This fall, five outstanding students arrived on the campuses of New York State universities as winners of the Carey Gabay Scholarship Program. The program honors the legacy of the former Assistant Counsel to Governor Cuomo and First Deputy Counsel for Empire State Development Corporation, who died as an innocent victim of gun violence in September 2015.
“Carey worked hard, overcame adversity and chose public service as a way to improve the lives of his fellow New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said in announcing the scholarship winners on Sept. 5. "He was an inspiration to every single person he came in contact with, and we are proud to award this scholarship in his honor to help other students who grew up in similar circumstances strive, succeed and lead.” Gabay grew up in public housing in the Bronx, where he attended public school, and went on to Harvard University and Harvard Law School.
The students, whose scholarships cover full tuition and all costs of attendance including books, room and board, exemplify Carey Gabay’s commitment to social justice, leadership and mentoring – as well as his personal story of academic success despite an economically disadvantaged background.
They are:
Ramanjot Bal, Richmond Hill, Queens: Stony Brook University
Narelys Chum, Troy: SUNY New Paltz
Fernando De La Cruz: Washington Heights, Manhattan, SUNY Cortland
Tony Kelley, Albany: University at Albany
Nayelhi Sanchez-Lorenzo, Spring Valley: SUNY Binghamton
To read more about the students, click here.