BUFFALO, N.Y.—Westminster Community Charter School has named eight exceptional eighth grade graduates “Promise Scholars.” The awards, funded by M&T Bank, will cover the full cost of each student’s high school tuition, along with additional support to be made available through Buffalo Promise Neighborhood as they progress through high school.
“These ‘Promise Scholars’ are outstanding representatives of Westminster Community Charter School and Buffalo Promise Neighborhood, and these scholarships are in recognition of the positive contributions they have made to their school and community,” said David Chamberlain, Senior Vice President of M&T Bank and Chief Executive Officer of Buffalo Promise Neighborhood. “We congratulate these students and look forward to continuing to support their development into successful, college-bound high school graduates.”
The eight students receiving high school tuition are:
- Aaron Adams, attending Canisius High School
- Destiny Griffin, attending Park School
- Larry Livingston, attending St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute
- Jasmine Richardson, attending Sacred Heart Academy
- Kenya Sanders, attending Sacred Heart Academy
- Chelsea Thornton, attending Sacred Heart Academy
- Shala Wright, attending St. Mary’s High School
- Sadiyah Young, attending Sacred Heart Academy
Led by M&T Bank, Buffalo Promise Neighborhood aims to reverse the cycle of generational poverty and prepare students for college and a career through a pipeline of services supporting academic achievement and healthy development. The effort grew out of the M&T Bank’s successful 20 year partnership with Westminster Community Charter School.
“Through our partnership with M&T Bank, Westminster Community Charter School aims to provide students with pathways to opportunity through academic excellence,” said Westminster Community Charter School Principal Ayinde Rudolph. “These scholarship awards are an extraordinary example of what is possible when students strive for scholastic success. We thank M&T Bank and Buffalo Promise Neighborhood for their support and congratulate our students on this incredible accomplishment.”
About Buffalo Promise Neighborhood
Founded in 2010, Buffalo Promise Neighborhood is a multi-stakeholder not-for-profit organization that seeks to improve performance at neighborhood schools and transform the surrounding community by providing a continuum of solutions to children and families, including neighborhood resources, streamlining family services and improving educational supports.
BPN is a unique public/private partnership that collaborates with a broad range of partners and service providers, including businesses, block clubs, non-profits, public entities and other organizations. BPN is supported through financial and human resources generously provided by M&T Bank as well as support through the Westminster Foundation. BPN also receives funding from U.S. Department of Education and the John R. Oishei Foundation. For more information, please visit buffalopromiseneighborhood.org.
About M&T Bank
Founded in 1856, M&T Bank Corp. is one of the 20 largest U.S. bank holding companies, with more than 700 branch offices and 1,500 ATMs in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and Washington D.C.