Ashli Pacheco, the co-President of the NYIT-SHRM Chapter, is the winner of the 2019 Matt Halpern Memorial Scholarship Award from SHRM-Long Island. This is a prestigious and competitive annual award that goes to one graduate or undergraduate student who is studying Human Resources at a college on Long Island. The Award was instituted by SHRM-LI and Jackson Lewis in 2010, and NYIT MS students have won eight of these scholarships over the years.

Ashli received the award and a $2,000 scholarship at the SHRM-LI Conference on May 4^th, which was attended by hundreds of HR professionals and a group of 20 from NYIT including faculty, staff and fellow students. Ashli, who will graduate NYIT with the MS-HR Management & Labor Relations degree this month, spoke at the conference and recognized her professors, the MS program, and the NYIT-SHRM Chapter: “This year, as a chapter we have been able to continue our partnership with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, volunteering during New York’s Veterans Day Parade, presenting and aiding community members at Hempstead Works as they work their way back into an evolving workforce, and participated in the case competition for another successful year placing in the top 5 competing schools. Through these activities, we as a chapter have learned a great deal about ourselves as individuals and as professionals. Personally, for me, these experiences have allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation for the opportunities and resources presented to me and for the people I have met along the way. They have also lit a flame of passion, drive and strength in me that I never knew I had. Through all of my challenges, experiences, full-time work and time as a graduate student at NYIT, I can proudly stand here today with confidence and heart.”