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Five federal employees or their family members have been chosen to receive this year’s college scholarships endowed by NTEU and administered by the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA).
The winners will each receive $5,000 through the NTEU-FEEA Scholarship program in addition to awards made by FEEA.
Eniola Ayo-Gbenjo is one of this year’s recipients who demonstrates a strong desire to follow in her parents’ footsteps by proudly serving her community. Ayo-Gbenjo plans to attend medical school and become a doctor who helps bridge disparities in healthcare access. Ayo-Gbenjo’s father is a member of Chapter 86 (IRS K Street).
“I have people rooting for me as I pursue an educational journey that will allow me to influence society for the better. And the person who inspires me to do this every day is my father and current federal employee,” Ayo-Gbenjo wrote.
Natalie Ibarra is another winner with NTEU roots—her father is a member of Chapter 160 (CBP Brownsville). Ibarra is beginning her studies at Texas A&M focusing on forensic science to become a forensics investigator at a police station or crime lab
“I have big plans for my future, and I hope to make both my parents proud of the woman I will become,” she wrote.
Miranda “Rosie” Benford is a student at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health working to become a Public Health Attorney and Legal Epidemiologist at the CDC. Benford said that she shares a love of public service with her husband, a member of Chapter 244 (FDIC New York).
“We both share a passion for giving back to our communities, and I am continuously inspired by his dedication for serving others as a Financial Institution Specialist,” she wrote.
Emily Dayhoff attends an online graduate program for Cultural Heritage Management through Johns Hopkins University while working full-time for the National Park Service at Yosemite National Park. Along with receiving an NTEU-FEEA scholarship, Dayhoff was this year’s recipient of the Vernon Hunter award recognizing leadership skills. Hunter, a Vietnam veteran and 27-year IRS employee, was killed after a pilot flew his single-engine plane into an Austin, Texas, office building housing IRS employees.
“With the funds received from this scholarship, I will be able to continue my learning to further my career with the National Park Service,” Dayhoff wrote.
Abigail R. Eli, a student at the Chaminade University of Honolulu, is seeking a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education in Mathematics. While pursuing her teaching degree, Eli is working as a substitute teacher and helping low-income children in her community.
“I’ve come to realize that education is a key factor in breaking generational poverty. My passion is assisting high-risk students by providing resources that offer quality education and stability,” she wrote.
Applications for the 2022 FEEA-NTEU scholarship will be available early next year. Visit FEEA.org for more information.