Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation Awards $828,000 to Five Manhattan College STEM Students to Pay for Tuition

Gift Creates the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Scholarship Fund at Manhattan College.

Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Manhattan College STEM StudentsManhattan College announced that it has received a grant in the amount of $828,000 from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. The gift will create the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Scholarship Fund at Manhattan College, awarding underserved students with outstanding high school academic accomplishments who commute to the College from in and around New York City. It is the largest donation the Cohen Foundation has given to Manhattan College and covers nearly 90% of student tuition and fees over four years. 

Alexandra Cohen, President of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, was a communications student who commuted to the College from her home in Washington Heights. Jeanne Melino, Executive Director of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, was also a government student and a commuter student at the College. 

“For all of the students selected as Cohen Scholars, a college education seemed financially out of reach,” said Alexandra Cohen, President of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Manhattan College and support high-achieving students fulfill their dreams of attending college.”

Five first-year Manhattan College science and engineering students have been selected as Cohen Scholars. The Cohen Scholars are:

  • Melanie Beharry

    Image of Melanie Beharry
    Melanie Beharry attended Cathedral High School in Manhattan and is studying biology on a pre-health profession track. “Not only has this scholarship offered me the chance to pursue the goals and dreams that I aspire to fulfill, but it has also motivated me to be more driven and determined when it comes to striving for the future I dreamed of,” Beharry said. She is the first person in her family to attend college.

  • Rodrigo Barberan

    Image of Rodrigo Barberan
    Rodrigo Barberan attended Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx and is studying biochemistry. “This gift has changed my life, as I am able to attend my dream college and focus on my studies and the opportunities it will provide,” Barberan said.

  • Jared Bravo

    Image of Jared Bravo
    Jared Bravo attended Brooklyn Latin High School and is studying civil engineering. Bravo is an avid cross-country runner and competed in his first marathon in April. He took college-level courses at Manhattan College last summer, which helped him navigate the transition from high school to college. “This scholarship is really going to help me in college,” Bravo said. “Instead of worrying about who is going to pay for college I can now direct all my attention to my studies. It will not only help me but it takes most of the financial burden off of my parent’s shoulders.”

  • Julio Marmol Herrera

    Image of Julio Marmol Herrera
    Julio Marmol Herrera attended International Leadership Charter High School in the Bronx and is studying computer science. Marmol Herrera was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the Bronx when he was two years old. “I want to communicate that I’m immensely grateful for the scholarship and well aware of how fortunate I am,” Marmol Herrera said. “Education brings freedom and opportunity in life.”

  • Ethan Perez

    Image of Ethan Perez
    Ethan Perez attended All Hallows High School in the Bronx and is studying computer science. “I'm honored to be one of the first recipients of the Cohen Foundation Scholarship,” he said. “I personally thank each of you for making it possible for me to pursue my dream of becoming a computer scientist. Thank you for supporting me in reaching my fullest professional and personal potential.”

The students selected for this scholarship have worked closely with the admissions team since the beginning of their senior year.

“We'd like to thank the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation for this generous and consequential gift," said Brother Daniel Gardner, FSC, president of Manhattan College. “The gift offers five deserving New York City commuter students the opportunity to attend Manhattan College and to take the first steps toward achieving their dreams in a caring environment of excellence."

By David Koeppel