Additionally, NAF Presents the Patti Smith Sustainability Scholarship to One NAF Graduate in Memory of Former NAF Colleague, Friend, and Network Supporter
(August 21, 2020 – New York, NY) – NAF is thrilled to announce this year’s fourteen scholarship winners and the new Patti Smith Sustainability Scholarship recipient. NAF Scholarships were awarded to high school seniors and graduates of NAF academies who plan to enroll full-time in post-secondary education. Approximately $21,000 was available in scholarship funds this year.
The Patti Smith Sustainability Scholarship was established this year, in memory of Patricia “Patti” Smith, who passed away in June. Patti was a true champion for NAF and our national network and served in a variety of roles during her time at NAF – spanning nearly 20 years – and most recently held the position of NAF’s Director of Evaluation & Continuous Improvement, retiring in late 2018. During that time, she visited hundreds of schools, district offices, and spearheaded the continuous improvement cycle and academy assessment system. This honor will ensure that Patti’s legacy and commitment to quality will live on through the aspirations of our future leaders.
Thanks to our generous Board of Directors and corporate partners, NAF has the opportunity to not only help our students Be Future Ready, but to assist in sending some of them to college.
NAF congratulates this year’s scholarship winners:
NAF Alumni Business Scholarships were awarded to five NAF students. Recipients have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their academy classes and intend to continue studying in the hospitality and tourism field or to pursue further education in business and/or financial services.
- Hailey Amass – Tottenville High School, AOF – Staten Island, NY
- Eyad Hennawy – Crooms AOIT – Sanford, FL
- Maja Koprivica – Fort Lee High School, AOF – Fort Lee, NJ
- Ai Luong – Ronald Reagan High School, AOHS – Milwaukee, WI
- Matthew Skulski – Lancaster High School, AOF – Lancaster, NY
The American Express Jesse Blackman Scholarship was awarded to one senior of a NAF Academy of Hospitality & Tourism. The winner of this award has a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their academy classes and intends to continue studying in the hospitality and tourism field.
- Cody-John Sakamoto – H.P. Baldwin High School, AOHT – Wailuku, HI
Marriott International Academy of Information Technology Scholarship Winners:
(for Montgomery County Public Schools Only) were awarded to three seniors of an Academy of Information Technology in Montgomery County, MD. Recipients have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their academy classes and intend to continue studying in the IT field or to pursue further education in technology or computer science.
- Saurya Acharya – Thomas S. Wootton High School, AOIT – Rockville, MD
- Paige Ellis – Springbrook High School, AOIT – Rockville, MD
- India Kelly – Springbrook High School, AOIT – Rockville, MD
Marriott International Inc. AOHT Scholarships were awarded to five seniors of a NAF Academy of Hospitality & Tourism. Recipients have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their academy classes and intend to continue studying in the hospitality and tourism field or to pursue further education in hospitality management, hotel management, culinary, or the food and beverage field.
- Edwin Colina – John A. Ferguson Senior High School, AOHT – Miami, FL
- Kenyon Crotts – Trinity High School, AOHT – Trinity, NC
- Ashley Kelly – Blanche Ely High School, AOHT – Pompano Beach, FL
- Larry Mayo – Columbia Heights Educational Campus, AOHT – Washington, DC
- Genesis Torrez – Miami Sunset Senior High School, AOHT – Miami, FL
The first Patti Smith Sustainability Scholarship was awarded to Natural Taylor, a recent graduate of McKinley Technology High School, Academy of Engineering in Washington, DC. He will be attending Harvard University and plans to study environmental engineering.
NAF Chief Executive Officer, JD Hoye, said, “Congratulations to our 2020 NAF Scholarship winners and our Patti Smith Sustainability Scholarship recipient! We are so proud of all of your accomplishments and wish you much success in your next chapters.”
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About NAF
NAF is a national network of education, business, and community leaders who work together to ensure that high school students are college, career, and future ready.
NAF works with high need communities to transform the high school experience through an educational design that includes industry-specific curricula, work-based learning experiences, and relationships with business professionals, culminating in a paid internship. NAF academies fit within and enhance school systems, allowing NAF to become an integral part of a plan for higher achievement at a low cost. NAF academies focus on one of five career themes: finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences. During the 2019-2020 school year, over 110,000 students attended 620 NAF academies across 34 states, plus DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. In 2019, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 86% of graduates planning to go to college.