Kaisa Ajaye
Kaisa Ajaye, a City College of New York senior majoring in English, is the recipient of a $10,000 fellowship from the Women’s Forum Education Fund. The award recognizes extraordinary and often heroic efforts in overcoming adversity in restructuring lives for success.
Ajaye is one of 15 Fellows selected by the Women’s Forum of New York for their “superior qualifications, accomplishments and commitment to education after overcoming many of life’s adversities.” The cash award is an added incentive for them to complete their education.
Ajaye first began her education 34 years ago when she entered The Pennsylvania State University. At age 19, she left (after a year) when her mother died suddenly, leaving her orphaned. Ajaye later overcame unemployment, homelessness and left-threatening medical issues.
Her professors at City College describe the Manhattan resident as a gifted student and tutor. Ajaye’s goal is to write, to promote literacy at an early age, and eventually teach creative writing at the university level.
About the Education Fund
The Education Fund of the Women's Forum provides annual awards to encourage mature women of need to fulfill their potential through the pursuit of an undergraduate college education and to enhance their capacities to provide productive and supportive service to their communities.
About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided low-cost, high-quality education for New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. More than 15,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in the College of Liberal Arts and Science; Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture; School of Education; Grove School of Engineering; Sophie Davis Biomedical Education/CUNY School of Medicine; and the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. U.S. News, Princeton Review and Forbes all rank City College among the best colleges and universities in the United States.