On July 7, community
members and leaders came
together to celebrate the life
of Brandon Hendricks and,
thanks to the Bronx Rising
Initiative (BRI), awarded 10
young women headed to college
with the Brandon Hendricks
Scholarship, a $5,000
scholarship for their studies.
The announcement of the
winners came after a street
co-naming in honor of Hendricks,
a rising star that was
killed by senseless gun violence
on June 29, 2020. Hendricks
was a consistent source
of hope and inspiration for everyone
that knew him and, before
his passing, had recently
been accepted to college with
a full scholarship. The twopronged
event took place on
Hendrick’s birthday.
BRI’s Brandon Hendricks
Scholarship was launched
last year in partnership with
his family and exists to honor
his memory and uplift his
peers. This year’s winners
are:
Ethnee Guzman, a recent
graduate of American Dream
Charter School, is headed to
University at Albany in the
fall, hoping to study business
administration. Ethnee hopes
to attend graduate school and
own a business or a few businesses.
Rachel Turbridy, graduating
from Celia Cruz Bronx
High School of Music, will attend
New York University in
the fall to major in Music Performance
(French Horn), her
passion. Rachel hopes to be a
professional performer and
teacher.
Khaliya Reyes, a graduate
of Saint Raymond Academy
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 14 ULY 30-AUG. 5, 2021 BTR
for Girls, is headed to Le
Moyne College and is planning
on studying biology.
Abigail Smith, who graduated
from Celia Cruz Bronx
High School of Music and
plays piano and violin, hopes
to study biology at Stony
Brook University and one day
become a pediatrician.
Esmeralda Valles graduated
from Mott Hall V School
and will be studying Forensic
sciences at the John Jay College
of Criminal Justice.
Khalijah Robinson is a
graduate of Thurgood Marshall
Academy. Khalijah will
be attending Morgan State
University to study nursing
with the long-term goals to
create two non-profi t organizations,
become a successful
registered nurse, and own a
clinic.
Gabriela Encalada recently
graduated from University
Prep Charter High
School. Gabriela is headed
to Hunter College to study
Teaching English to Speakers
of Other Languages (TESOL)
and Social Work, hoping
to support immigrant families
and children to assimilate.
Lucki Islam, a graduate
of Dreamyard Preparatory, is
headed to New York University
in the fall to study fi lmmaking.
Lucki hopes to tell
the true story of the Bronx
through fi lmmaking and one
day create a nonprofi t to support
Bronx youth through the
arts.
Rosselys Bare, who graduated
from Bronx High School
of Business, is planning on
attending SUNY Sullivan to
study sports management in
the hopes of forwarding gender
equity in the sports world.
Princess Della Tsivor graduated
from Dr. Richard Izquierdo
Health and Science Charter
School. Princess will be
attending Brown University
in the fall to major in Biology
with a minor in Computer Science
with the goal of closing
the healthcare disparity gap.
-Bronx Times
Brandon Hendricks was tragically
shot and killed on June 29, 2020.
Photos Jewel Webber
Some of the Brandon Hendricks Scholarship winners include, from
left, Rachel Turbridy, Abigail Smith, Rosselys Bare, Gabriela Encalad,
Khalia Reyes, Khalijah Robinson, Luki Islam and Ethnee Guzman. Princess
Della Tsivor’s dad receives her award on her behalf.
Street renamed for gunfi re victim