ROSELAND, N.J., July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Ronald McDonald House Charities((R)) of the New York Tri-State Area (RMHC-NYTSA) recently awarded scholarships to five high school graduates to provide assistance for college tuition. The program awarded scholarships totaling $25,000, exemplifying the RMHC commitment to education. Each winner will receive a total of $17,000 over the course of their academic 4 year career. For the first year, $5,000 will be awarded and each will receive $4,000 for the remaining 3 years.

Each of the five scholarship winners received $5,000 to further their education. The 2009 winners are:

• Chelsey Mai, (Maywood, New Jersey), will attend Ramapo College in the fall and major in Nursing.
• Sergio Caballero, (Queens, New York), will attend New York University and major in International Relations.
• Chelsey Ann Smentkowski, (Manalapan, New Jersey), will attend Wilson College and major in Biology.
• Roma Begum, (Brooklyn, NY), will attend Long Island University and major in Pharmacy.
• Michal Medows, (Manhattan, NY), will attend Macaulay Honors College at Lehman and major in Law.
  

Recipients were selected based on demonstrated academic achievement, financial need and community involvement. To be eligible, the applicants had to be graduating high school seniors who planned to attend a two-year or a four-year college or university with a complete course of study. Applicants must be a legal U.S. resident; be less than 21 years of age; and, reside within the geographical boundaries of the participating Chapter. Through this program, RMHC offers graduating high school seniors from local communities the chance to apply for tuition assistance.

Students of all backgrounds were eligible to apply by submitting a scholarship application to one of the four scholarship programs available: the RMHC/Asian-Pacific Students Increasing Achievement Scholarship (RMHC/ASIA), RMHC/African American Future Achievers Scholarship (RMHC/AAFA), the RMHC/Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (RMHC/HACER), and the RMHC Scholars Scholarship (students of all backgrounds are eligible to apply).

RMHC began its support of scholarship programs in 1985, by committing $50,000 toward the first scholarships awarded through the Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (HACER) program. In 2001, the RMHC/ASIA (Asian-Pacific Students Increasing Achievement) and RMHC African American Future Achievers Scholarships (RMHC/AAFA) began. To date, RMHC National has awarded more than $29 million to help high school seniors attend college.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area is working to better the lives of children and their families in our communities, by creating and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children in the areas of health, education, the arts, civic and social issues. Since 1992, RMHC-NYTSA has provided more than $10 million dollars to local non-profit organizations whose programs improve the well-being of children and their families. For further information on the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area, please visit www.rmhcnewyorktri-state.org or call 973.287.1476.

SOURCE Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area

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http://www.rmhcnewyorktri-state.org