Scholarship Recipients

2022-2023 | Leslie Abreu

Leslie is a Bronx-born, first-generation Fordham honors graduate with a bachelor’s of science in Psychology with a 3.8 GPA. She is now pursuing initial certification as a bilingual educator in NYC through Fordham’s accelerated Master’s of Science in Teaching (MST) program. Since her arrival at Fordham, she has been a tutor/counselor and instructor for the Fordham Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP), an academic enrichment program that serves underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged youth in our city. She also served as a volunteer in Club Amigas, a peer mentoring group for local adolescent Latinas considering college. She was also a founding e-board member for Fordham’s First Generation Student Network. Even after graduation, she remains involved in these clubs and organizations because she genuinely believes in the power of helping others in her community through education. She takes great pride in the fact that her studies will enable her to become the first teacher in her family.

2022-2023 | Isabel Logios

Isabel is a native Long Island resident from South Hempstead who recently graduated summa cum laude from Fordham with a 3.94 GPA in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing. She will be obtaining her Master’s degree in Adolescent English Education, and starting in September she will start student teaching in Queens, NY. During her time at Fordham she was a part of several education related programs, such as Peer Health Exchange, the History Makers Program and the Graide Network. She also worked as an academic tutor for the Manresa Scholars Program and as a teaching assistant for the Gabelli School of Business. These experiences reinforced her aspiration to become a teacher, as she was able to make meaningful personal connections with her students.

2021-2022 | Jaylene Marie Ynfante

Jaylene received her BA degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Fordham College Rose Hill on May 22, 2021. She is currently enrolled in the Masters in Teaching program in Adolescence English Grades 7-12. Jaylene has been an active volunteer since her sophomore year in high school. As an undergraduate student enrolled in our 5 Year Integrated Education Track, Jaylene has continued this focus on volunteer work with inner city youth. Since 2017, Jaylene has volunteered as a teacher’s assistant at PS 218 in the Bronx. She has also tutored high school students for the SAT with Let’s Get Ready and supported middle school students virtually at the Bronx Lacrosse Academy during the pandemic. Her energy and generosity of spirit while juggling schoolwork and employment speaks to her fine character and passion for helping others.

2019-2020 | Jacqueline Dominger

Jacqueline Dominger is a native Long Island resident, having been raised in Smithtown, NY. She is the oldest of three girls. From an early age, she was an accomplished swimmer and attended Fordham on an athletic scholarship and was captain of the team her senior year. She studied Psychology and enrolled in the 5-year teacher track in the Master of Science of Teaching in Adolescent science program at the Graduate School of Education. In addition to her studies, she works in a Bronx Pre-School with children with a wide range of disabilities as the assistant teacher for creating learning activities that allow students to gain the basic foundation for learning. Her experience at Fordham gave her a well-rounded approach to education and she believes that her opportunity to attend graduate school will allow her to integrate her creativity, dedication, and enrich her passion for becoming an effective teacher.

2018-2019 | Tommy Tsang

Tommy graduated from Fordham University in May 2018 magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Philosophy. At Fordham, he strived to make a difference through Let’s Get Ready, a youth development program that aims to help first generation high school students from low-income backgrounds with free SAT preparation, admission counseling and other support services needed to gain admission and graduate from college. In recognition of his efforts, Let’s Get Ready awarded Tommy its annual Chairman’s Award which is given to 2-3undergraduates who best exemplify the power of their near-peer model of students helping students get into and through college. He has also volunteered with The East Harlem School and CitySquash. Tommy is pursuing an M.S.T. in Advanced English with a Special Education extension at Fordham while working as a Teaching Associate at The East Harlem School.

2017-2018 | Stephanie Ho

Stephanie was born and raised in New Jersey. She is currently in the Fordham Graduate School of Education for Early Childhood Special Education. Her past experiences with children in summer camps and volunteering at her church, led her to pursue her passion for working with children by becoming a future teacher. She strongly believes in the younger generation and hopes that her classroom can make a difference in her students’ lives. When Stephanie isn’t occupied with teaching and school, she loves to curl up with a good book, explore new places in the city, and update her personal blog.

2016-2017 | Kristen Guzman

Kristen Guzman graduated from Fordham in May 2016 with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Theology with a 3.8 GPA. While attending Fordham, she was one of the University’s Founders Scholars. Kristen comes from an extended Fordham family, as her brother and sister also attend. As a student at Fordham, Kristen was encouraged to join Generation Citizen, an organization committed to bringing lessons on civic action to urban classrooms across the country. Through this experience, she was placed in a 12th grade classroom in the South Bronx where the reality of education inequality became apparent but also fostered her passion for teaching. She enrolled in the five year integrated teaching track and is studying for her master’s degree in childhood special education.

2015-2016 | Noureen Qureshi

Noureen was born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey. During her undergraduate career at Fordham University she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She balanced her academic career with several volunteer hours as a local mentor and youth leader within New Jersey. It was during this experience that Noureen developed an interest in special education. She understood the value of providing opportunities for individuals in need of specialized care and instruction.

