GREENWICH, FLINT, NEWARK – The Water Insecurity Correction Coalition, Inc. is excited to announce its Mari Copeny Award & Scholarship Winners for the Class of 2023. These five high school seniors were selected by a committee of community leaders, teachers, and representatives from the youth-led nonprofit organization based on their community leadership experiences, commitment to social justice, and academic prowess. Each award winner also receives a $100 scholarship.
The winner representing the Flint, Michigan region is Melodie Marsh from Genesee Early College. The winner from the New Jersey region is Saeed Rayman from Great Oaks Legacy Charter School. The winners from Greenwich High School are Keegan Collins, Teagan Wright, and Fatima Reyes.
Melodie Marsh spoke in their essay about her passion for advocating for her community, and how she is “not too young to have a voice…my voice deserves to be heard as much as anyone else’s.” Marsh reflected upon how “the Flint water crisis is what inspires me to continue my education to feed back into my community.” Marsh has a clear commitment to making a difference in her community for others, particularly impacted by environmental crises like Flint’s water crisis.
Saeed Rayman spoke in their essay how a community, in their own words, is “a group of people who share the same struggle, who work together in order to build up rather than down.” Reflecting on the lead in Newark’s water supplies, Rayman remarked that “sometimes it takes someone to say something about an issue everyone knows about in order for it to be fixed.” Rayman uses their voice to advocate for those most vulnerable and needed.
Teagan Wright wrote about her intensive involvement in the Greenwich community, particularly by working with adolescents with atypical development and advocating for gender equality. Even as Valedictorian of her class, she has amassed more than 500 hours of community service driven by her ideals: “Along with spreading awareness, being inclusive is the greatest thing I can do to fight for social justice. Being inclusive means I go out of my way to ensure no one feels unwelcome or uninvited.”
Fatima Reyes’ excellence in school was achieved while overcoming significant adversity after moving from her hometown in Mexico to Upstate New York. From having to learn a brand new language at a young age to being jarred by racism and harmful stereotypes, Reyes went from isolating herself to learning how to take pride in her heritage and background. She has since worked “hard to represent the inclusiveness that I hope to see in others. I make an effort to help others feel included, accepted and safe regardless of their differences.” Her altruism and inspirational drive have “sparked a fire” in her to become an activist: "I care deeply about human rights, because I've had to fight for my own. I fight for social justice every day in the way I live my life."
Keegan Collins has been a leader on the track, in the classroom, and in their community. As Class President, a NY State Champion in the indoor weight throw, and a leader in their local community, Collins’ leadership experiences “have given me a first hand look into what it’s like to be a leader and have others look up to you. I feel I have become a stronger person, and I am now more confident than I ever was. I’ve learned how to listen to others and their opinions, be flexible, have empathy, respect, and courage to do what's best.” Collins will be a leader in their future endeavors, and work to fight for social justice in all forms.
WICC’s Scholarship Selection Committee is composed of local representatives from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, the National Clean Water Collective, the Newark Water Coalition, STEAM Urban, Greenwich High School, and Hudson Crossing Park. The Committee is made up entirely of volunteers that want to support their region’s best and brightest in a meaningful way.
The Flint Crepe Company and Betterbee sponsored this community-oriented scholarship & award – without their generosity, this scholarship wouldn’t be possible. The Flint Crepe Company’s crepes are made from scratch using ingredients purchased from local producers operating within organic and sustainable principles. Through their Tuesday Tips for Charity program, Flint Crepe Co matches the tips given every Tuesday at their store and donates the money to local organizations in the Flint area.
Betterbee is the leading sponsor of the scholarship and has been the scholarship’s primary sponsor since the award’s inception in 2020. Betterbee is based out of Greenwich, New York and supplies the region with beekeeping supplies, bee and honey products, and beekeeping education.
Mari Copeny, a youth activist from Michigan, is popularly known as “Little Miss Flint” for her community leadership and fight for clean water for her fellow Flint, Michigan residents, who have been in the midst of a lead water crisis for seven years now. The Mari Copeny Award and Scholarship for graduating high school seniors has been given to 4 years of graduating seniors. The award is meant to honor Mari’s legacy as a dedicated social justice warrior and encourage community involvement and leadership in young adults.
Based out of New York State, Water Insecurity Correction Coalition, Inc. intends to advocate for and directly aid residents of water-insecure communities to ensure equitable access to clean water for people across the United States. WICC utilizes 5 key action areas to fight for water security for all Americans: fundraising development, grassroots activism, policy advocacy, youth empowerment, and meaningful education. For more information on the scholarship and WICC, visit yeswicc.com.
SCHOLARSHIP CLASS OF 2023 WINNERS:
Melodie Marsh
Genesee Early College
Flint
Attending Xavier University of Louisiana in Fall 2023
Saeed Rayman
Great Oaks Legacy Charter HS
Newark
Attending New Jersey Institute of Technology in Fall 2023
Teagan Wright
Greenwich High School
Greenwich
Attending South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Fall 2023
Keegan Collins
Greenwich High School
Greenwich
Attending State University of New York at Albany in Fall 2023
Fatima Reyes Arana
Greenwich High School
Greenwich
Attending Champlain College in Fall 2023