The Qa’id Staten Memorial Scholarship – Testimonials

Recipients are asked to submit a paragraph explaining how the scholarship has impacted their lives. We have kept the names of the students confidential for privacy purposes.

"Thank you so much for awarding me a scholarship this year. The path towards higher education is filled with many obstacles. Thanks to your generous award my educational journey will have one less burden. Thank you for helping me reach for my dreams!"
— Scholarship Recipient

"Ending the academic school year of 2013, I had no idea how I was going to be able to continue my education due to my financial situation. The college I attended had released a statement stating that tuition was to be raised by an additional $2,000 which discouraged me greatly for the fact that I struggled to clear my balance from the previous year. Going into my third year of college, I was crushed by the idea that I have gotten this close to my goal of earning a bachelor’s degree and I was yet still so far. All summer I stressed over the fact that I would not be able to register for classes the following semester. I gained summer employment but the money I accumulated was only enough to zero my account balance for the 2012-2013 academic year. I did not make enough to put towards the following year with the increased tuition. By receiving the Qaid Staten Memorial Scholarship, I was able to continue my education and go in to my first semester as a college senior with a relaxed mind. Without the burden of worrying over finances, I will be able to put my best foot forward and complete this chapter of my life with a college degree in hand. I am very grateful for the financial support which motivates me to strive for the best knowing that there are people who believe that I am worth the money!"
— Scholarship Recipient

"Thank you for the scholarship that I received from the Qaid Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund. Paying for college is a great hardship for my family, even though I have received merit and financial aid from Arcadia University. I am trying my best to be able to relieve my family and myself from the stress of paying for my college expenses. With the help and assistance of this scholarship, I was able to pay more than half of my remaining balance and help decrease the amount of debt that I would be in. Without this scholarship, I would have strongly considered taking off a semester and delaying my education. I want to sincerely thank the Samuel Staten, Sr. Charitable Trust for the support of the Qaid Staten Memorial Scholarship."
— Scholarship Recipient

"Due to financial issues, I thought I was going to have to take a semester off from school. This scholarship was a godsend. The scholarship not only helped with my tuition, but it also helped me to have the funds to purchase the required texts. I ended the semester with a 4.0 GPA and made the Dean's List. Again, I say thank you and I am forever grateful. I will continue to strive for excellence in my education and I look forward to starting a scholarship fund one day in hopes of helping others with their college education. The Qa'id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund has helped so many students in so many ways. It has helped each one of the awardees to change and improve the quality of their lives."
— Scholarship Recipient

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the Qa'id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund finding me worthy of receiving a scholarship. You're assistance has contributed to my academic success and the fact that I will be graduating May 11, 2013 from Howard University. When I read that Qa'id was murdered months before he was to attend Howard University, I was quickly humbled. So often, my peers and I take this opportunity for granted. We matriculate through college, sometimes forgetting that there are thousands of young black men and women who will never have this opportunity. I want to thank you, not only for your monetary contribution, but for also opening my eyes to the duty I have as a young black man in college."
— Scholarship Recipient

"Thank you so much for granting me the $2,000 scholarship. It has helped me in a thousand different ways! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You've made a difference."
— Scholarship Recipient

"Getting the scholarship was a breath of fresh air, not only for me, but for my family as well. With my college tuition over $50,000 a year, there were many things that this scholarship could be used for. I chose to use the funds towards my textbook purchases. One of the worst things financially about college is the expense of the different textbooks that we have to purchase. Being a pre-med major, I have required courses I must take in order to continue with my science path. Each of these courses require a textbook, costing about $250 each. With this scholarship, it has been one less extra expense to worry about, and I am extremely grateful that both my parents and I were granted this money to put towards my college education. Thank you."
— Scholarship Recipient

"I would like to thank the Q'aid Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund for its contribution to my studies in the biological sciences. This scholarship has allowed me to have the peace of mind to focus on my studies and research opportunities that come along with it. Without this scholarship, I would be unable to fully devote myself to my studies. This semester was my best semester to date. Much of my success can be attributed to this scholarship. I have made Dean's list and my grade were the highest yet as well as my work in one of the professors' labs has begun to show great promise. This work will allow me to be more competitive in internship and graduate school applications."
— Scholarship Recipient

