The Justina O. Anako Memorial Scholarship
The Justina O. Anako Memorial Scholarship is a $1,000 grant awarded annually to a graduating high school senior planning to enroll in college to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) or a first-year undergraduate majoring in a in STEM field of study. Student must identify as a woman of color and can renew the scholarship if the listed requirements are met.
Eligibility details:
· Open to members and non-members of Trinity Church on the Green
· Must identify as a woman of color pursuing or currently in the STEM field
· Must be a graduating high school senior or current undergraduate student
· Must be a resident of Connecticut
· Applicants must demonstrate financial need through a written statement
· Renewable for four years if student is making satisfactory academic progress, 3.0 and above
Completed application and an unofficial transcript must be received by December 1st. Award winner will be notified by December 15th. Inquiries can be directed to kpicha@trinitynewhaven.org.
About Justina O. Anako
The Justina O. Anako Memorial Scholarship is in honor of the matriarch of the Anako family, whose family have been long-time members of Trinity Church on the Green since they emigrated to New Haven, CT in 2000 from Lagos, Nigeria. Mrs. Anako lost her 3-year battle to colon cancer on April 8, 2016.
Born on November 17, 1952 and raised in Nigeria during the Biafra war, Justina, at the young age of 15, supported her family by walking for days to find food and water during the famine caused by the war. Her faith and courage in God are what guided her during those unprecedented times. In 1970, she had the opportunity to attend Pratt University in New York City and pursued a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. It was during that time that she found her real passion in fashion design. Although she graduated with her bachelor’s in nutrition, she made a career as a businesswoman designing West African attire for merchants across the world.
As a Christian, part of Justina’s work involved giving back to the communities she served. She was a long-standing member of St. Savior’s church in Lagos, Nigeria and served on the Women Guild Association. Throughout her life, she was a dedicated daughter, wife and mother, who instilled the importance of hard work and education in her 5 daughters.
The Justina O. Anako Memorial Scholarship will help our country’s next generation of STEM students reach their goals.