Senior Noreen Mohsin, who will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the coming fall, won The Ronald McDonald House Charities ASIA Scholarship (RMHC/ASIA), The Milken Scholarship, The NY1 Athlete of the Week Award and The Asian and Pacific-Islander American Scholarship Fund/Hope Foundation Scholarship (APIASF), four very prestigious scholarships.
Each scholarship has different requirements, expectations, and awards.
The RMHC/ASIA scholarship, which awarded Noreen $16,000, consisted of an online application, which asked biographical questions about standardized testing scores, transcripts, extracurriculars, and required a recommendation letter from a teacher or guidance counselor.
After finding out she was one of the seven students who won the RMHC/ASIA scholarship, Noreen was overjoyed. She stated, “Knowing that I now have more money to pay for my college tuition has taken a large burden off of my shoulders. I feel thankful towards the people on the selection committee who took the time to read my application and learn about me. My parents were equally thrilled and overjoyed by the news.”
Additionally, the Milken Institute, founded by Lori and Michael Milken in 1989, honored Noreen with the Milken scholarship, making her the fourth student in Townsend Harris history to win the prestigious award. Through this scholarship, she was awarded $10,000.
Noreen found out about this scholarship back in freshmen year when Jason Mills, student from the class of 2013, was the first THHS student to win the scholarship. She stated, “Hearing about [Jason’s] story was so inspiring, but I never imagined that four years later I would follow in his footsteps. In December, my guidance counselor, Ms. Meyer, nominated me to apply and I did so in January.”
One aspect of this opportunity is the annual summit in Los Angeles. At the summit, different speakers, panels and activities will be set out for scholars to help them explore potential professional, personal and academic choices. The institute intends for this extensive outlet of resources to help scholars find their passion and allow them to explore this passion.
Noreen also won NY1 Scholar Athlete of the Week Award, which gave her $1,000 and a two minute television segment, aired on May 27.
Noreen has been on the track team since freshman year and was also the captain for the Varsity cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor track teams senior year. She also qualified for the Cross Country State Championship two years in a row and won the 3000 meter Queens Borough Championship twice. All of her accomplishments in the track team were a key factor in her winning the scholarship.
For this scholarship, students need to be nominated by a teacher, administrator or athletic coach.
Mathematics teacher and track coach Timothy Connor nominated Noreen. She commented, “Mr. Connor, helped me immensely throughout the application process. I am grateful that he nominated me for the award and submitted all of my documents for me, and supported me along the way.”
She also is very grateful for her team: “I am beyond thankful for my teammates who constantly push me to be the best that I can possibly be on the track and in school. They give me the motivation to achieve my goals and I am thankful that I can push them and support them as well.”
The fourth scholarship Noreen won was the Asian and Pacific-Islander American Scholarship Fund/Hope Foundation Scholarship, largest provider of scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander students, which awarded her $2,500.
Noreen explained, “I submitted my application in January, and was chosen as a finalist in April. After submitting additional documents, I was notified in May that I had won a scholarship from the Hope Foundation, an organization partnered with APIASF.”
Regarding her aid in the scholarship process, Noreen stated, “My parents, siblings, friends, school staff [including] Ms. Meyer, Ms. Acquista, and Ms. Kendall, teachers [including] Ms. Baranoff, Mr. Connor, and Dr. Sato, and school administrators, helped me tremendously throughout this process and without them, I would not have received these scholarships. I’m very thankful for the support I received throughout the application processes.”
