Castle Lanterra names three scholarship winners: Yolanda Toby, JaMia Sneed and Chauntea Robinson

Yolanda Toby, $5,000 award recipient, being congratulated by Elie Rieder, founder and CEO of Castle Lanterra Properties.

Suffern, NY Castle Lanterra Properties (CLP) has revealed three winners of the firm’s inaugural academic scholarship program for residents and dependents living in the company’s properties throughout the East, South and Midwestern U.S.

“We were honored and pleased to receive many strong applications from students who recognize the value of community and continue to work diligently to pursue their goals,” said Elie Rieder, the company’s founder and CEO. Since 2009, CLP has amassed a portfolio of more than 7,300 residential units, valued at over $1 billion.

Applicants were asked to provide academic history records and submit an essay discussing an issue of personal, local, national or international concern and its importance to them. Demonstrated leadership, school and community activities, work experience and career goals were also important considerations during the selection process.

Yolanda Toby, a management major with an emphasis on Hospitality at Howard University in Washington, D.C., was awarded a $5,000 scholarship. A resident of CLP’s Harbor Pointe in Bayonne, N.J. and a graduate of Talent Unlimited High School in New York City, Toby is currently gaining experience in event sales through a summer internship and is also planning to obtain an MBA in Finance following her graduation in 2017.

For her essay, she chose the topic “Communication Between Different Cultures in the Workplace,” inspired by a class in business communications. “I have become passionate about communication,” she said. “It is very important to make sure that companies treat their employees equally, and that their employees get the necessary training to facilitate effective workplace communication.”

According to Toby, who does extensive volunteer work and is a trained ballerina, “I am ecstatic about receiving this award. It’s a great honor and great opportunity, and it is wonderful that Castle Lanterra Properties is doing this for their residents.”

JaMia Sneed, a resident of CLP’s Heights at Skyland community in Tuscaloosa, Ala., is studying respiratory therapy at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. A graduate of Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, she was inspired for a career in respiratory therapy by the patient-to-patient contact and the fact that “many of the respiratory therapists I’ve spoken to have been in the profession for as much as 30 years. I was impressed by that.”

For her essay, Sneed addressed the importance and impact of higher education. “College is by no means easy,” she said. “It takes a person who is dedicated, and I wanted to show the younger generation that I’m dedicated. Adults can deliver that message, but you really need someone around your own age to deliver that message.”

As far as the scholarship program, “It’s awesome that Castle Lanterra Properties cares about their tenants furthering their education,” Sneed said.

Also awarded a $1,000 scholarship was Chauntea Robinson, an English major at Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. A resident of CLP’s Midpointe community in Chicago, she is a sophomore with a passion for reading and writing.

“I chose English as a major because of the wider variety of employment opportunities it provides,” she said. “After graduation, I hope to work in publishing, marketing, or a related field.”

For her essay, she focused on the high tax issues facing the people of Illinois and “the importance of citizens using their influence and intellect to effect change.” According to Robinson, “It is an issue that we all must address in terms of its impact on our quality of life.”

About her selection for the scholarship she says, “I am so happy to be attending college and to have a promising career ahead of me as a result, and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity that this program has provided,” she said.

“It’s exciting to learn about the resident students and their educational goals”, said Rieder. “We are very gratified to help support their current pursuits as they work toward a college degree. Our objective is to continue to strengthen CLP’s community connection by recognizing and rewarding the hard work of our resident students and their families.”

“In collaboration with our regional property managers, we were able to generate tremendous interest and enthusiasm among residents of our properties when the scholarship was announced in January of this year,” said Jim Brady, vice president of property management and operations at CLP. “We look forward to continuing this program – and our overall community outreach efforts – in the years ahead.”