Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School (BUGS) is thrilled to announce that Kaia McCombs is the winner of the Class of 2017 BUGS College Scholarship! Kaia will receive $1,500 to support her matriculation to the Fashion Institute of Technology. Kaia was selected from among 9 other applicants from the BUGS graduating class of 2017. We applaud the contribution and achievements of the BUGS students who submitted applications and know that they will continue to use their sustainability learning to lead change.

“I definitely see my education about sustainability at BUGS impacting my future in art. After learning so much about sustainability at BUGS, I’m very aware of my impact on the environment, and want to use my art to help increase awareness and to motivate climate action. Thank you to BUGS for your show of support.“ — Kaia McCombs.

The College Scholarship was launched by the BUGS community in 2020. The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to a BUGS graduate(s) entering college who embody our CARES values and have taken the seeds sown at BUGS to continue to innovate for a sustainable future. We wish to thank BUGS alumni mother Ann James for her generous funding of the scholarship, our board member Jamal Deek for leading the scholarship program, and our scholarship committee including last year’s winner Sunei Clarke.

“We are so proud of the Class of 2017. They are a powerful reminder that our CARES values and sustainability education is making an impact. We see that what they learned at BUGS is core to who they are and we know that they will be the leaders we need to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. Thank you to all of the students who submitted applications for the scholarship program and to the teachers, board, and PTA who volunteered to be on the scholarship committee. And, a big thank you to our BUGS alumni family and scholarship funder, Ann James.” -- Susan Tenner, Executive Director, Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School.

To learn more about the BUGS Scholarship Program, please email susan.bakst@BUGSbrooklyn.org.