Forty-five high school seniors from across New York City got an introduction to the world of public finance when they attended a special bond class on Tuesday organized by Futures and Options on behalf of The Municipal Forum of New York.
The Class of 2016's Urban Leadership Fellows, students chosen by the Municipal Forum of New York, received an all-day schooling in municipal bond basics before they head off to their summer internships at financial institutions around the city.
The Municipal Forum of New York sponsors this program for students who are interested in public finance careers and who excelled during the Forum's rigorous academic selection process.
This year's Fellows were picked from 28 high schools: 11 in Manhattan; eight in Brooklyn; six in Queens; two in The Bronx, and one in Staten Island.
The program provides paid summer internships and college scholarships to graduating seniors and each Fellow also receives a $500 book grant. Program alumni who meet GPA requirements can earn college scholarships of $1,000 for up to three years.
Since the program began, over 90% of the Fellows have come from families with household incomes under $75,000 a year. The program was created by the Forum in 1992 and has since awarded Fellowships to 644 New York City high school seniors. It is financially supported by the Forum's annual fundraising dinner.
Tuesday's speakers included Marian Zucker, President of the Office of Finance and Development for New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR); NYS Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez, D-East Harlem; Jay Olson, Assistant Director at the New York City Office of Management and Budget; Grace Chionuma, Vice President at Morgan Stanley; Gloria Boyd, Vice President at NYS HCR; Olga Chernat, Deputy Director Finance at the N.Y. Metropolitan Transportation Authority; Eden Perry, Director at S&P Global Ratings; Jamiyl Flemming, Associate at Wells Fargo Securities; Elizabeth Baker, Associate at Wells Fargo Securities; Emily Chan, Deputy Director of Debt Management, New York City Comptroller's Office; Jaky Joseph, Vice President at Bank of America Merrill Lynch; and Ty Savastio of Morgan Stanley.
Futures and Options, a nonprofit educational organization, was represented by Cameron LeBlanc and Alissa Brower.
