Meet the 2016 Golden Colibri Grant Recipients!

For the first time in our Herstory, we have awarded not one, but two incredible sisters as the winners of the Golden Colibri Grant. Congratulations to Yasmeen Elsakary and Lotus Feliz!

• Lotus Feliz is a Spring 2010 Initiate at Beta Delta Chapter at Pace University-Pleasantville. She graduated with a BBA in Human Resources Management. Currently, she is pursuing a MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
• Yasmeen Elsakary is a Spring 2014 Initiate of Upsilon Chapter at Rutgers University. She graduated this past May with a BA in Biological Sciences with a Minor in Nutrition and Women & Gender Studies. Yasmeen is pursuing a Masters of Health Sciences at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland.

According to Soror Lotus M. Feliz, “pursuing professional development as a woman of color often means that you are the only one at the table. While that can be an uncomfortable place, being a recipient of the Golden Colibri Grant reminded me of the tribe I had alongside me, and the future I have ahead of me.”

Additionally, our second grant recipient Soror Yasmeen Elsakary stated, “I can’t imagine how different my transition into graduate school at Hopkins would have been like without the Golden Colibri Grant. There was nothing more encouraging than knowing that our amazing sisterhood believes in me as I pursue my Masters degree, and I will always be be grateful for being awarded this grant.”

The Golden Colibri Grant was established in 2011 and serves to recognize and support the professional and academic development of alumnae members of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. The Alumnae Association awards $500 annually to one grant recipient towards the pursuit of an advanced degree, professional certification, specialization, or license. Applicants must be alumnae members of OPBSI who have a minimum Bachelor’s Degree and are in pursuit of post-graduate professional and/or academic advancement.