News
Ten Students Transition to Prestigious Universities with $50,000 Scholarships
October 16, 2023, Valhalla NY – Ten students from Westchester Community College (WCC) have recently been selected to receive a S.M.I.L.E. (Success Matters in Life and Education) scholarship from the PepsiCo Foundation. This scholarship is part of the PepsiCo Foundation’s Community College Scholarship Program – which was established in 2021 to address the issue of underrepresentation in high-demand fields.
The PepsiCo Foundation’s community college program includes two types of scholarships – Uplift Scholarships for students seeking two-year associate degrees or trade certificates and S.M.I.L.E scholarships for community college graduates transitioning to four-year colleges.
The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship awards two-year scholarships of up to $25,000 per year ($50,000 total) to students from historically underserved communities. Each scholar also receives access to resources such as financial literacy courses and is assigned a professional mentor from PepsiCo to provide guidance and support along their educational journey. To qualify, students must be transitioning to complete their bachelor’s degree in a business or STEM field in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university in the U.S.
WCC and the PepsiCo Foundation recently announced the latest cohort of 10 WCC 2023 graduates who were selected as S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship recipients. The scholars and their current schools are:
- Daniela Bloom-Pavon – SUNY Binghamton University
- Wellington Castro – Pace University
- Sashawn Francis – CUNY Lehman College
- Adriana McFadden – CUNY Queens College
- Shirley Montenegro – Pace University
- Tyfanna Moulton – Kennesaw State University
- Ramon Perez – Kennesaw State University
- Jason Uyaguari – CUNY Hunter College
- Joan Waldron – Columbia University
- Khayri West – Pace University
To learn more about this opportunity, please visit: https://www.sunywcc.edu/admissions/scholarships/pepsico-foundation-smile/
”SUNY WCC is proud to continue its relationship with PepsiCo to further our shared commitment to diversity and access in higher education,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President of Westchester Community College. “Those of our students who were selected for the S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship have distinguished
themselves for their academic excellence and dedication. They are typical of the thousands of students who come to SUNY WCC for an affordable option before continuing their studies at a four-year institution.”
“Driving lasting change is our focus at the PepsiCo Foundation, and what better way to do that than to invest in the education and future of the next generation,” said C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Social Impact at PepsiCo. “A single scholarship can be the catalyst for these ambitious students to complete their education, build generational wealth within their families, and contribute to a stronger community for all.”
