Two CSI students, Liliana Cota and Faith Lin, have recently received Women of Achievement Scholarships from Staten Island Women Inc.

Staten Island Women, Inc. a not-for-profit organization that grew out of Women of Achievement, which was initiated by the Staten Island Advance more than 60 years ago, began presenting scholarships in 2023 to encourage women students of Borough colleges to volunteer in their communities and to foster their education.

This year, there were two scholarship recipients from the College of Staten Island:

Liliana Cota

Liliana Cota is a rising sophomore in the Verrazzano Honors Program at the College of Staten Island who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science. She entered CSI from Tottenville High School with an excellent academic record, where she was a member of the National Honors Society while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. Cota is the Treasurer of CSI’s Pre-Medicine/Pre-PA Society, and aspires to enroll in medical school to become a pathologist. 

While attending Tottenville High School, she became President of the Knit for Kids Club, through which she demonstrated outstanding service and leadership. As someone who is passionate about the craft, Cota not only taught classes of children how to knit and crochet, but also taught them to use their newfound talent for the good of other people by donating their handmade hats and scarves to homeless children and families, both locally and abroad. She has additionally worked with the Luzuriaga Foundation, an organization dedicated to ending homelessness and providing resources to veterans in need, by writing letters of support to be sent to homeless shelters, children’s hospitals, and veterans’ associations. Cota has also devoted herself to her community by participating in clean-ups with the NYC Parks Department and Greenbelt Conservancy, and has raised awareness of cyber-bullying through presentations she created as a participant in the Summer Youth Employment Program.

“Receiving the Women of Achievement award feels incredibly meaningful to me,” Cota said. “This award is not just a recognition of what I have done, but it also reflects the immense support and encouragement I have received by my community on Staten Island, which has shaped me throughout my life. Growing up here, I have seen many local organizations uplift those who strive to make a change. This award honors both the work I’ve done and the journey I have taken, supported by amazing faculty, friends, and family who have encouraged me to use my love of medicine, the environment, and crocheting to help others. I hope this shows that any passion, no matter how small it may seem, can be a powerful tool for change.”

Cota noted that she opted to enroll at CSI because she wanted to pursue her interest in medicine while remaining close to home. “The College offers a strong pre-med track, and I’ve been able to explore other areas of interest as well. I am particularly excited about the Medical Laboratory Science program, which will allow me to deepen my experience with lab work and expand my understanding of medical research,” she stated. 

Faith Lin

Faith Lin is a rising senior at the College of Staten Island who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Chinese language. She is also a student in CSI’s Verrazzano Honors Program, and serves as their newsletter writer and Social Media Writer to showcase the achievements and stories of her peers and Verrazzano alumni.

Coming from the CSI High School for International Studies, Lin found a sense of fulfillment and excitement in learning, exploring topics such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence outside the classroom. This love of learning resulted in a 3.9 GPA at CSI, where she participated in the Girls Who Code program and worked on cybersecurity projects. She says that coding allowed her to build something of her own and see the limitless possibilities one can accomplish with technology.

Lin has demonstrated outstanding service to her school and community, participating in multiple campus organizations including the Women in Technology Club, Art Club, Garden Club, and the Asian American and Pacific Islander Club. She has also volunteered for the New Dorp Public Library by preparing materials for children’s activities and community programs, as well as the Pregnancy Care Center of NY by collecting and organizing donated items.

Lin aspires to become a software engineer and wishes to use her technological skills in the non-profit sector by assisting humanitarian organizations.

 “I feel honored and humbled to have been chosen to receive this award,” Lin said. “I never expected to win an award with this title and prestige, and it makes me feel proud. I am also grateful for the Staten Island Advance for their generosity in sponsoring this scholarship.” 

Lin’s decision to pursue her education at CSI was based on her initial plan to study nursing, stating “CSI’s great Nursing program was a major factor in me choosing to study at CSI. Being a part of Verrazzano Honors seemed like a wonderful opportunity to make the most of my college experience, and I loved the idea of being a part of a close-knit community at school and having personal advisement.”

According to the Advance, both Wagner College and CSI have opted to match the $5,000 Staten Island Women scholarships by 50 percent, increasing the amount of the scholarships to $7,500 per student.

By Terry Mares