New York City High School Graduate Wins Robert G. Porter Scholarship

Washington, D.C.— Thalyana Smith-Vikos, a 2005 graduate of Baruch College Campus High School in New York, N.Y., is one of four highly accomplished high school seniors to receive the Robert G. Porter Scholarship awarded by the American Federation of Teachers.

Each year, the AFT presents an $8,000 scholarship to each of four outstanding high school seniors who are the children of AFT members.  Recipients must show outstanding service to their communities and plan to pursue a career in labor, education, health or government service.  The AFT will recognize the recipients during the union’s biennial educational issues conference, QuEST, held July 7-10 in Washington, D.C.

Active in her community, Smith-Vikos tutored students in math, science and writing, working as an aide at an after-school arts program, and helping out at the senior center located in her apartment building. Of her work at the Penn South Program for Seniors, Smith-Vikos said in her application, “It has been one of the most fulfilling and worthwhile experiences I have had. …I encourage more children from the community to volunteer so that the trend of bringing different generations together will continue even after my position ends.”

The Robert G. Porter Scholars Program is named in honor of the late secretary-treasurer of the AFT, who served for more than 30 years.  Porter was known for his commitment to improving the quality of public education and public service.

Smith-Vikos’ mother, Donna Marie Smith, is a member of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City.

Thalyana Smith-Vikos lives in New York City and will be attending Cornell University in the fall, where she plans to study biology.

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