Comcast Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer David L. Cohen is pictured with Cristy Almonte (left) and Natasha Stuckey (right).
The Comcast Foundation and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney on Wednesday honored two local students with the Gustave G. Amsterdam Leadership Award at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Mayoral Luncheon. Comcast Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer David L. Cohen presented Cristy Almonte and Natasha Stuckey with individual $5,000 scholarship awards at the luncheon, held at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown.
Finalists for the Gus Amsterdam Leadership Awards are chosen from the winners of the Comcast Foundation’s Leaders and Achievers scholarships. The nationwide Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program recognizes students for academic achievement, leadership skills, and a commitment to community service. The Gus Amsterdam award targets students who attended high school in Philadelphia and are continuing their education at a college or university in the city.
“This year’s outstanding honorees represent Philadelphia’s potential and promise in the decades to come, and I know Gus, who is no longer with us, would be proud indeed,” said Cohen.
Cristy Almonte was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School, where she also served as student council president. Not content to wait until graduation to start her college career, Cristy participated in a dual enrollment program at the Community College of Philadelphia during her junior year of high school, taking four college-level courses. She has since applied those class credits toward a biology degree at Temple University. Cristy is the first member of her family to attend college, and her goal is to provide health care to underserved populations in developing countries.
Natasha Stuckey has always been passionate about the environment, a passion she was able to nurture at W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences. Natasha graduated third in her class, but still made time to volunteer at the Philadelphia Zoo, participate in her school’s wildlife club, and even raise a sheep. Today, Natasha is applying her love of animals toward a chemistry degree at University of the Sciences, and she hopes to one day contribute to global conservation efforts.
Gus Amsterdam was a Philadelphia business leader, community advocate, and founding board member of Comcast Corporation. He dedicated much of his time and energy to the community and to improving education. A graduate of Central High School and the University of Pennsylvania, Gus was committed to civic and educational activities in Philadelphia throughout his life.
The goals of the Leaders and Achievers scholarship program are:
- To give young people — the leaders who will build and shape our communities — every opportunity to be prepared for the future.
- To engage youth in their communities and help them increase their self-esteem, develop a sense of citizenship and an ethic of service, and become stronger leaders.
- To demonstrate the importance of civic involvement and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.For additional information, visit www.comcast.com/scholarships.
About the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—expanding digital literacy, promoting service, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $176 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.
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