Emma Kaishian Awarded a Ruth Taylor Scholarship

United Way of Westchester and Putnam (UWWP) is proud to announce that Emma Kaishian of Sleepy Hollow has been awarded a 2020 Ruth Taylor Scholarship. She is one of 4 recipients who collectively received scholarship awards totaling $14,000.

Kaishian, who is a Yorktown native, is currently a 2021 Masters of Public Health Candidate at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She is pursuing a degree in Health Policy Management with a certificate in Child, Youth, and Family Health. Kaishian earned her B.S in Exercise Science with a minor in Chemistry and a concentration in Pre-Health from Manhattan College. She has worked as a social determinants intern at UWWP and currently holds the position of President for Columbia’s Women 4 Women club.

“I am honored to be a recipient of the Ruth Taylor Scholarship,” Kaishian said. “This scholarship will support my access to higher education which will enable me to embark upon a career where I hope to improve access to healthcare. COVID-19 has hindered opportunities for students, such as myself, to financially make ends meet. I am so grateful to United Way for the much needed relief”.

The Ruth Taylor Scholarship was established in tribute to Ruth Taylor upon her retirement as Westchester County’s Commissioner of Public Welfare and in recognition of her nearly four decades of outstanding service. The annual awards are sponsored by United Way of Westchester and Putnam, Westchester County Government and the Urban League of Westchester County. 

Since the 2008-2009 academic year, 64 students from Westchester received a collective $175,000 in Ruth Taylor scholarships. Applicants must be residents of Westchester County and enrolled in graduate studies in Social Work or Public Health on a full-time basis. Criteria used in evaluating applications include a demonstration of public service, financial need, and scholastic capacity.

See who else was a recipient of a Ruth Taylor Scholarship in 2020.