ETS Helps to Make Higher Education Dreams a Reality for Diverse Students from Across the United States

July 27, 2023 — ETS CEO Amit Sevak ETS CEO Amit Sevak awarded scholarships to 18 U.S. students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at the annual ETS scholarship reception held at the ETS campus in Princeton on Thursday, July 20. The evening, organized by the ETS Center for Advocacy & Philanthropy (CAAP), was a celebration to recognize the students’ tenacity, academic achievements and commitment to service.

“Equal access to education is the key that unlocks the American Dream. It is how we progress as a society,” said Sevak. “You are the future leaders of that society. And I have no doubt that your achievements, your contributions, and your service will show the value of diversity — and help move us toward a better future.”

New Jersey elected officials joined the evening celebration, including Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Mercer) and City of Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. Assemblywoman Jackson and Mayor Gusciora jointly presented official proclamations from the City of Trenton to honorees who hail from the City and are recipients of the Trenton Central High School (TCHS) Scholarship and ETS Cares Scholarship.

“You embody the dreams, the drive, the success and the resilience that’s the heart of our communities,“ said Assemblywoman Jackson. “I want to extend my congratulations and happiness to you as you start your journey. You’ve earned this, you worked for it – your hardwork, dedication and determination has demonstrated that -- and your commitment to education is unwavering.”

Dr. Marcus Bright, author and changemaker, delivered the evening’s keynote address.

Bright’s inspirational remarks to the reception attendees focused on the scholarship recipients and the responsibility that comes along with this opportunity. “You are successful when you use your degree to benefit yourself, but you are significant when you serve others,” said Dr. Bright.

The reception was the culmination of a 2-day retreat aimed at providing the scholarship winners with an opportunity to explore the ETS Princeton campus with activities including yoga and social gatherings; leadership training; community service activities; and professional connections with ETS C-suite leaders.

ETS sponsors a total of six scholarships that include the annual ETS Cares Scholarship, Trenton Central High School (TCHS) Scholarship and Presidential Scholarship for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Students, in addition to three inaugural scholarships, including the Lenora M. Green Scholarship, Bob Moses Scholarship and Dr. Lillian M. Lowery Scholarship.

ETS’s signature scholarship program, the ETS Cares Scholarship Fund, is fully funded by generous donations from ETS employees and is awarded to students who have overcome adversity to achieve academic success. This one-time award of up to $10,000 will provide critical support to five students who will enter their freshman year of college this coming fall. The awardees and the schools they will attend include Aaliyah Williams, Emory University; Haven Warmington, Monmouth University; Malik Lammons, Morehouse College; and Ouma Alexander, Vanderbilt University.

The ETS TCHS Scholarship supports local Trenton Central High School graduates who have excelled in academics while overcoming challenging circumstances. The one-time award of $10,000 enables the students to attend a two- or four-year accredited, nonprofit postsecondary institution of their choice. Trenton Central High School graduates honored with this award and the schools they will attend include Alma Batista, Dartmouth College; Evita Vasquez Reyes, Stockton University; and Miguel Hernandez-Delgado, The College of New Jersey.

The ETS Presidential Scholarship for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) was created in recognition of ETS’s long-standing collaboration with HBCUs and will provide financial assistance to rising juniors and seniors who attend an HBCU and have a record of outstanding academic performance in college and demonstrated record of community leadership. This year’s scholarship was awarded to eight recipients. The awardees and the schools they attend include Brian Officer, Miles College; Youma Diabira, Xavier University of Louisiana; Erin Grier, Spelman College; Baily Barnett, Howard University; Assata Starks, Lincoln University of Missouri; Teliyah Wynder, Prairie View A&M University; Ramiyah Thompson, Mississippi Valley State University; and Jordan McCrary, Florida A&M University.

The Lenora M. Green Scholarship, named for the late Lenora Green who previously served as the Executive Director of ETS’s CAAP, is a one-time award of $20,000 for an undergraduate student committed to civic engagement. The 2023–24 recipient is Morgan D. Stanley, a sophomore at Tougaloo College (HBC) in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Robert “Bob” Moses Scholarship, named in honor of the pioneering civil rights leader and educator who founded and led The Algebra Project, is a one-time award of $15,000. The 2023–24 recipient is Dennis Parnell, Jr., a Ph.D. student at the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida.

The Dr. Lillian M. Lowery Scholarship named in honor of the late former ETS Vice President Lillian Lowery, a passionate teacher and leader who championed national education reform before joining ETS as Vice President of Student and Teacher Assessments. The 2023–24 winner of this $15,000 one-time scholarship is Ibraheem Ahmad, a student pursuing a second master’s degree in school counseling at the George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

For more information, visit ETS scholarship programs and philanthropy.

About ETS

At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English-language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL^® and TOEIC^® tests, the GRE^® tests and The Praxis Series^® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide.

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