7 High-School Grads Lifted By The Links

Howard University, Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), University of Hartford, and Morgan State University are the next stops for seven New Haven high school graduates who each got a helping hand from a historic Black female advocacy organization to chase their higher-education dreams.

The New Haven CT Chapter of The Links Incorporated hosted a celebratory ceremony at the Stetson Branch Library at 197 Dixwell Ave. Wednesday evening to distribute seven $1500 scholarships to local high school students as a part of its annual book awards. 

Wednesday’s recipients were Eli Whitney grad Brooke Tavares, who is heading to SCSU to study nursing; New Haven Academy grad Thailyn Geter, who will attend Howard University to study nursing; New Haven Academy grad Chasity Trotman, who will attend SCSU for nursing; New Haven Academy grad, Migdalia Marquez who is heading to Howard to study political sciencel Hillhouse grad Ma’shai Roman, who will attend Morgan State University; Metropolitan Business Academy grad Terrell Thigpen, who will attend CCSU for accounting; and West Haven High School grad Aicha Konte, who will attend the University of Hartford to study business. 

Click here to watch the awarding of scholarships Wednesday. 

In the past 50 years, the New Haven Links group has distributed $400,000 in scholarships to local students said, Links President and former Mayor Toni Harp. 

Chair of the Links Services to Youth Facet Sheila Carmon said the goal of Wedensday’s book awards was to empower youth to make meaningful contributions to their community, to enrich and enhance students’ lives, and close the achievement gap. 

The book awards were supported by Links sponsors Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, Health Ventures, Kelley Drye & Warren, McCarter & English LLP, New Haven Bank, and the Sassafras Foundation. 

Links member and Assistant Principal at ESUMS Tracey Philpot reminded the group of students about the importance of education. 

Being lifelong learners, she said, helps people to make logical decisions, broaden their horizons about the complex world, think for yourselves, understand new points of view, come up with unique ideas to change the world, and come from an informed place when making decisions. 

She advised the students to pursue education as it is ​“a passport to freedom.” 

“Never stop learning. There is always something that we don’t know,” she added.

New Haven Academy graduate Migdalia Marquez, 17, recalled the ups and downs of her four-year high school journey. She began her freshman year attending Wilbur Cross High School for two weeks before transferring to Coop, where she stayed until the middle of her sophomore year. 

She still didn’t feel she had found the right fit and so she made a final leap of faith and again transferred to New Haven Academy. 

“It wasn’t until I got there [New Haven Academy] that I felt like I fit in and started to meet new people, because quarantine made everything so much harder,” she recalled. 

She joined the school’s gender and sexuality alliance (GSA), Black Lives Matter club, and the fly girls books club. 

Another obstacle she overcame was struggling with her pre-calculus class her junior year. Her parents helped her with this by getting her a tutor. 

With the help of her family and friends she said she learned to balance taking a college course, finding scholarships to help get her to her dream college, and secured a three week law internship with Wiggin and Dana LLP her junior year. 

Marquez will attend Howard University for political science with hopes of one day becoming a lawyer. 

During Wednesday’s ceremony, rising Hillhouse junior Victoriya McArthur, 16, performed a lyrical dance piece she put together with her dance studio Hamden Academy of Dance and Music. 

Mychael Ross also performed a musical selection on the bass guitar at Wednesday’s event. 

Links member Tamiko Jackson-McArthur shared about her HBCU experience at Howard University. 

She received a four-year full ride for her bachelors degree then returned to graduate from medical school. 

Once being introduced to esteemed mentors, sports, and the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Jackson-McArthur said, ​“for me HBCUs were a foundation for my life.” 

She advised the high school graduates to never forget they’re at school to study first and foremost, to never be afraid to ask for help, and to find a good circle of friends that you can study with. 

“You’ve already crossed a major finish line by deciding to go to college,” she said. ​“I hope you have amazing experiences like I did.” 

Metropolitan Business Academy graduate Terrell Thigpen, 18, is headed off to CCSU to study accounting. 

He too recalled the past four years of high school as having several obstacles including the the Covid pandemic’s push to remote learning and the passing of his father his freshmen year. 

Along his journey Thigpen said Wednesday he is most proud of himself for becoming more organized, confident, and a better role model to his seven siblings. 

“I went from not believing in myself to graduating with a 3.3 GPA. I didn’t think I’d able able to ever do that,” he said. 

His motivation over the years included his father and five brothers and two sisters who always caused him to remind himself that ​“they want me to be the best I can.” 

As the third oldest, Thigpen aims to be a father figure for his siblings. 

His goal is to become an accountant for someone else’s or his own business. 

In Wednesday’s final remarks, Harp reminded the students to think of the Links if they ever need help, mentorship, or support through their journeys. 

“We have high expectations and you’ve already met them so keep going,” she said.