Honors Students, Musicians And Paralegal Are Among Recipients Of Lighthouse International's 28th Annual Scholarship And Career Awards Presented By Donna Hanover
New York, NY - May 30, 2007 - Lighthouse International's 28th Annual Scholarships and Career Awards Luncheon honoring outstanding students and exceptional employees for overcoming the challenges of vision loss, will take place on Thursday, June 7th from noon-2 pm at Lighthouse International, 111 East 59th Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues). Master of Ceremonies Donna Hanover, Co-Host of the WOR Morning Show, will award $5,000 scholarships to each student and a special $1,000 President's Award to a promising student
According to Dr. Tara A. Cortes, PhD, RN, CEO and President of Lighthouse International, "The essence of our mission for 102 years has been to enable people who are visually impaired to lead independent and productive lives. The recipients of these awards certainly exemplify our goal. We are delighted to honor their courage, determination and accomplishments."
This year's diverse group of winners are:
Matthew J. Guberman-Pfeffer - College Bound Award
Matthew Guberman-Pfeffer was born legally blind. At Stratford High School in Connecticut, Matthew has been recognized in every scholastic area, including honors math. His extracurricular activities include serving as treasurer of the Student Council where he organized a benefit for victims of Hurricane Katrina. He is also a member of the National Honors Society. He is dedicated to community service and advocates for the blind. He is one of only thirty-five Connecticut residents participating in a Library of Congress audio book technology study and is also an advocate for voting equality and accessible currency for the blind. His hobbies include playing piano and accordion and reading. Matthew will attend Fairfield University in the fall and he intends to pursue a career in disability law. He is described as a person who "continues to inspire his peers" and is "conscientious, sincere and personable." "I do not see my blindness as a defining factor, but as one factor in my life," he says.
Jennifer Castellano - Graduate Award
Jennifer Castellano is a musician first and foremost, having loved music and performing since sitting down at a piano at the age of eight. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Manhattanville College in 2004. Jennifer says that music has helped her overcome her physical challenges and has a tremendous power to help her discover new worlds. She continuously composes music, having collaborated with her artist sister on a piece entitled Audiophthalmology as well as for Purchase College, where she is pursuing her Masters in Music. Jennifer's Academic awards include the John Milton Society of the Blind New York State Scholarship, the Eleanor O' Byrne Prize and the All-American Scholar Collegiate Award. She also received a Presidential Scholarship while maintaining her status on the Dean's List. In addition to her studies, she teaches piano and voice to students of all ages, including those with special needs. Jennifer's references cite her dedication to music and the arts and her eagerness to learn. They say "Her creative style continues to be unique, refreshing and often humorous. She is respected for her musical skills and adored for her generosity of character."
Jennifer Barrow - Graduate Award
Jennifer Barrow is a humanitarian at heart. Blind since birth, this Boston College graduate recalls a defining moment in her life as lying on a concrete slab bed in the Dominican Republic on a trip to teach sixth grade summer camp. Through this experience, Jennifer vowed to make the lives of the campers better and pursue a career as a lawyer with a specialty in international and immigration law. Upon graduation she joined Mercy Volunteer Corps. She now works as a paralegal at Legal Advocacy & Resource Center in Boston, advising low-income clients on housing, family and other benefits. She is President of the National Alliance of Blind Students and is the Director of Disability Issues. . In addition to her dedication to service and justice, she tap dances and loves to learn new languages. Jennifer will be going to Boston College Law School in the fall. She is described as someone who is "professional, has a sense of judgment and a maturity beyond her years...well-balanced, highly-motivated and positive."
Yelena Chepurina - Undergraduate Award
Yelena Chepurina is a Kazakhstani émigré who believes that education and learning are the key to success in life, after having been denied the opportunity to learn in her homeland. Having immigrated to the United States in 1997, Yelena has accomplished much in her short time in this country. She mastered the English language in a program at Holyoke Community College and completed her Associates degree in 2003, a few years after the birth of twin daughters. She was chosen as Mount Holyoke's Harriet Newell Scholar shortly thereafter, where she currently is pursuing a baccalaureate degree in psychology. Her research at Mount Holyoke has produced papers exploring the bond between blind people and their guide dogs as well as a study of the notion of "love at first sight" when one is visually impaired. Yelena hopes to continue her work with a Master's degree in Psychology or Social Work upon her graduation from Mount Holyoke. In addition to her studies and her family, Yelena is an accomplished, self-taught pianist. She is described as "brilliant, a student who is realizing her own talents each day".
Tamesha Tate - Syde Hurdis President's Award
Tamesha Tate attended the Lighthouse International Summer Columbia Program in 2002, where she made an impression on Lighthouse staff from the beginning. That fall, she began the first of two years at the Lighthouse Saturday Youth Transition Program. A natural leader, she often shared her problem solving skills and positive thinking with the other students to help them overcome obstacles similar to those she had encountered. A hard-working student always looking to improve upon her skills and learn more, she completed this program at the same time she graduated from high school at the New York Institute for Special Education. Tamesha then went on to Bronx Community College where she currently holds a GPA of 3.4 and is scheduled to complete her Associates Degree in August 2007. She has been accepted at Lehman College where she will pursue a Bachelor's and then a Master's degree in Social Work. Tamesha also works at an after school program at a community center in the Bronx, tutoring children ages 6-8 with basic study skills. Tamesha travels independently by bus from home to school and work "Tamesha made an impression on the staff that reverberates even years later," says Merrie Bramlett of Lighthouse International's Youth Services Department. "We are thrilled that she is receiving this award".
Employer of the Year: Bank of America
For more than 220 years, Bank of America and the people comprising their company creatively and selflessly have given their time and money to the neighborhoods in which they live, work, and play.
Their philanthropic approach is to provide meaningful change by making investments in neighborhoods for the future. To do that, they form partnerships with key community stakeholders and invest in those relationships and organizations to identify critical needs in communities and better equip organizations to address those needs. When it comes to the work of corporate philanthropy, Bank of America strongly believes their job is to help others make money as well. Education and empowerment are more effective long-term than cash without commitment. Thoughtful and meaningful commitment plays out explicitly in the priority they place on building neighborhoods, communities, and the next generation of leaders, rather than on simply writing checks.
The Lighthouse International Scholarship and Awards are sponsored by individuals, organizations and foundations. Recipients are assessed on academic and personal achievement by judges from both the academic and business communities as well as members of the Lighthouse Women's Committee. This year's judges include Brian S. Daniels, Associate Commissioner of the Commissioner for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Stephanie Goldman-Pittel of the Sol and Lillian Goldman family, Dora Torres of Verizon, and Erica M. Torres of Lehman Brothers.
Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to preserving vision and to providing critically needed health care services to help people of all ages overcome the challenges of vision loss. Through services, education, research and advocacy, the Lighthouse enables people with low vision and blindness to enjoy safe, independent and productive lives. For more information about vision loss, its causes and what you can do about it, contact Lighthouse International at 1-800-829-0500 or visit www.lighthouse.org
Further Information: Leslie Gottlieb (212) 821-9551
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