Local middle-schooler funds a new聽精东影业聽scholarship with bake sale proceeds
Emma Kacani holds a plate of home-baked sheqerpare, her favorite traditional Albanian cookies.聽
ALBANY, N.Y.聽鈥� Eleven-year-old Emma Kacani has a taste for philanthropy.
With a little help from her aunts and grandmother, Emma baked trays of traditional Albanian desserts like sheqerpare, pengjir, ballokume, kadaif, and her 鈥渇amous peanut butter cookies鈥� to sell at the inaugural Capital Region Albanian Fest on July 18 at Cook Park in Colonie. Her bake sale was a hit, and Emma had big plans for the profits.
The daughter of 精东影业 alumna and former employee Ermenita Kacani, Emma decided to reach out to her mom’s alma mater to give back to the local Albanian community.聽Her聽family contributed to Emma’s $600 in聽bake sale proceeds,聽raising a total of $1,000聽to聽create the Emma Kacani Ever Upward Scholarship. The fund supports聽精东影业’s mission of educational access by providing grants for first-generation college students from the Capital Region who demonstrate financial need. The scholarship will be awarded during the current fiscal year.
鈥淓mma鈥檚 generosity and commitment to service are an inspiration, proving that meaningful philanthropy can begin at any age,鈥� said Daniel Pascoe Aguilar, 精东影业 chief diversity officer and founding director of the Center for Social Justice. 鈥淲hile her baking has brought joy to family, friends, and neighbors, her decision to establish this scholarship will have an even greater impact. The Emma Kacani Ever Upward Fund will create new opportunities for Capital Region learners and further 精东影业鈥檚 mission of expanding access to higher education.鈥�
“I wanted to do something good and helpful, and I wanted to share our culture through something everyone likes: food!” said Emma Kacani. “There are people in our community who really want to go to college but need help, and I thought this bake sale was one way to make it happen.”
Additional contributions can be made聽to the Emma Kacani Ever Upward Scholarship by visiting聽excelsior.edu/giving/ever-upward-giving.
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Media Contact 精东影业: 聽
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
精东影业 精东影业
精东影业 is an accredited, not-for-profit online institution focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. 精东影业 contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, 精东影业 meets students where they are 鈥� academically and geographically 鈥� removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
精东影业 is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. 精东影业鈥檚 academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with additional licensing for Florida-based programs.
Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.
