Page 19 - Work Force September 2021

Parent’s union membership helps AFSCME scholarship recipient help others
BALDWIN PLACE
— Nitin Seshadri,
son of CSEA
Westchester County
Unit member Priya Srinivasaraghavan, is
one of 12 recent high
school graduates
across the country
who received the
2021 AFSCME Family Scholarship.
The scholarship, awarded by AFSCME, CSEA’s International
union, provides recipients with an initial $2,000 scholarship, which is renewable for up to four years for as long as the student remains in school full time.
“Having that support [from AFSCME] and knowing people are rooting for me, it’s really awesome,” said Seshadri.
Seshadri is a 2021 graduate of Somers High School in Westchester County, where he graduated as salutatorian. Srinivasaraghavan
is a longtime CSEA member and
software architect who works in the county’s Department of Information Technology, a position she took not long after immigrating to the United States from India.
Thanks to the stable employment and fair wages attained through
his mother’s job, Seshadri said he grew up with many opportunities that have allowed him to expand his horizons academically and use skills he’s developed to help people in need.
Seshadri will be building on that passion for helping others as he enters the University of Pennsylvania this fall, where he’ll pursue a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. His ultimate goal is to attend medical school.
“I want to be able to help a lot of people and work with patients in hospitals, nurses, and other doctors and specialists,” said Seshadri.
When he reaches that goal, Seshadri will be arriving with plenty of experience. He’s already gotten
an introduction into patient care as a volunteer at Northern Westchester Hospital.
Seshadri has also helped people in a variety of other ways. He’s
the founder of a group of students called D2NK, members of which work together to create sustainable solutions to problems in their communities.
After volunteering at a local
food pantry, Seshadri worked with group members to develop an app called RestShare, which connects restaurants with volunteers and soup kitchens, allowing the restaurants to donate unused food.
Another app the group developed is called AI4VI, which detects obstacles and helps people with visual impairment prevent tripping and other injuries. Students at
the New York Institute for Special Education tested the app and provided feedback, which Seshadri hopes to incorporate.
Outside that group, during
seventh grade, Seshadri created Project: Math++, a mobile app and website connecting students with tutoring. Project: Math++ eventually grew into a nonprofit organization, allowing proceeds from tutoring to be used to educate underprivileged children in India via the Indian Council for Child Welfare, based
in Tamil Nadu. Seshadri hopes to continue his work with Project: Math++ to continue to help children gain access to education.
Seshadri said he is not only grateful for the AFSCME Family Scholarship, but also the many union benefits that have allowed his parents a secure future.
“Being in a union, my mom
has sick and vacation time, and retirement benefits,” said Seshadri. “Having those retirement benefits will allow my parents a better financial cushion. The union is really important in keeping these things alive.”
— Jessica Ladlee
Western Region:
Alexis Wright, whose parent, Tammy Wright, is a caseworker at Wyoming County Department of Social Services.
Edward Murphy, whose parent, Kelly Murphy, is a health and recovery plans adult care manager at Pinnacle Community Services.
Barbara Smith, whose parent, Janet Smith, is a teachers assistant at East Rochester Union Free School District.
Pearl Insurance:
Anne Kochmanski, whose parent, John Kochmanski, is an industrial supervisor at Attica Correctional Facility.
MetLife Insurance Company: Thomas Briel, whose parent, Patricia Olmstead, is a teachers assistant at Camden Central School District.
CSEA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2021 Irving Flaumenbaum, Pearl Insurance
and MetLife Insurance Company Scholarships. Our union presents the scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors who are eligible dependents of CSEA members. Congratulations to all of the recipients.
Irving Flaumenbaum Memorial Scholarships (three in each region):
Long Island Region:
Jessica Kopping, whose parent, Hedy Kopping, is a clerk typist at Nassau Community College.
Joseph Reyes, whose parent, Silvia Lopez, is food service worker at Amityille Union Free School District.
Alexa Salerno, whose parent,
Mark Salerno, is a cleaner/driver at Wantagh Schools.
Metropolitan Region:
Leah Medina, whose parent, Francisco Medina, is a grounds maintenance supervisor at New York State Park.
Fatou Mbaye, whose parent, Aissatou Diop, is a motor vehicle representative at Department of Motor Vehicles.
Maximillien Raymond, whose parent, Barbara Raymond, is a senior program coordnator at Health Research, Inc.
Southern Region:
Elise McCarthy, whose parent, Denise McCarthy, is a school nurse at Pelham Union Free School District.
Swaneet Jha, whose parent, Shweta Jha, is a court clerk at the Town of North Greenburgh.
Juliet Murray, whose parent,
Linda Murray, is an associate court reporter at NYS Unified Court System.
Capital Region:
Jacob LaPlante, whose parent,
Amy LaPlante, is a caseworker at Albany County Department of Social Services.
Alexis Tedford, whose parent, Jennifer Tedford, is a secretary at Schodack Central School District.
Thomas Woods, whose parent, Steven Woods, is a highway maintenance worker at the New York State Department of Transportation.
Central Region:
Jonathan Denton, whose parent, Julie Denton, is a principal court attorney at Oneida County Surrogates Court.
James Hearn, whose parent, Colleen Hearn, is a principal law clerk at the Unified Court System.
Sasha Lamoree, whose parent, Jennifer Lamoree, is a nursing assistant at Willow Point Rehab and Nursing Center.
Seshadri
Union announces statewide scholarship recipients
September 2021
The Work Force 19