Cindy Rajkuma, a dual-enrollment student who graduated from Valencia College and Ocoee High School in Orlando, is determined to get into medical school. “Becoming a doctor has always been my career path,” says Cindy, who will begin classes at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in January 2016, right after she completes an internship in Washington, D.C., with the National Institutes of Health. She doesn’t have to worry about paying for college because Cindy has been named…
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Meet Halima Yusuf, CEO & Founder of FRX International Drugs (FRXID), a pharmaceutical company based in Berlin, Maryland. As Chief Executive Officer, Halima Yusuf has had a very influential role in steering the ever-evolving business. In fact she indicated that she used her upbringing in Guyana as inspiration to create the company. According to her, the scarcity of proper pharmacy care and knowing the facts relating to the medication and its usability drove her to create…
When she entered her guidance counselor’s office earlier this year, it was not a big revelation. Bibi Sulaman, a senior at Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences High School, had met with her counselor to verify her credits and classes before graduating this June. Casually, her counselor revealed that she was valedictorian of her class of around 150 students. “It wasn’t a surprise,” said Bibi. “[Being valedictorian] wasn’t my goal. I just tried to do my…
On Saturday, July 4, Guyana’s first female World Champion Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil defeated Sonya Lamonakis and captured the heavyweight title in Philipsburg, St Maarten. O’Neil who is now a five-time boxing world champion while at the same time a mother of five children, thanked the fans, her management team and God for the heart-stirring win which put her back on top of the world heavyweight boxing scene. A huge crowd favourite, O’Neil fought to…
Roxanne Jacqueline Persaud was elected to the New York State Assembly in November 2014. In January, 2015 she was sworn in as the first female, first black, first Guyanese to hold the position of Assembly member for the 59th Assembly District in Brooklyn, New York . Assemblywoman Persaud is a longtime advocate for her community and an avid volunteer. Her dedication to serving her community has motivated her to serve in various capacities. Assemblywoman Persaud …
Ira Leona Lewis is known throughout the Caribbean and American community as “Lady Ira”. Born in British Guiana to the late Omar Converty and Elaine Pile, Lady Ira has been an essential figure in spearheading efforts that promote the Cultural awareness and well being of New Jersey’s Guyanese American community for over 20 years. Supporting her vision of a united and informed Guyanese community, Lady Ira is dedicated to the development of organizations and events that benefit Guyanese…
Guyanese, Debra Amata, received the top score out of 836 students who sat for the SEA examination in Tobago this year. She scored 238.298 points and told the media her success was due to her spirituality, parents and teachers. Debra moved to Tobago in 2014 with her parents, who are both medical doctors at the Scarborough General Hospital in Tobago. Her mother, Dr Vivienne Amata, said her daughter was a well-rounded student and she was very proud of her…
At the young age of 8, Anaya Lee Willabus will go down in US history as the youngest published female author of a chapter book. She was born in Brooklyn, NY to Guyanese parents, Dimple and Winston Willabus of Georgetown. Anaya’s book, The Day Mohan Found His Confidence, tells the story of a young boy named Mohan and the many challenges he faces at home and at school. On June 9th, 2015, Anaya was recognized by Guyanese-born New York State…
Meet Dr. Monica Sanchez, a mother of three, born a native of the Republic of Guyana where her education started. Dr. Sanchez migrated to the USA in her early teens where she continued her education and obtained degrees in Criminal Justice, Business, Fashion and Education. Armed with a PhD, Dr. Sanchez has earn over twenty five years of experience as a Business Woman in the Fashion, Entertainment and Cultural Industries. She has appeared in many…
Meet Indranie Persaud, President and Co-Founder of Aurochemicals, a multimillion dollar natural flavor and ingredients company located in Washingtonville, New York. Indranie was born in Guyana, the last child of six. Graduating from high school in 1981, she met her future husband, Deo Persaud, in 1987 and they married in 1988. Both migrated to the U.S. in 1991, seeking to fulfill their dream of a better life. In the following year, they had their first child, Babita….