Awards
We are pleased to announce the winners of the Jefferies Family Scholarship, which is awarded to the children of Jefferies employees who have demonstrated outstanding achievement inside and outside the classroom. Collectively, 70 students will receive a total of $861,000 in scholarships for the 2025-26 school year. This is the ninth year in a row that we have increased funding to support an all-time high in dollars and number of scholarships awarded.
Notably, we selected one lucky applicant in the annual drawing for the $3,000 Application Incentive Award. Another applicant received the $3,000 Jefferies Award of Merit scholarship. And finally, we selected one deserving student to receive the Carl Hathaway Memorial Award, an academic scholarship worth $15,000.
These awards would not be possible without the generous donations from Jefferies and our many contributors, and we thank all our donors. To see our list of donors, please visit our Degrees of Giving page found on the website under Support JFS.
We thank all parents who encouraged their children to apply and all our applicants, some of whom completed the quick form. We commend this year’s recipients and graduates for the excellence they represent in our scholarship program and our firm, and also congratulate the employees whose children were selected for an award.
Awards of this value and number would not be possible without the generous donations from Jefferies and our many contributors. To see our list of donors, please visit our Degrees of Giving page found on the jefferiesscholarship.org website under Support JFS. With the greater outflows required to supply these scholarships, which are expected to continue increasing given the growth and demographics of the firm, we want to ensure that the fund stays healthy for future students’ benefit. Be on the lookout for opportunities to donate to this unique and important program that supports families of our Jefferies employees.
Warm Regards,
Jeff and Chris
JFS Co-Chairmen
2025 Educational Scholarship Recipients
| Kayla Almonte Rochester Institute of Technology Daugther of Fulmin Altamonte | Kezia Almonte Tufts University Daugther of Fulmin Altamonte | Samuel Buckle University of York Son of Paul Buckle |
| Autumn Bulle Northampton Community College Daughter of Velma Anderson | Jaden Colon Kean University Son of Joann Colon | Sharon DeAzevedo Florida International University Daugther of Barbara Goethe |
| Elizabeth Doss Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Daugther of Ashraf Doss | Kate Feldman Binghamton University Daughter of Richard Feldman | Maria Georgiou The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) Daughter of George Georgiou |
| Raina James University of Texas at Austin Daughter of Joe James | Monika Lee Nassau Community College Daughter of Kevin Lee | Eric Lee Cornell University Son of Kevin Lee |
| Kirsten McKenna College of Charleston Daugther of Francis Mckenna | Christopher Monti Stockton University Son of Adam Monti | Sophia Padilla Calvary Christian School Daugther of Carmen Padilla |
| Justin Parisi New Jersey Institute of Technology Son of Matthew Parisi | Joe Prowse University of Loughborough Son of Lee Prowse | Urdhva Raut Kingston University – Kingston Business School, London Son of Deepa Raut |
| Charles Sariti Clemson University Son of Christopher Sariti | Madison Sessa Felican University Daugther of Sharon Sessa | Jordyn Sewell Louisiana State University Daugther of Rosemarie Whyte-Sewell |
| Huzefa Tapya Rutgers University Son of Khuzema Tapya | Ruqaya Tapya Rutgers University Daugther of Khuzema Tapya | Kayla Wong Rutgers University Daugther of Linda Wong |
| Cheuk Yui Cheryl Li The University of Newcastle Australia Daugther of Lai Fan (Lily) Sit |
2025 Jefferies Award of Merit (JAM)
Samuel Potenciano is a freshman at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. He is a biological sciences major on the pre-med track to prepare for a medical career as a neurologist, specializing in neurodegenerative diseases. His father, Joel Potenciano, is a Senior Vice President of Corporate Control in Jefferies’ New York City Office.
2025 Application Incentive Award (AIA)
This lucky applicant’s name was drawn at random from those not selected for another award, to receive a $3,000 scholarship, just for completing an application! Yelin Yao is a senior at Boston University where she is majoring in both English and Physics. Her father, Yong Yao, is a Vice President of the Corporate Risk Department in Jefferies’ Jersey City Office.
2025 Alan Herrick Memorial Award (AHMA)
An athlete, scholar, and artist, this student competed on her high school’s volleyball team, was inducted into the National Honors Society, and has worked as an artist. She writes that “art is more than a creative outlet—it’s a tool to bridge divides and bring people together.” Kate Feldman was selected to receive this year’s Alan Herrick Memorial Award. Alan is remembered as being a well-rounded, spirited and a passionate student athlete and artist. Each year, an educational scholarship recipient who best exhibits Alan’s qualities of good sportsmanship, generosity to others, and/or involvement in the arts is selected for this honor, which comes with an engraved crystal award.
2025 Carl Hathaway Memorial Award (CHMA)
In memory of Chairman Emeritus Carl Hathaway, who served on the selection committee for 37 years, one applicant is selected to receive a larger scholarship of $15,000. This award is based on the applicant’s demonstration of the following characteristics, which Carl recognized as key to individual success: overcoming adversity; showing perseverance, grit, and drive; or coping with overwhelming factors to succeed. Double Major in computer engineering technology and electrical engineering technology, Kayla Almonte is also minoring in American Sign Language. Working as a resident advisor, a teaching assistant, a peer mentor, and a student advisor, we know that she will continue to contribute to her academic community.
2025 Renewals
All 43 eligible current JFS scholarship recipients who applied to have their scholarships renewed were approved. Congratulations to the parents of students who maintained full-time attendance and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher!
The Jefferies Family Scholarship
I cannot thank you enough for giving me the scholarship. The scholarship helps me financially, but more importantly it gives me confidence to study well, as I now know that there are people who are confident that I will succeed in achieving my life goals and they want to support me doing that. Thank you for the trust you have showed in me.
Aditya Soni
JFS Recipient