Three Mount Students Awarded C200 Scholarships
5/10/2016
Riverdale, N.Y. – Three University of Mount Saint Vincent students—Nephthalie Charlestin ’16, Kylee McGrane ’17, and Kaitlin Moreno ’18—have each been awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Committee of 200 (C200), an invitation-only membership organization of highly successful women business leaders. The scholarship funding will be used to pursue educational and professional goals.
College Reachout Seminars are daylong conferences where C200 members connect with young women and share their expertise and insights to inspire future business leaders. Ms. Charlestin, Ms. McGrane, and Ms. Moreno are among the many students who attended and participated in the College Reachout Seminar held at the Mount, in conjunction with the C200, on December 3, 2015. At the conference, students had the opportunity to learn what it takes to be a leader in business, as well as the importance of corporate philanthropy, business ethics, environmental sustainability, and entrepreneurship, among many others.
Mount students continually hone leadership skills through different development opportunities provided by the College, and many demonstrate a true passion to seeking out change through entrepreneurial spirit. Ms. Charlestin, Ms. McGrane, and Ms. Moreno are exceptional examples of Mount students who explore their passions in and outside the classroom.
Ms. Charlestin, a senior who will graduate this May, has studied for a degree in business administration, with a concentration in healthcare management. She served as President of the Student Government Association’s Executive Council for the 2015-2016 academic year, has been a resident assistant since her sophomore year, and during winter break of her junior year she traveled to the Sisters of Charity’s House of Charity in New Orleans, where she volunteered with the St. Bernard Project to rebuild homes still destroyed from Hurricane Katrina.
“I have been so inspired with the various women in business and hope to one day is able to be a part of C200,” said Ms. Charlestin, reflecting on the conference. “I hope that I may be able to impact the lives of many young women, the way I was impacted at the Reachout Seminar.”
Ms. McGrane is studying both communication and English, with a concentration in writing. She is in the College’s Honors Program and is also an active member in the Seton Service and Leadership Program. She is co-founder of The Princess Project, a student service club at the College where members dress as Disney characters to visit hospitalized children, with a mission to restore the magic of believing at a time when children need to “just be a kid.”
“The most compelling thing that I learned at the C200 Reachout Seminar was how crucial it is for women to empower each other,” said Ms. McGrane. “Societal restrictions create barriers that women have to overcome, which are only made more difficult by women impeding other women. By extending a hand and offering camaraderie and support, one woman determined to make a difference can inspire a sorority of successful women committed to empowering others and themselves.”
Ms. Moreno is also a double major, studying economics and Spanish, with a minor in political science. She is the co-president of the Mount’s Model U.N. Club and has been awarded for her work at Model U.N. conferences—she has won honorable mention for her role in the crisis committee focused on the Cuban revolution at the Five College Model United Nations (FCMUN) 2015 conference.
“By attending the C200 Reachout Seminar, I learned how valuable it is to pass your experiences on, and to not be ashamed of your mistakes so that others may learn,” said Ms. Moreno. “I look forward to begin my post-graduate career, gaining further experience and sharing what I learn with the young minds of the future.”
College Reachout Seminars offer Mount students a fantastic opportunity to expand their understanding of career opportunities, allowing them to learn from accomplished women leaders and entrepreneurs. This was the second College Reachout Seminar held at the College—the Mount also welcomed the C200 to campus for the daylong conference in 2009.
About the Committee of 200
The Committee of 200 (C200) is an invitation only membership organization composed of women at the highest echelons of business success. These women represent over 100 industries in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The mission of C200 and its Foundation is to foster, celebrate, and advance women’s leadership in business. It uses targeted outreach and support for future leaders. The Foundation helps to ensure those women will continue to take significant and visible leadership roles. For more information, please visit: c200.org.
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment and leadership in the 21st century.