Hostos Allied Health students Fatima Choudhry and Silvia J. Prado Carpio are the recipients of the Nasry Michelen Foundation’s first $2,000
allied health scholarship award. They were recognized at the College’s 37
th Honors Convocation.
Fatima Choudhry has always possessed what she calls a “zest for freedom.” It led her to the Bronx and Hostos Community College, where she distinguished herself in the
RN program. She will serve as the valedictorian for the graduating nursing class of 2021 and was a key speaker in the 2021 Nurses Week celebration.
She has completed over 700 hours of clinical studies in hospitals, nursing homes, and urgent care centers around
the Bronx. Her post-Hostos plans include studying for a bachelor’s degree in Nursing at the CUNY School of Professional Studies; receiving certification in the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN); and obtaining a Master’s in Nurse Anesthesia en route to becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
No one doubts that Fatima will realize her ambitions. Assistant Professor Hamide Lauce described her as “more than a brilliant student,” adding: “She received the highest academic honor in her graduating cohort with the Gold Medal Award for the best GPA. She studied endlessly and set high standards for herself with academic performance.”
Combined with her determination to help provide healthcare for lower-income neighborhoods and rural communities, Fatima’s outstanding work at Hostos will take her far!
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Born in a small town on the Ecuadorian coast, Silvia J. Prado Carpio faced any number of serious challenges before graduating from Hostos’
Dental Hygiene program: poverty, abuse, and the difficult transition from one country — and language — to another. Experience has provided her with a larger concept of healthcare. “As a future health professional, it is my social responsibility to advocate for improvements in the public health care infrastructure as health cannot be focused on monetary benefits,” she said.
Silvia has demonstrated her commitment to the public good by serving as a volunteer for a variety of charitable activities via the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, helping with the Hostos Food Bank, and by supporting and encouraging blood donations. She has also been involved with programs such as Colgate Smiles at the Greater NY Dental Meeting.
“Silvia is a hard-working and dedicated student,” Adjunct Professor Annie Chitlall said, noting that Carpio’s achievements are all the more notable for occurring during the worst pandemic in a century.
Silva intends to earn a bachelor’s degree in Public Health — another sign of her belief in something Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Hostos congratulates Fatima and Silvia and wishes them all the best as they continue on their educational journeys!