POTOMAC -- The American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA), AFL-CIO -- the international union representing public school principals and administrators – today announced the winners of AFSA 2007 Scholarship Awards.

The following students have each won a grant of $2,500 from AFSA to use toward the cost of their college studies for the upcoming 2007/08 school year:

Jesse Bentert of Yonkers, New York;
Elayna M. Brogis of Torrington, Conn.;
Suzanne Oppenheimer of Kew Gardens, New York;
Ryan David Clapp of West Hartford, Conn.; and
Helen Wu of Brooklyn, New York.
“As educator leaders, AFSA members foster a love of learning in students that encourages them to choose higher education to pursue their goals,” said AFSA International President Jill S. Levy. “The AFSA Scholarship Program provides students with some of the means to reach their goals. Each of the five students is distinguished as an extraordinary achiever. We wish Suzanne, Helen, Elayna, Ryan, and Jesse great success in their academic endeavors.”

Jesse Bentert is a resident of Yonkers, N.Y. and currently attends Dobbs Ferry High School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. He is the son of Stephanie J. Bentert, who is a member of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA), AFSA Local 1, New York City (NYC). He enjoys math, science and tutoring his peers. He graduated first in his class in middle school, and is ranked as the top student in high school. Jesse has participated in the Watson Honors Science and Math Program at IBM; the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Distance Education Program; and Columbia University’s Summer Program for High School Students, and Science Honors Program. He plans to major in engineering and applied sciences at Columbia in NYC this fall.

Elayna Brogis is a student at Torrington High School and resides in the Conn. city of the same name. She is the daughter of Joanne K. Brogis, Ph.D., a member of AFSA Local 94, the Torrington Public School Administrators Association. Elayna has studied emergency medical techniques, trained assistance dogs for people with disabilities, and completed an internship with a local veterinarian. She has volunteered in the Church Youth Ministry, taught CCD classes, and attended the Catholic Youth Ministry with the Pope in Germany. She is a children’s dance instructor. Elayna will pursue a career in veterinary medicine at the University of Connecticut in the fall.

Suzanne Oppenheimer, daughter of CSA, AFSA Local 1, NYC member Richard Oppenheimer, is a student at the Bronx High School of Science. She is an activist in both animal and environmental rights, having participated in the LEAP Ecology Club where she organized Earth Day Festivals for two consecutive years. Suzanne has adopted animals, attended protest demonstrations and written articles to raise awareness of these issues. She has had a passion for Art History since childhood and aspires to be the curator of the Museum of Modern Art. As an elementary school student, she once refused to cross a picket line at the museum during a strike. She will pursue her higher education studies at one of the following colleges: Vassar, Kenyon, Reed, Carleton or Pomona.

Ryan David Clapp of West Hartford, Conn. is a student at Hall High School where he has been on the Maximum Honor Roll in grades 9-12. He is the son of AFSA member P. Spencer Clapp of Local 42, the East Hartford Educational Administrative and Supervisory Unit. Ryan has volunteered in the Kehilat Chaverim Youth Group, Hebrew Home, and Habitat for Humanity. He worked as a counselor for young urban children and gang members at YMCA Camp Woodstock. He has served on the Student Association, participated in lacrosse, indoor track, and theatre. In addition to being named an AP Scholar, Ryan is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, and the Math Honor Society. He expects to attend Tufts University in Medford, Mass. in the fall.

Helen Wu attends Stuyvesant High School and is the daughter of CSA, AFSA Local 1, NYC member Zhen Dong Wu. Helen is ranked in the top six percent of her graduating class. She resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. and is an avid volunteer in the Stuyvesant Key Club where she performs charitable and civic work in her community. She has delivered meals to the elderly in the Meals on Wheels program. Fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese languages, Helen has taught English as a second language to her peers. She is interested in psychology and is in the process of deciding where she will attend college in the fall.

The AFSA Scholarship Program is a part of AFSA’s commitment to education. AFSA awards successful applicants of member families with grants for higher education based on academic achievement, character, leadership, extra curricular activities, recommendations, community service, and other criteria. The Scholarship Committee received a record number of applications from well-qualified students. This year, the task to choose five recipients was formidable.

The Committee consists of James Dierke, Committee Chairman, and President of the United Administrators of San Francisco; Dominic Sacchetti, President of the Boston Association of School Administrators and Supervisors; Cynthia Warren, President of the Administrators Association of the St. Louis Public Schools; Charles Whelan, President of the Yonkers Council of Administrators, Yonkers, NY; and Florida Woods, President of the Professionals’ Association of New Orleans Public Schools, Inc.

AFSA is the international labor union representing more than 20,000 public school principals, assistant principals, administrators and supervisors. AFSA has been fighting for quality public education since 1976. AFSA provides professional development, occupational, labor, and leadership services our members in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Visit www.AFSAadmin.org.
Note: photos are available upon request.