ELL Foundation “student of the year” is from Cincinnati State
CState students celebrating scholarships awarded by the ELL Foundation included (from left ): Yendi Tembely, Nyerehwro Eyeregba, Laurette Kameni, Abigael Timothy, Judith Kafando Lompo, Aya Hijji, Natmetha Santaweesuk, and Sokhna Diop.
Cincinnati State student Laurette P. Kameni, from Cameroon (3rd from left in photo), was recognized as the “2019 College Student of the Year” during the annual Recognition Breakfast held by the English Language Learning Foundation (ELL Foundation) on Feb. 21, 2019, at Northern Kentucky University.
Professor Rosa-Maria Moreno, who serves on the ELL Foundation Board of Directors, said the Student of the Year is determined by evaluating academic achievements and community service, as well as student application essays and letters of references.
Laurette is the first Cincinnati State student to earn the ELL Foundation’s Student of the Year award.
Three years ago, the Foundation started a scholarship in memory of Cincinnati State Professor Andrea Cheng. This year’s Cheng Scholarship recipient was Cincinnati State student Mels Mbuyi, from Congo. Andrea’s mother, Mary Kartal, and her sister, Annette DiGirolamo, attended the recognition event.
In addition to Laurette and Mels, other Cincinnati State students who received scholarships included:
- Sokhna Diop (Senegal)
- Nyerehwro E. Eyeregba (Nigeria)
- Aya Hijji (Palestine)
- Judith Kafando Lompo (Burkina Faso)
- Natmetha Santaweesuk (Thailand)
- Yendi Tembely (Mali)
- Abigael Timothy (Nigeria)
- Iang Tin Tial (Myanmar)
The ELL Foundation was established in 2006 to provide opportunities to English learners in the Cincinnati area who wish to continue their higher education at accredited colleges and universities. A few area high school students are eligible for scholarships also.
In 11 years the Foundation has awarded over $140,000 in scholarships to Cincinnati-area students, in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,000 each.
Faculty member Maggie Oliveira (English as a Second Language Chair) serves on the Foundation Board of Directors along with Professor Moreno (Foreign Languages Chair).