"The Q'aid Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund has been with me since the very beginning of my collegiate experience. It feels like it was just yesterday I was starting my first classes as a freshman. Since then I have grown into a much more mature, organized and intelligent person. Because of the Q'aid Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund, I will be graduating this December with the strength and tools I need to go out into the real world. I am confident in myself and instead of scheduling classes, I will be scheduling interviews. The Q'aid Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund played a very integral part of my journey!"
— Scholarship Recipient

"Thank you for providing me with the much needed funds in order to continue my educational pursuit of a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology. The award was especially timely this year because my Federal Funding had been severely cut back...Thank you so much for not a hand out but a hand up!"
— Scholarship Recipient

"I would like to thank the Q'aid Staten Memorial Scholarship Fun for awarding me $2,000 to finish my Bachelor's Degree at Strayer University for Criminal Justice. If it was not for my father being in the local union I would have never known about this scholarship, and may have never finished school. I have been in college for so long that my student loans were to their max, and I couldn't take out anymore. I was a teenage parent trying to show my daughter that you should never give up on furthering your education or your dreams in life. I don't want her to make the same mistakes that I did, so I stayed in school for 9 years in order to finish what I had started. Unfortunately the aftermath of being in school so long, and not having anyone to turn to resulting is the maxing out of my loans.
 
This scholarship allowed me to finish something that I thought would never come true, and also allow me to show the world that being a teenage mother doesn't stop anything. You are the only person that can keep yourself from achieving your goals in life. I didn't have any more scholarship money to finish school. and when I thought that I would have to pay out of pocket, this scholarship came in the mail. I would like to thank your company from the bottom of my heart for the receipt of this scholarship. I will never forget it.
 
I fought, I conquered and I won!"
— Scholarship Recipient

"I would like to take this time to thank you for awarding me The Qa'id Staten Memorial Scholarship. It has been a contributing factor to my academic success in college. Textbooks alone that are required for my major cost an average of two to three hundred dollars each and many of my courses require more than one textbook. The scholarship has alleviated that financial burden for my freshman year. It has given me the freedom to adjust to college life. Because I was able to apply more time to my academics, I was selected to work in a lab with one of my professors."
— Scholarship Recipient

"Your foundation was truly a Godsend. I didn’t even expect to receive the scholarship money but just prayed that I would. I want you to know that my educational experience has been enhanced as a direct result of your generosity. And I am able to pursue a dream job that I thought might be out of my reach. Thank you again so much."
— Scholarship Recipient

"I would like to thank you for awarding me the Qa'id Staten Memorial Scholarship for my Spring 2011 semester. Because of your consistent and continued support, I was able to complete coursework in the fields of public speaking, small group communications, news writing and more. It was one of my best semesters and was truly one of self-growth. Now only do I look forward to sharing this growth with my friends and family, but I also hope to carry it into the fall of 2011. I am a more mature, hardworking and well rounded student than in my yesteryears as a freshman, and my morale could not be higher. This wonderful experience could not have been a reality without your continued support, and I am truly thankful. The best of my work is yet to come, and I have you to thank for it."
— Scholarship Recipient

"The Qa'id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund allowed my daughter to travel abroad for an educational trip to Paris and Rome. The once in a lifetime experience is something she will remember and cherish forever. I truly thank the Qa'id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund."
— Parent of High School Senior who received scholarship to attend an educational trip to Rome and Paris

"Without the help of the Qa'id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund, it would have been impossible for me to attend the educational trip to Rome and Paris. I got to see sights throughout Europe such as the Mona Lisa, Eiffel tower, Colosseum and more"
— High School Senior who received scholarship to attend an educational trip to Rome and Paris

"The Qa'id Staten Memorial Scholarship has had a profound effect on my life individually as well as academically. Thanks to the scholarship, I was able to perform well in my spring 2010 semester without any monetary issues to hinder my progress. I hold the hopes and and dreams of myself, and my family. The scholarship benefits me into getting closer to making those dreams come true. I truly appreciate receiving this award, and I hope to further continue my academic career in thanks to its help, and yours as well."
— Scholarship Recipient

"Thanks to the support of the Qa'id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund, I was able to successfully complete my Junior year at my college. The Qa'id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund deserves the credit for making it possible for me to peruse a quality education."
— Scholarship Recipient

The Samuel Staten, Sr. Charitable Trust has raised $2,860,000
for local charities since its inception in 1999,proving that Organized Labor is Making a Difference in our Community!