Marilyn Owusu-Sekyere '18 (center) at the Staten Island Soroptomists Ruby Awards luncheon at the Vanderbilt.
College of Staten Island (CSI) student Marilyn Owusu-Sekyere ’18 is the recipient of the Soroptimists of Staten Island’s Ruby Award.
“Marilyn, despite her youth, has already done some extraordinary work in support of women and girls, and is certain to accomplish much more once she graduates from college and can devote herself to activism and advocacy full time, as she plans,” commented Alyson Bardsley, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of English and Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Director of the Bertha Harris Women’s Center.
In just one example of this student’s charitable and selfless efforts, the young woman co-founded a non-profit organization called “The Bethesda Project.” Owusu-Sekyere was inspired after a trip to the Dominican Republic where she witnessed the devastating poverty of the small country. Using social media, she was able to help raise more than $10,000 dollars, which was sent to the Dominican Republic.
“While extraordinarily modest and shy about speaking on her own behalf, Marilyn is beginning to find her voice as she works to communicate and accomplish her goals,” said Dr. Bardsley, who also commended the Soroptomists for their continued support in such CSI events as “Take Back the Night.”
