Atlantis Awards College Stipends Scholarship Fund Benefits Freshmen | Cricket Gyaff | Forums

By John L. Aaron

Atlantis Cricket Club – NY recently awarded financial stipends to four young men and one young woman, all 2011 college freshmen, through its Shevonne Mentis Educational Scholarship Fund started in 2001 and following the tragic circumstances of September 11th of that year.

The 2011 scholarship awardees are Prashanth Nair, Casper Davis, Jr., Clifford Hamilton, Neigelle Harper and Reece Gibbs. The two main recipients are Nair and Davis, both current players on the Atlantis roster and members of the club for the past two years. Each of the two players received $1,000 scholarship stipends. Hamilton, Harper and Gibbs are currently enrolled at New York Technical College, University of New Mexico, and Nassau County Community College, respectively.

Prashanth Nair, who was born in Kerala, India and migrated to the USA in 2007, has been playing cricket since the age of nine. A graduate of It Takes A Village Academy (ITAVA) Tilden Campus High School in Brooklyn, NY, Nair is now enrolled at City College of NY (CUNY) and intends to major in mechanical engineering.

The 19 year-old all-rounder and captain of the Atlantis men’s team, represented the USA at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup qualifier in Ireland last year and describes himself as a cricketer with a never give up attitude who loves competition. He states that he is always seeking to learn something new, so that he may become a better cricketer.

As a college freshman Prashanth Nair says that during his first semester in college, he was still in a high school state of mind, but quickly perked up during his first college finals examinations, adding, “Now, I understand the flow of college and I am ready to work hard to reach my goal.”

Casper Davis, Jr., is an Atlantis opening bowler who enjoys batting and has demonstrated his prowess with the willow on a number of occasions, while representing Atlantis in the Easter American Cricket Association.

Born in St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Casper migrated to the USA in 2008 and attended the Performing Arts and Technology High School in Brooklyn, NY from where he graduated with honors and was recognized as one of the City’s outstanding scholars by New York City Department of Education Chancellor, Dennis Walcott. Now a student at Bard College located in the picturesque area of Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. He plans on majoring in American History.

Casper labels himself as “…a hard-working cricketer, as well as a hard-working student.”  If his determination and commitment to the sport of cricket is any indication, the young man has a very bright future ahead of him.

The Shevonne Mentis Educational Scholarship Fund was established by Atlantis Cricket Club – NY soon after September 11, 2001, and in memory of the 25-year old daughter of Aubrey “Major” Mentis, a member of Atlantis.  Ms. Mentis was an employee of Marsh USA Inc. in the World Trade Center, at the time of her unfortunate demise. The very ambitious young woman was pursuing a degree in Business Management at the Borough of Manhattan Community College of the City University of New York. The fund provides financial stipend awards to college freshmen recommended by members of Atlantis Cricket Club. It is funded by donations from club members, supporters and part-proceeds from fundraising activities organized by the club.

Since the fund was established, seventeen recipients have benefited and have or are currently attending such American educational institutions as the Borough of Manhattan Community College, The University at Buffalo, The University of Maryland, Harvard University, University of New Mexico, New York City College of Technology, Nassau County Community College, Hunter College, and Bard College.  In addition, the fund has made a monetary award in Ms. Mentis’ name to her alma mater the Borough of Manhattan Community College, for students majoring in Business Management.

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