QUEENS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION AWARDS ALL SEVEN COLLEGES IN QUEENS MONEY FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Today, The Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation has announced its funding of all seven Queens county colleges for student scholarships. Each of the seven schools received funding from the Foundation to be used to benefit both part-time and full-time students who attend school while working. The Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation is the 501(c)3 affiliate of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, with the mission of fostering and promoting institutions of higher learning in the borough.
“The Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation believes that education and training are the cornerstones of a strong community and we are committed to supporting our area students in their educational pursuits,” said Tom Grech, Vice President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation and President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “Through these scholarships we hope to honor those students who contribute to our workforce by working while attending school. We look forward to learning about the recipients of these awards.”
“The world-class educational institutions that call Queens home are vital to the present and future of our local economy,” said Marian Conway, President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “Our colleges and universities do an outstanding job preparing their students to join the workforce, and we are delighted to help support that effort with this initiative.”
The seven schools receiving scholarship funds include: LaGuardia Community College, Plaza College, Queens College, Queensborough Community College, St. John’s University, Vaughn College, and York College. School administrators expressed their gratitude to the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation for its scholarship donation to assist students in pursuing their education.
​​“Half of CUNY’s students work while attending school, and we are committed to removing financial barriers that can impede their attainment of educational and career goals,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “We thank the Queens Chamber of Commerce for these scholarship funds, which will help students at CUNY's Queens colleges, and for supporting our mission of elevating New Yorkers through higher education.”
“The generous support from the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation will significantly reduce the financial burden of receiving a college education for many students who will become the leaders of our community and key industries that shape our economy,” said Kenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College. “We are grateful to the Foundation’s recognition of our collective efforts to offer quality higher education to students in Queens.”
"Plaza College is honored to receive these scholarship funds for our students, many of whom are Queens residents studying for highly-skilled and in-demand degrees that will allow them to tangibly contribute to our thriving community after graduation, said President Charles Callahan III.  “We appreciate the continued support the Queens Chamber of Commerce provides for the students, businesses, and community at large in the borough of Queens."
“A Queens College education provides a foundation on which extraordinarily successful futures are built,” said Queens College President Frank H. Wu. “It is a place where we take enormous pride in the fact that many of our students are the first in their families to earn a college degree. We are deeply fortunate to receive this funding from the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation to benefit part-time and full-time students who attend school while working. It will be an enormous support to students, in particular, those who are immigrant wage earners helping to support their families while they attend college."
"More than half of Queensborough students report a household income of less than $30,000 a year and work while attending school, but often tell us what they earn is still not enough to fully fund their education," said Queensborough Community College President Christine Mangino. "The scholarships from the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation will support our hard-working students and help close the gap so they can earn their degree."
"St. John's University is enriched by our Queens location and a tapestry of cultures complementing an internationalized curriculum. Our New York City roots and a long relationship with the Queens Chamber of Commerce help fortify connections to the companies and opportunities found in one of the world’s most globally connected cities. St. Johns is grateful for the support received from The Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help our students,” said Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President, St. John's University.
"We are grateful to the Foundation for its support of the students at Vaughn College and the borough," said President and Chief Executive Officer Sharon B. DeVivo. "Scholarships alleviate the financial burden for students from under resourced communities and allow them to achieve their dream of a college education and a fulfilling career trajectory."
“At York College, we have a long tradition of providing quality education that leads to careers in medicine, aviation, the arts, education, athletics, business, and so much more,” York College interim President Claudia Schrader said. “Most of our students finance their college education with federal grants, loans, and scholarships from donors like the Chamber Foundation. The Chamber’s scholarship will help make their futures ‘take flight.’”

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