Norwalk Housing Awards $205K in College Scholarships

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The Hour - June 21, 2017
by Kaitlyn Krasselt
photos by Chris Palermo/For Hearst Connecticut Media

NORWALK - Jericha Robinson was only one semester into her education at Norwalk Community College when she found out she was pregnant. Suddenly, finding the time to pursue her education - let alone affording it - seemed impossible, and she dropped out.

Now, with her son in kindergarten and a revived determination to pursue her dream of being a social worker, she's attending the University of Connecticut's Stamford campus.

"I decided it was time for me to go back and make something of myself," Robinson said. "But I couldn't do it without the Norwalk Housing Authority."

Robinson, a 2007 graduate of Brien McMahon High School, was one of 50 students awarded scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 this week at the 19th annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony hosted by the NHA and the Norwalk Housing Foundation. The foundation awarded a total of $205,000 to students Tuesday, and has awarded more than $1.7 million in scholarships since the program's inception. This is the second time Robinson has received the scholarship. "It helps with little things like transportation and books," Robinson said. "All of those things add up."

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must live in public housing maintained by the Norwalk Housing Authority and be pursuing education at a two-year, four-year, vocational or graduate school. The NHA is one of the only housing authorities in the country to have a comprehensive education initiative, which includes after-school learning centers for children in kindergarten through high school, as well as the scholarship program.

The scholarship program is entirely donor funded, and every dollar given to the program is distributed to a student, according to Harry Carey, chairman of the NHF Scholarship Committee.

"We don't have black tie dinners, we don't do fundraisers," Carey said. "We have really good kids that know education is the way up and out of public housing, and our donors understand that."

The scholarship program boasts a 75 percent graduation rate - higher than the state average - thanks in part to the program's additional services. The program provides a support structure to ensure scholarship recipients attend class regularly, perform as well as possible in school and understand additional avenues of support and financial aid. All recipients are required to participate in a summer workshop led by NHA staff, and new college students participate in a workshop that focuses on self-advocacy, time management, early creation of an on-campus support system and establishing positive relationships with professors.

Returning scholarship recipients also give advice about what to expect in college and how college is different from high school, and participate in a workshop that reiterates key points from the new student workshop and highlights areas important to upper class students. Students are also encouraged to participate in workshops about financial literacy.

Carey said it's important to note many of the scholarship recipients also work full or part-time jobs to fund their education. Nearly all of the students are first generation college students who self-identify as African-American or Hispanic, and all of the students are from low-income families. Carey said the average annual family income of NHA residents is below $20,000 - that compares to the 2016 poverty threshold of $24,250 for a family of four.

One student in the program, Tiahna Spencer, is entering her third year at the University of Connecticut Medical School and hopes to pursue orthopedic surgery and emergency medicine. Spencer grew up next door to one of the NHA community centers and often took advantage of the services offered, later volunteering at the center to help younger students.

"I'm not sure if I would have gotten this far without them," Spencer said. "They're there for you all the time. I really appreciate the NHA and I hope they have the opportunity to reach out to more students like me."

Narold Champagne gives a hug after receiving his scholarship during the 19th Annual Norwalk Housing Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk on Tuesday, June 20.

Dr. Brian Davis, Maritime Aquarium President & CEO, speaks as the keynote during the 19th Annual Norwalk Housing Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk on Tuesday, June 20.

Jericha Robinson and Sehvrine Lezeau pose together before receiving their scholarships at the 19th Annual Norwalk Housing Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk on Tuesday, June 20.

Devin Gritten shakes hands with the scholarship awards committee during the 19th Annual Norwalk Housing Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk on Tuesday, June 20.

Cesar Ramirez, chairman of the Norwalk Housing Authority Board of Commissioners speaks during the 19th Annual Norwalk Housing Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk on Tuesday, June 20.

Rose Poteau thanks the scholarship awards committee during the 19th Annual Norwalk Housing Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk on Tuesday, June 20.

Melanie Armatis speaks as the 2017 Student Perspective during the 19th Annual Norwalk Housing Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk on Tuesday, June 20.

The 2017 Norwalk Housing Federation Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients pose for a group photo after the 19th Annual NHF Scholarship Awards Ceremony at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk on Tuesday, June 20.