Two PHS Students Receive Scholarships

POUGHKEEPSIE – Friday morning, the Catharine Street Legacy and Family Support Program held its 33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast at the Majed J Nesheiwat Convention Center in Poughkeepsie. The first Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast celebration was held in January 1992 and for more than 30 years, the Annual MLK Breakfast Celebration has fulfilled the vision of its founding board president as it garners the support of businesses, faith-based, community & and civic organizations, schools, colleges and residents among others.

This year’s breakfast recognized seven honorees, two of whom were Poughkeepsie High School students, Peter Sealy, PHS senior and student liaison to the Board of Education, and Janiyah Elias, PHS senior.

Both students were celebrated by Board President Thomas O’Neill, Esq., Board Trustee Bob Creedon, PHS Principal Phee Simpson, PHS School Counselor Stacey Lee, Director of College Readiness and Workforce Education, Dr. Janety Encarnacion, Executive Director of School Engagement, Mr. Da’Ron Wilson, and Superintendent Dr. Eric Jay Rosser at the early morning event.

Janiyah thanked her mother and Simpson; Kelly Semexant, college readiness and workforce development school counselor, and others for their support. She expressed her appreciation for the scholarship, noting that while she will be an early PHS graduate – meeting New York State graduation requirements in three years – she has plans to enroll in a post-secondary institution in the fall.

Peter also thanked everyone, for sharing his involvement in multiple school and community activities – most notably his involvement as a member of the AFJROTC and service as the Poughkeepsie City School District Board of Education student liaison. Peter will be pursuing a career as a pilot, having already been accepted to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University located in Florida.

As student honorees, each student was awarded a $2,000 scholarship to pursue higher education.