The Kaplan Education Foundation selected three Hostos students for the Kaplan Leadership Program—Rosina Asiamah, Boinzemwende Jarmila Roxane Ouango, and Oumou Traore.
 
Traore is an Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) student and an environmental civil engineer aspiring to make a career in the field. Her goals are to complete an associate degree at Hostos and transfer to a 4-year college fitting her future needs as an engineer.
 
“Our heartiest congratulations go out to all three HCC recipients of this prestigious scholarship and a special acknowledgment, of course, to Oumou Traore, who continues to make the entire ASAP program proud,” said ASAP Director Laura McGowan.
 
“I’m delighted to have been selected as 1 of 14 in the cohort of the Kaplan Leadership Program. I can see myself achieving my career goal. Thanks to the Kaplan opportunity, financial obstacles that would have delayed me, now will not,” said Traore.
 
About Roxane and Rosina, Hostos Student Leadership Academy Coordinator (SLA) Jason Libfeld had this to say about them: “Roxane is a dedicated student with a 4.0 GPA and a valuable member of the SLA. Over the course of this past year Roxane has volunteered to feed the homeless and the hungry and clean up the local parks in our area. From 2019 to 2020 Rosina served as the executive secretary of the Hostos Student Government Association. She is a talented student, gifted communicator, and a kindhearted human being. The honor is proof of their work and a vote of confidence for their journeys.”
 
Asiamah said the Kaplan Education Foundation will aid her in taking a “giant step” closer to her dream of becoming a nurse. “I was overwhelmed with indescribable joy when I learned my name was listed to receive this prestigious honor,” she added. “Without this scholarship program, students like myself would find it difficult to navigate through their senior college search to pursue their degrees. Thank you for your generosity.”
 
The Kaplan Educational Foundation seeks to eliminate barriers to education for overlooked and underserved students and develop them as leaders for the American workforce and their communities. Founded in 2006, the Kaplan Leadership Program addresses the needs of the ‘whole’ student for low-income, high-potential Community College students. The program transfers low-income Black, Latino, and Native American students of exceptional academic merit from New York City’s community colleges to top four-year universities throughout the country.
 
“Despite the challenges of 2020, we received a strong pool of bright students,” said Rhoda Tamakloe, Kaplan Foundation’s Director of Operations, adding that “this wonderful group of students is thrilled to be part of the program.”