AKA’s Announce This Year’s Scholarship Winners

POUGHKEEPSIE – As another school year ends, the Mid Hudson Valley Ivy Foundation in collaboration with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Alpha Omega Chapter of the Hudson Valley area were delighted to announce the 2021 scholarship winners. Each year the sorority is honored to interview many talented students from the Mid Hudson Valley area. It never ceases to amaze them how talented, intelligent and involved in our communities many of the students are.

Even through a pandemic, the students remained dedicated and focused on their goals. They are to be commended on remaining studious during these hectic times. Not only did many of them excel at their own activities, but many managed to inspire other classmates to be serious about their studies and pursue college. The bravery and audacity of some of the students to start to change the world at such a young age would inspire most adults.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Alpha Omega Chapter of the Hudson Valley area is proud to announce that the following students have been selected for the following scholarships. Javel Cherry of Poughkeepsie High School has been selected for the Lorraine M. Petty Roberts Collegiate Scholarship. This is the foundation’s first year this scholarship has been awarded by the foundation. The student will receive an mount of $2,500 annually if the criteria is met, for two or four years. Lorraine M. Petty Roberts was an educator in the Poughkeepsie school district. She was involved with numerous community groups, including the organization now known as the United Way of Dutchess-Orange Region; the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill; and the Dutchess County Historical Society.

Ms. Roberts was also historian and secretary for the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church located in Wappingers Falls, as well as a member of its Black History Ministry. Roberts was a past president of the Dutchess County Historical Society and served as the chair of that organization’s Black History Committee. She also served on the board of directors for many groups, including the Catharine Street Community Center. Those who were close to Mrs. Roberts feel as though she would have been elated that the award is helping a young male.

The Betty E. White of Collegiate Scholarship was awarded to Alexa Hurley of Arlington High School. Jasmine Verette of Marlboro High School is the recipient of the HBCU Scholarship. Nia Hopkins of John Jay High School is the recipient of the Karen Fauling-Sorlie Memorial Book Award. Joshua Sandler of Cornwall High School, Kate Drickel of FDR High School, Mya Zylbergberg of Newburgh Free Academy and Dominique Gooden of Storm King High School were all the recipients of Book Awards.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Alpha Omega Chapter of the Hudson Valley area is honored to serve the Hudson Valley community. Over the past fifty years, the Mid-Hudson Ivy Foundation, Incorporated and its predecessors have been able to assist over 130 high school students further their education through attending college.