2024 Awardees of the Dr. Eve A Tamayo FAAR Educational Scholarship

Congratulations to AJ Blancaflor and Andy Clinton who were each awarded $500 to go towards educational expenses at the Annual Philippine Independence Day Picnic, June 22, 2024.

The scholarship committee selected these students based on their academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, and community service, personal qualities and active participation in the association.

Applicants were asked to write an essay to describe "How has your Filipino American cultural identity influenced and shaped who you are today"?

In his essay, AJ mentions "my ethnicity instilled in me a profound value for authenticity, a resilience to overcome obstacles, and an unmatched appreciation for embracing and promoting diversity."

AJ has been a member of the FAAR Youth & Teen Cultural Dance Troupe and has graced the association with his singing talent at many of our events. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 3 years old with his parents, Arman and Josephine Blancaflor. He is a graduate of Rush-Henrietta High School and is currently a freshman in the Pre-med Program at the University of Rochester and a member of the a capella group the UR Yellow Jackets .

In his essay, Andy describes how it felt growing up as an American while being part Filipino and a member of FAAR for most of his life. His mother, Jeannie who was a former FAAR president and long-time officer, often brought him as a child to many events. As a teen, he would help with setting up at the PCGNY Outreach as well organize at school to collect and send boxes of educational supplies to the Philippines. His strongest sense of Filipino heritage comes with being with his Lola Juanita and is always proud to wear his Barong.

Andy attended Allendale Columbia School. His parents are Michael and the late Jeannie Clinton. He is currently a freshman at the Rochester Institute of Technology studying Engineering.

We are proud to have witnessed AJ and Andy grow up from boys in the association to the resilient and motivated young men of our community. Let's congratulate them and offer our best wishes for their future success and accomplishments.

Submitted by Aileen Tamayo