Two University of the Virgin Islands’ (UVI) students - Shaynoah Bedford and Asil Abdalghani are the recipients of a book scholarship in the amount of $750 through the AROC Scholarship. The scholarship was established in 2019 with a $25,000 endowment intended to support students with an avid interest in computer science and related fields, affording them the opportunity to advance their interest.
“Given that there is already an opportunity for students to access free tuition, I want to aid in the reduction of other costs for students to pursue this field,” said Cora Richardson, engineering project manager, Apple Inc.
As a native Virgin Islander, Richardson is aware of the lack of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) opportunities that are available in the Territory. She grew up in the islands and was fortunate to have a natural aptitude for STEM. Her desire to assist students residing in the territory has served as the foundation for the nonprofit she has established and the scholarship that was recently endowed.
“I hope that through this scholarship, I will be able to help students to focus on their studies with fewer concerns of the cost of their education,” Richardson said.
“Thanks to this donation, I am able to lift the financial burden of purchasing textbooks and elevate my educational experience, and for that, I am grateful,” said Bedford, a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity. “Receiving this scholarship motivates me to maintain my involvement in cybersecurity as an African-American woman in STEM; and gives me high hopes of later encouraging other minority women to be involved in cybersecurity.”
“The generous AROC Cyber Security Book Scholarship will help me to complete my last semester at UVI,” said Abdalghani, a senior majoring in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity. “I am so grateful to Ms. Cora Richardson of the AROC Foundation for providing this significant award.”
More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI Website-www.uvi.edu/ - and from this direct link