help could be fellow students who are struggling in the same classes as me. I realized that I would it never hurts to ask for help and that the Kevin Shaw Jr Foundation would always be there for me."

“Isabella Arias was raised in Queens, New York by her single mother and grandmother. Her family immigrated from Colombia to New York in the 90s, fleeing political violence. Through them, a sense of morality and fairness was instilled in her. After learning the circumstances of the nation and world around her, Isabella saw a path for herself. By serving communities through the American legal and governmental systems, Isabella hopes to one day bring more justice into the world. This fall, Isabella will be attending Mount Holyoke College, the first of the Seven Sisters. She intends on majoring in Political Science on the Pre-Law track, and later gaining entry to a top law school. She credits support from her loving family, driven peers, and talented mentors for her achievements thus far.“

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude for selecting me as a recipient of the prestigious Kevin Shaw Jr. Scholarship. I am thrilled to have been chosen for this incredible opportunity. This scholarship will undoubtedly play a vital role in helping me pursue my dreams at the University at Albany Honors College. I have always been passionate about technology and problem-solving, and my journey in computer engineering will be exhilarating as I use the scholarship’s resources to pursue my dreams. Attending the University at Albany Honors College is a dream come true for me. The college's reputation for academic excellence, supportive faculty, and state-of-the-art facilities make it the ideal place for me to develop my talents and achieve my goals. As an African American male in NYC, I want to be an example for POC young men and boys to fulfill and chase their dreams. I sincerely appreciate the Kevin Shaw Scholarship Committee for selecting me. This scholarship will shape my future and enable me to become a better version of myself and my best."

“Being a part of the foundation creates new affordable opportunities. Not only was I able to afford certain school necessities, like textbooks, I have became a member of a new family. The Kevin Shaw Jr. Foundation will forever be an extended family to me and I am forever grateful for all of their help and support.”

"I am Amaya Denson and I am grateful to receive this scholarship. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and will be attending college in Syracuse at the SUNY College for Environmental Science and Forestry. I will be majoring in Environmental Studies and hope to pursue a career surrounding the betterment of our world. "

"Kevin Shaw Jr. allowed me to see that there are people to back me up along the way on my college journey. The financial support they have given me allowed me to support myself throughout my first year of college and allowed me to purchase my books and supplies needed to excel in my classes. The transition to college can be an extremely hard one, but the Kevin Shaw Jr Foundation made that process much easier."

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Kevin Shaw Jr. Foundation, not only for the financial support that they will provide me in my future studies, but also for the inspiration that they have provided me with. Looking back at the life of Kevin Shaw Jr, it was clear that he was a young man who was charismatic, passionate, and determined when it came to his education. After reading his biography, I felt personally inspired to emulate the same values that Kevin Shaw Jr. applied to his own life. I was reminded of a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr “Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education”. I hope to take these values with me this fall, as I begin my studies at Cornell University, where I will be majoring in biological sciences. My future goal is of one day becoming a medical doctor. I am very honored and grateful for this recognition, and I would like to once again say thank you to the Kevin Shaw Jr. Foundation."

"I am honored and grateful to have received this scholarship from the Kevin Shaw Jr. Foundation. I will be attending Queens College, majoring in General Music (violin performance). My main goal is to continue my passion for music and keep working hard. I want to join a professional orchestra, spreading music for everyone to enjoy and keep the art of classical music preserved."

"The college that I will be attending is Morehouse College. I will be majoring in kinesiology in an effort to become an occupational therapist. I aspire to help those in my community by presenting them with opportunities that are not prevalent to them."

"The Kevin Shaw Jr Foundation has helped ease my mind as I transitioned into college. Being a recipient of this scholarship allowed me to further pursue my career endeavors which is to become a rehabilitation veterinarian. It is nice to have the support and recognition of such an organization geared towards highlighting the success of pre-collegiate/collegiate individuals. This scholarship allowed me to enter college with confidence and an "I can achieve anything attitude" which I continue to carry to this day."

"I am now a sophomore at Emory University, double majoring in sociology and global health. After my very challenging, yet rewarding first year of college I was able to get a head start on work for the upcoming semester with the financial support from the Kevin Shaw Jr Foundation."