Updates from Previous RAPSA Courage Award Scholarship Recipients.
Nominations for 2024 are Currently Open
The Courage Award is so much more than a scholarship, it is a recognition of the amount of work, determination and accomplishments At-Promise students have made. These individuals have triumphantly conquered many obstacles they have encountered and received their high school diploma. It is with great pleasure that RAPSA is able to recognize the hard work and perseverance of At-Promise students each year.
Over the past eight years RAPSA has been fortunate enough to congratulate so many of these accomplished students and grant them the Courage Award, which comes with a financial scholarship award. These students have gone on to attend universities, trade schools and incredible career programs in order to better themselves and their futures.
One example of a past recipient who overcame numerous trials was 2023 recipient Jade Amaya. Jade shared her journey of being an eldest daughter and having to juggle school and caretaker responsibilities once her mother became severely ill due to COVID-19. Despite the challenges she faced she more than conquered. Jade is currently studying political science statistics at Columbia University. Upon graduation from college her goals are to “improve public policy and help social justice.”
Another 2023 recipient was Jordan Grace Egerton. Jordan is currently attending Montclair State University and is majoring in Nursing with the intent to pursue a career in Midwifery. Jordan shared that her work ethics are what make her courageous. Coming from a hard working family, she witnessed first hand what hard work looks like: “It’s just planted that courageous fire, zeal, passion in me,” said Jordan. She shared that whenever she feels overwhelmed she envisions herself in the delivery room speaking with a mother and walking her through the delivery process. In reference to receiving the Courage Award, Jordan stated, “I’m so excited that you guys chose me, and I'm encouraged even more to keep persevering.”
Juan Oquendo, another previous Courage Awards recipient, shared his journey of being a disengaged student due to the COVID-19 pandemic to a high school student with a dual enrollment at Essex Community College. Juan stated that his goal is to transfer from Essex to Williams Paterson University to obtain a bachelors in Fine Arts. “I want to leverage my academic background to impact my community.”
These are just a handful of courageous students that RAPSA has been able to recognize. Each student is an example of why RAPSA continues to pursue the vision of bettering the lives of At-Promise students.
Student nominations for this year’s Courage Awards for the 2024 RAPSA Forum are still open!
If you know a remarkable student that has persevered and you would like to nominate them you can do so by clicking here. Nominees for the RAPSA Courage Award shall be reengaged students that have graduated within the 2023-24 school year or projected to graduate by December 2024.