In spite of the challenges presented by COVID-19, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) has recognized more than 180 students from New York City’s public high schools and presented each with a $5,000 Albert Shanker college scholarship.

This year’s class of extraordinary students includes future civil engineers, neuroscientists, and nurses. Coming from different backgrounds and boroughs, each has had to adapt to the realities of learning in a world with coronavirus.

Fort Hamilton High School’s Katie Castrianni wanted to follow in the footsteps of her aunt and grandmother by pursuing a career that provides care to others, so she decided to become a nurse. Also inspired by her Advanced Placement English teacher, Nikki Marotos, Katie is an advocate for social justice in health care. She will attend the Pace University Honors College of Nursing.

Born in Egypt and raised in Brooklyn, Staten Island resident Sumeh Abdella is one of four children. Inspired by family friends and encouraged by Curtis High School physics teacher Alia Jackson, Sumeh wants to be a civil engineer for the City of New York. He will attend the City College of New York's Grove School of Engineering.

High School for Environmental Study senior Pamela Anderson has major plans for her future. The captain of the handball team and program director of the honor society, she intends to earn a doctorate in neuroscience. Encouraged to learn more about the field by her junior year mentor, Yuka Bell, she is eager to begin her studies at Cornell University.

The annual union-funded Shanker Scholarship awards — named in memory of the president of both the UFT and its national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers -- each year provide almost $1 million in scholarships to academically excellent and financially eligible New York City high school seniors and post-graduate students. Since 1969, the program has provided more than $50 million in scholarships. UFT President Michael Mulgrew said: “The Shanker scholarships are another demonstration of our members’ deep commitment to their students.”

All award recipients are listed below, by borough, last name, and first name.

Brooklyn
Adesanya, Azeezat
Aileen, Li
Alamari, Mina
Ashley, Lopez
Atiq, Daniyal
Badio, Deanna-Marie
Begum, Mosammat
Black, Lashanti
Brown, Jaida
Camacho, Jose
Castrianni, Katie
Chen, Bin
Didun, Polina Fi
Siuk, Anastasiia
Gebura, Mariyal
Hasweh, Youssef
Ho, Pakyuzara
Hubbard, Kareem
Jahan, Ishrat
Jiang, Vicky
Jiang, Yuyi
Jodeh, Muna
Johnson, Monique
Katary, Karem
Khatari, Hailah
Kovler, Bridgette
Labonte, Lauviah Lai Yan
Li Irena, Li Z
Han, Hao
Lin, Leyi
Lin Huang, Andres
Maurice, Tatianna
Misty, Chen Zeng
Nguyen, Dieu Thy
Panton, Brianna
Panton, Christina
Pizarro Carrion, Jennifer
Roberts, Javon
Rosario, Kimberly
Salami, Olasade
Sayed, Abu
Shadat, Taohid
Shehab, Lobna
Sheikh, Wardah
Shum, Erica
Sirojiddinove, Ruhshona
Stepura, Khrystyna
Tavarez, Kayla
Tousaint, Patrice
Wahab, Abdul
Whittaker, Faith
Yeasmin, Sanejeda
Zhang, Yalin
Zhen Zhen, Gao
Zheng, Shaquille
Zhu, Maggie

Bronx
Abalo, Toga
Aboulaye, Badaria
Ahmed, Khaled
Ahmed, Zulnorain
Anika, Patricia
Anika, Patrick
Baez, Enmanuel
Checo, Idelkys
Chowdhury, Yeanoor
Delossantos, Maria
Dia, Moyhamed
Fadiga, Fatoumata
Francisco, Joseph
Gill, Aresha
Hutchful, Goldie
Laureano, Yaniel
Marrow, Nashara
Monnet, Kousso
Mora, Gabriel
Pazmino, Gary
Pereyra, Chelsea
Perez, Christopher
Rahman, Ahbabur
Ramirez, Justin
Reyes, Froylan
Reyes, Miguel
Reynoso, Ariagna
Sanchez, Lia
Touray, Maceta
Valerio, Alexander
Veras, Jaeliana
Wiredu, Andrews
Zamora, Abigail

Manhattan
Alcibar, Aaliyah
Alvo, Julian
Anderson, Pamela
Awofeso, Oluwasogo
Bah, Manda
Baret, Loren
Bautista, Gladymar
Blanding, Helen
Bolden, Michael
Bruce, Keshanti
Cepeda, Yesmil
Davis, Tiffany
Essaid, Yasmine
Estrada, Stuart
Fardeen, Shams
Fernando, Gabriella
Fofana, Lamine
Garcia-Vera, Kyra
Gutierrez Rodriguez, Yehara
He, Wei Kang
Iroh, Ugo
Jiang, David
Jun, Nicholas
Kelly, Daniel
Lee, Michelle
Mei, Ying Zi
Najera, Cecilia
Noriega, Gissette
Oyaniran, Oluwadara
Pena, Jasmilka
Perez, Lani
Rimon, Akbar
Rodriguez, Jason
Ruiz-Mendia, Jair
Santos, Bryan
Shi, Yuyao
Sofiani, Rachidatou
Tafader, Sabina
Wander, Kevin

Queens
Abreu, Nonyelis
Ahmed, Tasnia
Alam, Maisha
Allera, Nina Therese
Almonte, Amerli
Anonna, Shohely
Arias, Lisbeth
Arjune, Yogita
Campoverde, Maritza
Capone, Deylin
Cuzco, Gisselle
Damas Hernandez, Bianca
Deans, Arianna
Elgamssy, Jannahtullah
Escobar-Reyes, Arianna
Estrada, Sarahjireh
Fayza, Maryam
Fermin, Daniella
Forrester, Jada
Guanga, Karen
He, Kimberly
Hector, Nigel
Islam, Tasnim
Jackson, Denzil
Jacy, Maisha
Jahra, Fatima
Jara, Aliyah
Jerez, Janeth
Kaur, Realreet
Kundu, Kingshuk
Li, Jessie
Lin, Christy
Lin, Jolin
Mokit, Sumayya
Monteros, Sthepany
Morales, Rachel
Mostafa, Rodyna
Ng, Melanie
Ramnarine, Zariah
Ranu, Manreet
Raveloson, Rovaniaina
Rima, Shahnaj
Sewdass, Tulsi
Todorinova, Magdalena
Weng, Kevin
Yeom, Brian

Staten Island
Abdellal, Sameh
Asous, Liath
Detres, Isaiah
Gaye, Fatou
Perera, Chaya
Pichardo, Josias
Poththewela, Thenuri
Santos De Oliveira, Franciara
Tran, Belinda
Zhu, Victoria