The Award Recognizes the Outstanding Service Commitment of a Stamford College Student
Darien, CONN (January 19, 2022)—Person to Person (P2P) is pleased to announce that the Stamford resident Michael Hernández has been awarded this year’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship.
P2P’s Dr. King Scholarship award is given to students who are seniors in college and who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to community service, leadership, and who embody the ideals championed by Dr. King.
Mr. Hernández is a senior at the University of Connecticut in Storrs pursuing a dual degree in Political Science and Economics in the Honors Program, with minors in English and Urban and Community Studies. On-campus, he has served as the Student Body President, Founder of the Undergraduate Political Science Association, the Vice-President of the Connecticut Young Democrats and a regular contributor to the Undergraduate Political Review, the Business Review and the student newspaper. Off-campus, Mr. Hernández has worked on various political campaigns, the U.S. Census, the Stamford Housing Affordability Study, and the historic Afford to Dream Act. His interests in public policy include housing and urban development as well as promoting civic engagement at the municipal level. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy and enter public service in his hometown of Stamford.
“Our Scholarship Committee didn’t hesitate before recommending Michael for this honor. He is an impressive young man who already has had a positive impact on the community,” said P2P CEO Nancy Coughlin. “His academic achievements combined with his advocacy for students, immigrants, and Stamford residents in need of affordable housing, among his many notable achievements, make him an ideal recipient of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship award.”
The P2P Dr. King Scholarship is part of P2P’s overall Scholarship Program, first established in 1968. The program is dedicated to providing financial assistance to college students from low-income households, many of whom are the first in their family to pursue higher education. This scholarship is funded by Allison Gagliardi, owner of Troy Insurance and P2P Board Member. The award was presented to Mr. Hernández during The Ferguson Library’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration virtual event on Monday, January 17, 2021.
About Person to Person
Person to Person (P2P) is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing individuals and families with essential resources to help them overcome daily challenges and put them on a path toward economic stability. P2P serves 28,000 residents in Fairfield County with the following programs: three food pantries (Darien, Norwalk, Stamford), clothing center, caseworker assistance, emergency financial assistance, and scholarships/camperships.
Established in 1968, P2P serves the communities of Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. Learn more at p2pHelps.org
Contact: Holly Wainwright, Marketing and Communications Director, hollywainwright@p2phelps.org, 203-621-0684
