Abiwaqqas Laryea, a 2015 scholarship awardee, discovered his passion for caregiving at an early age, caring for his father. “Abby” now works as a home health aide while attending college, majoring in nursing. He cares for his live-in client beginning Friday morning at 8:00 am until Monday at 8:00 am. This is not an easy schedule to maintain, but it does allow Abby to earn wages on the weekend and to focus on his studies during the week. Abby supports his widowed mother and younger siblings living in Ghana.

He has a cumulative GPA of 3.8 at Hunter College of the City University of New York, and is very determined to complete school and start working in his field. The Basil Paterson Scholarship pays tuition, college fees, books, and provides a cash stipend each term. “I see the scholarship as a priceless opportunity that a student from Africa is rare to come by,” said Abby. And we are so pleased to support Abby to achieve his education and career goals.