We were making good progress on the STEAM bus before the pandemic hit. Presently schools are closed and all work at a standstill. However we were able to get the bus wrapped and ready. The interior wiring work is remaining. Hopefully life will get back to normal soon and we will have the bus ready for AY 2020-21
2019 Yohan Abraham Foundation Newsletter
One more year has gone by since we lost our precious Yohan. However, we did not let this time pass without pushing a little harder and a little stronger on the work that Yohan Abraham foundation is involved in and the causes close to his heart. We report to you in our enclosed newsletter; our humble efforts and fruits of our labor for 2019.
Recently one of Yohan's supervisors remarked to me, when i thanked him for his ongoing support to our cause year after year: "Those of us who knew Yohan will never forget him". In that instant, I understood what service unto others means: Why our young men and women go and join our armed forces in service of their country and do great things for us.
It is about soldiering on, to make right the injustices that have crept in to our world, to even the playing field so others get their fair share as we have. To never forget our countless blessings, our departed loved ones, our fellow citizens of this planet. This is how ordinary folks can achieve extraordinary results!.
Recipients of the 2019 Yohan Abraham memorial scholarship
For the academic year 2019-2020 we awarded two scholarships of five thousand each to a junior and senior in the accounting program at MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University). The senior recipient was Areez Sadiki who was the recipient of the junior scholarship last year. She continued to impress her professors with her hard work and excellence leading them to reward her this year with the same scholarship. Our junior recipient this year is Lillia Hendrickson. She is a scholar in the accounting department and a cadet with the ROTC (Army). We are delighted the accounting department decided to award the scholarship to her. A $5,000 scholarship is one of the largest given to an MTSU student. Over 90%of MTSU students receive some sort of financial aid so an opportunity for this kind of help is not taken lightly.
The Department of Accounting awards several much smaller scholarships each year to applicants in February for the following academic year. We encourage all accounting majors to apply and try to reward each capable student. A committee of Department of Accounting faculty members review the applications looking for potential professional success, financial need and community service. For the Yohan Abraham Scholarship, the committee tries to find a military veteran that is involved in the community. If no veterans are in the pool, the committee looks for the next applicant who has made the most significant contribution in community service with the greatest academic achievements. We have also been fortunate to make two awards the past two years – Blake Hise in 2017 and Areez Sadiki in 2018. Both students are paying their way through college. Blake is now a graduate assistant in the Master of Accountancy program, and has accepted a tax position with Ernst & Young in the Fall of 2019. Areez is a highly recruited student who will soon be seeking internships.
Lillia Hendrickson with Elizabeth and Mandy from YAF
Areez Sadiki with Cathy from YAF
Our Foundation Newsletter for 2018 →
Here is our newsletter for 2018. In it you will find a summary of the years activities and all who contributed. A very big thank you to Mandy, Jeannie, Melinda, Cathy, Stefan and Elizabeth who helped put together this news letter.
For AY 2018-19 we have donated 75 laptops to the Smith County High school
We are happy to announce that for academic year 2018 -2019 we have procured and donated 75 notebooks to Smith County High school. Students in the classrooms of Ms. Christy Scudder, Mr. Dillon Reed, and Ms. Kristen Kyte have access to these Chromebooks during their fifth period classes in French, Theatre Arts, and Sociology. We would especially like to thank Ms. Melinda Spivey, Mr. Timothy Towns and Ms. Cathy McNulty for there leadership and efforts in bringing this project to fruition. The Smith County Insider newspaper carried the event.
Foundation is featured in Hiker Trash Podcast Episode 07 - Two Trails
Hi all: Stefans' story about his journey hiking the Appalachian Trail in Yohan's memory was recently featured in the Hiker Trash podcast. It is a very inspiring story according to the interviewer but can judge for yourselves. You must have about 2 hours to listen to the whole podcast. It is ideal when commuting or working in the garden etc. You may find the podcast in Apple iTunes under "Hiker Trash 07 Two Trails" or in SoundCloud or click here. We hoping this helps our efforts to get the word out about the foundation.
2018 Recipient of the Yohan Abraham memorial scholarship at MTSU
This year we are very pleased to announce our YAF scholarship recipient is Areez Sadiki in the Accounting Program at the College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University. The scholarship was established by the Foundation to benefit a student or student-veteran who demonstrates a commitment to serving others (in school, in the community or at home), a strong work ethic, and leadership. One of our directors Cathy McNulty and Yohan's fiance Mandy Uhles attended on behalf of the foundation. We are very happy that Areez was selected, to quote Mandy "If Yohan had been here he would have picked her himself". The award was made at a scheduled event at the university on April 18th at the College of Business. We wish her the very best.
2017: We published our very first foundation newsletter. →
2017: Additional computers donated to Smith County School District
An additional contingent of 20 laptops were made available to Smith County School District and ear marked for Forks River Elementary School. The foundation is thankful for the donations that continue to come in during the year outside of our pledge drive. The supplemental donations allowed us to make one more classroom donation. We are very happy with the outcome and encourage our donors and our directors to keep up the good work.
2017: Scholarship program at MTSU
We are very pleased to announce a scholarship program for seniors in the Accounting Program at the College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University. This scholarship was established by the Foundation to benefit a student or student-veteran who demonstrates a commitment to serving others (in school, in the community or at home), a strong work ethic, and leadership qualities. The recipient is Blake H. and the award made at a scheduled event at the university on April 20th. One of our directors and Yohan's mother attended on behalf of the foundation. We thank Carolyn Tumbleson and Stefan Abraham for bringing this effort to fuition.
Blake Hise with Prof. Jeannie Harrington at the award ceremony
Blake Hise with Cathy from YAF