Kierra - Anthony J. Stupore Memorial Scholarship Recipient

The Anthony J. Stupore Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to provide a pathway to success for students who have shown a passion for giving back to their community, and demonstrated a commitment to excelling in academics.

Kierra is a 2016 graduate of Valley Stream South High School. She served as President of the Class of 2016, an AP Scholar with Distinction and is a talented athlete. With a weighted average of 101.63, she was ranked 7th in her class of 205 students and ranked in the top percentile on her SATs. As an active member of numerous clubs and extracurricular activities including math, language, science and athletic honor societies, Key Club and The Convoy of Hope, Kierra's leadership abilities were evident in each role she undertook.

In junior year of high school, Kierra's father passed away; she had also lost her mother while still in elementary school. Despite her unbearable grief and unstable life, she continued to pursue her studies with determination and diligence.

As Kierra indiciated, "When tragedy strikes, life presents you with a choice. you can give in to the pain, emptiness and void that you are feeling or you can learn from it, grow and move forward. I choose to give meaning to the tragedies I've experienced by being excited about life and having confidence in myself - something which, until recently, I thought I would never feel again." Kierra is currently attending Princeton University considering a major in computer science and playing on the women's rugby team.