Noureen’s personal multicultural and multilingual background has shaped the approach she takes on teaching students in culturally and individually sensitive ways. She hopes to incorporate an educational pedagogy that includes both differentiated and culturally responsive academic environments. Noureen is currently pursuing a dual Masters in General Childhood Education and Childhood Special Education at Fordham University.

2014-2015 | Efthemia “Effie” Hanakis

Effie is currently working toward completing a dual Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and in Early Childhood Special Education at Fordham’s Graduate school of Education. This past year she has been completing her student teaching requirement at a preschool in Manhattan. It was a great experience because she learned so much. Effie is excited about being offered a position at St. Bartholomew’s Community Preschool next year as a lead teacher.

She has said “All these opportunities would not have been an option for me without the Zoller Family Scholarship and I am so grateful to have been selected as a recipient last year. Since the moment I met the Zoller Family I have felt so welcomed and appreciated. I want to thank the Zoller Family from the bottom of my heart for their generous scholarship and for making me feel like a member to the family.

2013-2014 | Maria Disla

Maria went to the University of Central Florida and received a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology. While she was an undergraduate she tutored elementary school students, grades 2-5. It was the most rewarding job she had ever had. Immediately she knew that teaching was what she was born to do.

 Maria is currently studying at Fordham University for a Master’s Degree Dual Certification in General Education and Childhood Special Education. She is now working in an elementary school with a group of fifth graders, specifically in a Math and Science classroom. Upon graduation she plans to work in schools that are in urban areas.

2012-2013 | Kathleen Crowley

Kathleen Crowley graduated this May from Long Island University with a Masters Degree in School Counseling and Advanced Certification in Mental Health Counseling. After beginning graduate studies at Fordham University in Childhood and Special Education, she realized through coursework and time spent in urban city schools that the counseling position was where she needed to be.

Kathleen spent this year in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District counseling the seventh 

grade. She was recently recognized for her commitment to the counseling profession by the Nassau Counselors’ Association and awarded the Marie C. Quinn Memorial Scholarship. She is pursuing a school counseling position in New York City. Kathleen says “I am blessed to have had the support of the Zoller Family and Foundation behind me the entire way. I couldn’t have done it without them.” 

2011-2012 | Sean M. Page

Sean has earned a Master of Science in Teaching Adolescence Social Studies and Special Education at Fordham University. During his student teaching assignments, he applied his social studies degree to meet the needs of all students, developing a curriculum to understand and motivate special needs students and provide instruction in a self-contained environment.

Effectively working with students to achieve success is the foundation of Sean’s personal drive and passion. His goal is to provide students with a curriculum that meets or exceeds academic requirements and facilitates an environment that stimulates a desire for more. Sean is now teaching special education in Ardsley High School in Westchester. 

2010-2011 | Grace Zhang

Brooklyn native, Grace Zhang, graduated from Fordham University with an undergraduate degree in English and then a Masters in Education a year later.

Grace has been working with kids since the age of seventeen and has particularly enjoyed working with younger children with special needs. In addition to Special Education, Grace has always been interested in teaching students whose first language is not English. 

Currently, Grace teaches at the Lower East Side, Chinatown area, and works with underprivileged students with special needs and limited English. She also dedicates her time on Saturdays to tutor children with and without special needs as it serves as an excellent learning experience to improve her own pedagogy.

2009-2010 | Michael Gonzalez

Michael is a New York City native born on the Lower East Side. An English major, he graduated from Fordham’ s undergraduate teacher prep program in early childhood education. He was drawn to special education after overcoming his own health issues (juvenile diabetes) as well as spending a summer student teaching at a mental health clinic in Harlem.

Michael knew at an early age that he was "called" to be a teacher. He sees the critical need for more male teachers in the classroom, especially in the public schools where he believes the need is the greatest and he can have more impact.

After graduating with his Masters in Education, Michael has been teaching fourth grade.

2008-2009 | Sarah Curland

Sarah is now married and has a daughter, Emma, who will be two years old on July 21st. This year she is teaching first grade intervention at P.S. 11 in Chelsea. She works with students struggling in reading and math. Her Master’s in Special Education from Fordham University taught her about the diverse needs of the students in New York City and prompted her to return to school again to study communication disorders. She received a master’s in Speech Language Pathology in December 2014 and looks forward to a new career as a Teacher of Speech Improvement within the New York City Department of Education.

2007-2008 | Christyn Sakowich

Since receiving her Masters Degree from Fordham University in both General Education and Special Education, Christyn taught third and fourth grade at P.S. 241 in Harlem for her first two years of teaching. For the past two years she has been teaching, first grade at P.S. 449 Grant Elementary School in the South Bronx. It is a new public school that just opened in the Fall of 2009 and will continue to grow to a K-5 school.

Christyn says “1 have finally found that perfect grade for me. It is so wonderful to be able to come in on the first day of school to kids who can barely read or write and then see their incredible growth in such a small amount of time.”