Jandon Scholars Graphic
White Plains, NY — On Monday evening at the start of its regular Board meeting, the Westchester County Board of Legislators lauded the generosity of the Jandon Foundation and the accomplishments of the 15 recipients of the 2022 Jandon Scholars program with a special video presentation.
 
In her opening remarks, Board Chair Catherine Borgia (D – Briarcliff Manor, Cortlandt, Croton, Ossining, Peekskill) applauded the continued commitment of the Jandon Foundation to help lift up motivated students with limited financial resources.
 
She said, “We at the Board of Legislators are so pleased to partner each year with the Jandon Foundation to administer this unique scholarship program. The foundation was created by the late Jane and Donald Cecil with the mission of providing access to quality education for all students, regardless of their financial resources. The generosity and commitment of their foundation under the leadership of their children, Alec and Leslie Cecil, cannot be stressed enough. We thank them for making such important things happen for the youth of Westchester County year after year. Congratulations again to these 15 outstanding students for their hard work and dedication.”
 
In his video presentation, Alec Cecil said, “These students are recent graduates from public high schools around the County who have made great efforts to be successful in school and in other activities of life, including work, volunteer service, assisting their families, and participation on teams and clubs.  They have demonstrated leadership and commitment to their schools, communities, and families.”
    
“And they have flourished, often under difficult circumstances.  Many are in the first generation of their family to attend college.  As we all know, the COVID pandemic has made the last two years and more a tremendously challenging time with great disruption and uncertainty.  That these students persevered and succeeded in spite of it all is remarkable.  It is sincerely a privilege for us to be able to help support them as they move on to further their educations.” 
 
“I want to thank the Westchester County Board of Legislators, for partnering with the Jandon Foundation in this venture.  Their support helps us to reach out to more schools and families and to support them throughout this process.”
 
You can view the video presentation, which includes a slideshow of the 15 scholars as well as Mr. Cecil’s remarks here:

You may also go to Vimeo to watch the full video.

Below is a roster of this year’s Scholars, the high schools they graduated from and the colleges they will be attending:
 
Dora Boadi Roosevelt H.S. Lehman College
Arianna Campoverde Ossining H.S. University of Rochester
Leslie Casana Sleepy Hollow H.S. Binghamton University
Jamely Curipoma Peekskill H.S. Binghamton University
Tyler Duonala Roosevelt H.S. Union College
Alissa Guzman Sleepy Hollow H.S. Rochester Institute of Technology
Harley Lasso Woodlands H.S. University of Miami
Yulia Lopez Cornejo Peekskill H.S. University at Buffalo
Ashly Lopez-Martinez Ossining H.S. Mercy College
Katerine Mejia Sleepy Hollow H.S. New York University
Emily Monterroso Mamaroneck H.S. Binghamton University
Jennifer Reyes Port Chester H.S. Binghamton University
Julissa Sanchez White Plains H.S. Binghamton University
Arianna Suarez Peekskill H.S. Barnard College
Sophia Trejo Fox Lane H.S. University at Albany

About the Jandon Scholars Program
 
The Jandon Foundation believes that quality education should be accessible to all students, irrespective of their financial background. Together, with the Westchester County Board of Legislators, the Jandon Foundation administers the Jandon Scholars program, which seeks to level the playing field by supporting and encouraging promising young students from low-income families in their pursuit for higher education. Since the beginning of the program, 335 scholarships have been awarded totaling over $2 million dollars to help students achieve their goal of a college education.
 
In the spring of each year, the Jandon Scholars Program awards 15 college scholarships, and
the Jandon Scholars receive a total of $12,000 over their four years in college. To encourage students to complete their education, the Jandon Scholars Program offers an increase in the amount of the scholarship for each year the students remain in school. Students receive $1,500 their first year, $2,500 their second year, $3,500 their third year and $4,500 in their fourth and final year. These funds are given directly to the students to ensure the award will not diminish other financial opportunities. Students are required to submit their grades each semester in order to receive the next term’s scholarship funds. In addition to the scholarship money, Jandon Scholars are treated to social events during the year for networking, advice and support.
 
The Jandon Foundation is a private foundation created by the late Jane and Donald Cecil of Harrison, New York.  The Cecils funded the Mount Vernon “I Have a Dream” program in 1987 and began funding the Neuberger Museum of Arts’ “Writing Through the Arts” program in 1993.  The Foundation’s primary philanthropic interest lies in education with particular interest in helping students from financially disadvantaged and under-educated families succeed.