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QUEENS WEEKLY, JULY 19, 2020
East Elmhurst journalism student receives
fi rst-ever Héctor Figueroa Scholarship
BY BILL PARRY
One year after the powerful
labor leader Héctor
Figueroa of Jackson
Heights died of a heart attack,
his union, 32BJ SEIU,
unveiled a new scholarship
in his honor.
East Elmhurst resident
Christopher Alvarez, 22,
a survivor of a rare disability
and a graduate of
Adelphi University, where
he was his class valedictorian,
will attend Columbia
University in the fall to
pursue a master’s degree in
journalism.
The son of Colombian
immigrants, Alvarez was
born with thanatophoric
dysplasia, a severe skeletal
disorder. His doctors said
he would only live for five
years.
“I am a disabled young
man who has spent his life
proving how abled I am
through hard work and determination
along with a
commitment to staying and
spreading positivity,” Alvarez
said. “Real gifts are
those that will stick with
you for a long time and for
me education is the greatest
gift. If I am given the
opportunity to do my Ph.D.
in journalism, I would do it
in a heartbeat because education
will never abandon
you and with your knowledge,
you can change the
world, enlightening others
along the way.”
Alvarez was one of 31 recipients
to receive scholarships
of up to $32,000 to students
of members of 32BJ
SEIU, the largest property
services union in the country.
Figueroa’s wife Deidre
presented Alvarez with his
scholarship.
“The legacy of Héctor
Figueroa, the late leader
of 32BJ SEIU, lives on in
our union every day,” 32BJ
SEIU President Kyle Bragg
said. “Héctor devoted every
moment of his life to fighting
for justice for others. He
was a thoughtful, humble
and impactful leader who
continues to inspire us
all.”B
ragg, a Rosedale resident,
was executive vice
president last year when
he automatically assumed
leadership last year under
the union’s constitution
just days after Figueroa’s
passing on July 11, 2019,
age 57.
“This year we’re excited
to unveil a new scholarship
in his honor. The Héctor
Figueroa Scholarship
award celebrates a student
who most embodies the
pursuit of community activism
and social justice. I
am proud that this award,
in his name, is going to
Christopher Alvarez, who
will continue the fight for
justice as he embarks on an
advanced graduate degree
in journalism,” Bragg said.
“I am confident he will carry
on Héctor’s legacy. I am
so proud of all of this year’s
recipients, they stand for
hard work, integrity, and
the American Dream, and
in trying times like now, I
am optimistic that the future
of tomorrow is in good
hands.”.
In addition to watching
old cinema and documentaries
in his spare time, Alvarez
also enjoys connecting
with his fans on social
media reminding them that
life goals are worth living
fighting for no matter one’s
limitations.
“I have always liked the
quote, “You were born an
original, don’t die a copy.’
And this is what I want to
tell the whole world,” Alvarez
said. “We are all beautiful
in our own way. We are
all smart in our own way
and we are all talented in
our own way. You don’t need
to change for anyone or be
approved by anyone. Love
yourself first and accept
who you are so you can be
the light for everyone else.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
718.634.1500 nysilvergull.com
2020
718.634.2500
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