From left to right: Christina Moriah Smith – Wellesley College class of ‘13, City Councilor John Connolly, Brianna Venus – Barnard College class of 2017, Nikiander Pelari – College of the Holy Cross class of 2017, Adaeze Nduaguba – Dartmouth College class of 2017, Acting Superintendent of BPS John McDonough and Chairman of the Scholarship Committee Brent Berc.
On June 12, the University Club of Boston announced the recipients of its “Future Leaders of Boston” scholarship awards. The winners include three Boston Public High Schools graduating seniors: Adaeze Nduaguba of the John D. O’Bryant School; Nikiander Pelari of Boston Latin Academy; and Brianna Venus of City of a Hill Charter Public School. Each will receive a total of $20,000, or $5,000 annually, over four years of college to help defray college tuition and related costs. The recipients will be entering college this September. Ms. Nduaguba will attend Dartmouth College; Mr. Pelari will attend College of the Holy Cross and Ms. Venus will attend Barnard College.
“This year our applicants were exceptionally strong and will be attending some of the finest academic institutions in the country. Given the generosity of our Club’s membership, the University Club of Boston Scholarship Fund will enable students to fulfill their dreams of higher education by helping to meet the difference in their college costs that are not covered by financial aid, loans and contributions from their families,” commented Brent Berc, University Club of Boston Board Member and Chair of the Scholarship Committee.
In addition to the scholarships that were granted, the Scholarship Committee will be awarding Moriah Smith, 2009 University Club Scholarship Award recipient and Wellesley College, Class of 2013, the University Club Scholarship Committee Award for Academic and Personal Achievement. This new award recognizes a former scholarship award recipient who has shown strong academic and personal achievement over the course of their college years. Moriah is a Madeline Albright Institute for Global Affairs Fellow and Fulbright Scholar. “The continued success of our scholarship recipients is imperative given the strong foundation they developed during their college years. The University Club is proud to be a part of that progress and help pave the way for significant opportunities that will be important to these students’ future.”
This year’s scholarship recipients were honored at a June 12 award ceremony at The University Club attended by John McDonough, Appointed Interim Superintendent, Boston Public Schools; City Councilor John Connolly, Chair of the Boston City Council’s Education Committee; as well as this year’s award recipients and their families, past recipients and University Club members.
Since its inception in 1977, The University Club “Future Leaders of Boston” scholarship program has awarded over $500,000 to Boston Public Schools students.