2012 College Recipients

Marie Antoine
Marie Antoine, a resident of Washington Village, is a Sophomore at Sacred Heart University.  She was awarded a full tuition scholarship to Sacred Heart.  However, the scholarship does not cover her room and her meals and other expenses.  Ms. Antoine was accepted with a declared major in psychology.  She hopes to work with children upon graduation.

Eliza Brown
Eliza Brown, a Washington Village resident, is a sophomore at Norwalk Community College, where she is enrolled for her Associate Degree in Criminal Justice.  Eliza wants to be a juvenile probation officer and has already started gaining first hand experience about her field as she gives back to her community through volunteer work in a service learning project through Canaan Baptist Church.  Eliza is a long-time participant in the Washington Village I Have A Dream Program.  Eliza has also demonstrated her commitment to her community and her community’s respect for her through her election in 2009 to serve as Secretary on the Washington Village Residents Council, becoming at 18, one of the youngest residents to serve in such a position.  In April, 2011, NCC named Eliza a Woman of Promise.  After graduating NCC in June, 2011, Eliza will attend Temple University.

Tammara Clark
Tammara Clark, a King Kennedy Homes resident, is a fifth year student in a five-year program seeking a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and Biology at Central State University of Ohio.  She has always found science and medicine easy.  She comes from a large family and her father is disabled.  Her father’s illness is one of the motivating factors that caused Tammara to become a nurse.  She hopes that her success in college is helping to set an example for her younger siblings.  Because of her heavy science studies she has no time for enrichment activities or volunteer work.  She hopes to give back when she becomes a nurse and is able to help people who are disadvantaged.

Suria Ceja
Suria Ceja, a Junior at UCONN, has followed her older brother, Javier, onto the college track.  Like her brother, Suria entered college interested in business.  However, she has become fascinated with literature and is now exploring the possibility of becoming a professional writer.  Ms. Ceja has been involved with volunteer work and during winter break delivered food and clothes to flood ravaged families in Central America.

Michael Crafter
Michael Crafter is a former resident of Roodner Court who graduated in 2007 from Fairfield University in psychology.  He wants to go to graduate school and currently works for Norwalk Housing Authority as an Education Coordinator at the NHA Learning Centers, which he attended after school as a boy.  Mr. Crafter also was involved in the Norwalk Grass Roots Tennis Program through which he competed and where he later coached.  Mr. Crafter loves to read and the public housing children he works with to read.

Jessy Cuevas
At 21, Jessy Cuevas, a Meadow Gardens resident, is head-of-household and breadwinner for his younger sister and himself.  Jessy Cuevas graduated in December, 2008, from Norwalk Community College (NCC) with honors and is now working toward a Bachelor Degree at Long Island University.  Jessy Cuevas was selected as a NCC Scholarship recipient for two years.  At NCC, he made Dean’s List consistently.  Jessy Cuevas’ field of interest is nutrition.  He wants to work with low-income youth instilling the need for proper nutrition within the inner-city youth population.  He is convinced that many problems that at-risk youth suffer can be helped by proper nutrition and good exercise.  As a high school student he took up boxing.  Jessy Cuevas sets goals and goes after them with the determination and flexibility he learned in his sport. He is committed to succeeding in the field of nutrition and bringing better health to the communities that most need it.