Thomas Samuels Scholarship

Thomas Samuels Scholarship

The Thomas Samuels Scholarship is open to matriculated deaf students enrolled in the academic program. While a student’s GPA is a major factor in determining the recipient, students who wish to be considered for scholarships will also be asked to submit a short essay and two letters of recommendation from an academic or community reference.

Scholarship Application

Scholarship applications are distributed annually in March. Students are required to submit the application with a recent transcript and completed essay. In addition, students are responsible for requesting their two letters of recommendation be sent to the scholarship committee. All material is due to the committee by May 31st. The recipient is notified by the end of June. For an application or more information on the scholarship, please contact us at PDA@lagcc.cuny.edu.

In order to continue this annual award, we have established an endowment to fund the scholarship.

However, additional contributions will also allow us to expand this program. If you would like to join us in acknowledging the accomplishments of Deaf and hard-of-hearing LaGuardia students for years to come, please click here for the secure online giving form.

The 2023 Winners of the Thomas Samuels Scholarship

Gabriela David

Recognizing the need for deaf Hispanic mental health workers, Gabriela is applying to the psychology program at Gallaudet University for her bachelor’s degree to potentially offer services for an underserved population of deaf people.

Orissa Davila

Orissa is attending the California State University at Northridge (CSUN) where she will major in audiology so that she can be one of the first professionals to meet hearing parents of recently diagnosed deaf infants to inform them of the importance of early exposure to American Sign Language.

The 2022 Winner of the Thomas Samuels Scholarship

Yusley Ramirez

Yusley is exploring moving on to Gallaudet University or Hunter College and thinking about a career in Human Resources. She is a survivor in every sense of the word spending the earliest part of her life in Venezuela and then moving to the Bronx after losing both parents. Earning a second degree from LaGuardia in June, she attended graduation as her 9-year-old daughter looked on.
Yusley Ramirez

The 2021 Winners of the Thomas Samuels Scholarship

Eivind Cuate

Eivind Cuate
New Media Technology

As a New Media Technology major, Eivind participated in the Thomson Avenue Film Festival, showcasing his own work. For one animation class, Eivind constructed an entire city with moving cars and pedestrians and then had the city invaded by UFOs and alien creatures, not easy to do in 3D animation, according to his professor. Eivind plans to continue his studies at Hunter College.
Glendy Scarletta-Rocco

Glendy Scaletta-Rocco
Psychology

Glendy speaks of the dearth of mental health therapists for deaf people and as a Psychology major, hopes to fill this gap. She is already a member of the American Psychological Association and an active member in several clubs at the College where she most likely brings her lively vibe, noted by one of her professors, to her extracurricular work. Glendy is considering attending either Queens or Hunter College next year.
Justin Munchette

Justin Muschette
Communications

Possessing a near perfect GPA, Justin is bound to succeed in his chosen field of Communications. As one of his teachers wrote in his letter of support, “Justin is not just a great student but an exceptional person who is self-motivated, driven and inquisitive with much more growth still to tap into.” Justin is undecided as to which college he will attend post-graduation but is considering either Gallaudet, RIT or Lehman. All would be lucky to have him.

The 2020 Winners of the Thomas Samuels Scholarship

Aniqa Hague
Childhood Education

Remembering a special bond with a teacher who used American Sign Language expertly motivated Aniqa to become a teacher of deaf children herself. She will be majoring in Childhood Education.
Aniqa Hague

Ilda Koljenovic
Accounting

Ilda struggled communicating with her teachers and classmates at her school in Montenegro, but at LaGuardia, she now feels like a contributing class member due to access to captioning. She is pursuing a degree in accounting.
Ilda Koljenovic
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