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YWCA Scholarship Awardees to be honored in April

Published May 03. 2022 11:33AM

The YWCA of Bethlehem recently announced the name of its eight high school scholarship recipients. The nonprofit, dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all, celebrated the 2022 Teens of the Year Awards April 26 at the Event Center at blue.

The young women were honored for their outstanding academic achievement and commitment to their communities.

Vice President of Health Strategies at American Heart Association in Tampa Bay, Fla., and former YWCA of Bethlehem Woman of the Year, Qiana Cressman, served as the event emcee. Cressman is also an author, speaker, and podcast host for Emerge Enterprise Media and was Executive Director, Donor Operations for Miller-Keystone Blood Center in Bethlehem until January 2021.

“I am excited to return the Lehigh Valley as the YWCA honors these exceptional students,” Cressman said. “I am personally commited to empowering women, especially young women of color, and I look forward to meeting them and playing a role in launching their continued success.”

The YWCA Bethlehem announced that this year’s Teen Awards include young women from Bethlehem Area School District and Allentown School District.

Educational Empowerment Award winners received a $1,000 scholarship to the college of their choice:

• Ciana Feliciano, Freedom HS

• Abigael Omwega, Liberty HS

• Ana Reis, Freedom HS

• Kailey Turpening, Freedom HS

A Path Forward Award winners received $1,000 a year for two years to the community college of their choice:

• Minerva Ochoa, Freedom HS

• N’dia Escobales, Dieruff HS

Teen Mission Award winners were chosen for their commitment to the YWCA mission to eliminate racism and empower women. Teen Mission awardees received $1,000 a year for four years to the college of their choice:

• Irampaye Clarisse, Liberty HS

• Deyona Robert, William Allen HS

Along with award presentations, the event will feature a silent auction benefitting YWCA women and girls’ empowerment programs. Donations for the scholarship fund can be made online at ywcabethlehem.org/involve/donate.

PRESS PHOTO COURTESY BETHLEHEM YWCA Denise Pierson-Balik, YWCA Bethlehem development director, Virginia Oskin, Women & Teens of the Year Committee chair; Ciana Feliciano Educational Empowerment Award Winner; and Mahboobeh Shekari, YWCA Bethlehem director of finance and administration.
Virginia Oskin, Women & Teens of the Year Committee chair; Abigael Omwega, Educational Empowerment Award winner; Irampaye Clarisse, Teen Mission Award winner; Mahboobeh Shekari, YWCA Bethlehem director of finance and administration); and Denise Pierson-Balik, YWCA Bethlehem development director.
Denise Pierson-Balik, YWCA Bethlehem development director; Virginia Oskin, Women & Teens of the Year Committee chair; Minerva Ochoa, A Path Forward Award winner; and Mahboobeh Shekari, YWCA Bethlehem director of finance and administration.
Denise Pierson-Balik, YWCA Bethlehem development director; Virginia Oskin, Women & Teens of the Year Committee chair; Ana Reis, Educational Empowerment Award winner; Mahboobeh Shekari, YWCA Bethlehem director of finance and dministration; and Melanie Houser, Freedom HS guidance counselor.
Denise Pierson-Balik, YWCA Bethlehem development director; Virginia Oskin, Women & Teens of the Year Committee chair; Kailey Turpening, Educational Empowerment Award winner; Mahboobeh Shekari, YWCA Bethlehem director of finance and administration.