VICTORIA LONDON SCHOLARSHIP
Victoria London passed away in 2014 after a courageous battle with ALS. Victoria received her Master’s in Engineering and Business Administration at Columbia University and was the first woman ever admitted to Columbia’s Chemical Engineering Society, Phi Lambda Epsilon.
In 1974, Victoria moved to Key Biscayne and became part of the community. It is through her passion and generosity that future generations will pursue degrees and their own passions and, in doing so honor the incredible legacy of Victoria London.
Congratulations to the 2019-20 Recipients
Blake Garcia
Class of 2021
Hometown
Houston, Texas
Education
University of Texas at Austin | BA
What does this award mean to you?
First of all, thank you for your generous donation. Columbia Business School is a dream for me that I was able to make a reality in large part thanks to you. We have just begun core coursework, and I’m getting back into the rhythm of being a student. It has been great to meet the community and to start to get a sense of how incredible my classmates are. I look forward to participating in Hispanic Business Association, General Management Association, and CBS Innovation + Design to explore how to bring innovative practices to the corporate world. I also look forward to participating in the Basketball Club.
What impact do you hope to have after graduation both professionally and personally?
After five years in consulting, I am eager to transition to a general management rotational role post-CBS. I am still exploring industries, but I’m considering financial services, consumer products, and technology. Long-term, I’m interested in a senior corporate strategy role. Personally, I want to stay in NYC post-MBA and look for opportunities that will allow me to have an impact. I want to work with underrepresented youth interested in business careers, and I hope to be able to pay forward the generosity that I’ve received.
Michelle Ritter
Class of 2021
Hometown
Hayward, CA
Education
Johns Hopkins University | BA, Economics, International Studies, and Political Science
What does this award mean to you?
Thanks to your financial support, I have been able to fully pursue my academic goal of obtaining a JD/MBA from Columbia. By allowing me to leverage both schools, I have been able to participate in the Columbia Student Investment Management Association (CSIMA) and further my interests in entertainment and investment management. Thank you so much for your generosity and for making this experience possible.
What impact do you hope to have after graduation both professionally and personally?
My goal is to focus on entertainment and investing. At Columbia Business School, I have been working closely with the Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center and Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy to launch a company in this space; at the same time, I am working with the Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing and CSIMA to develop my value investing and pitching skills.
Kevin Roque
Class of 2021
Hometown
San Salvador, El Salvador
Education
St. John’s University | BS, Finance
What does this award mean to you?
This award has allowed me to pursue my goal of getting an MBA at Columbia Business School and has afforded me the ability to pursue my goal of working in the nonprofit space. Thank you. On-campus, I plan on getting involved with the Hispanic Business Association because I believe it is important to create a strong community that helps increase the representation of underrepresented minorities at the Business School. Off-campus, I am a team lead at New York Cares for various volunteering initiatives and still play a role in my nonprofit, KnowtheCommunity.
What impact do you hope to have after graduation both professionally and personally?
Post-graduation, I want to make an impact in developing countries through the use of microfinance; this is a passion that stems from my family’s upbringing in El Salvador. I hope to also leave an impact on the Columbia Business School community and develop a network of strong connections. I am the first in my family to go to college and now to get a post-graduate education. As I did not have many people to turn to, I hope to serve as a resource for individuals that find themselves in the same position I was in. I want to do this by getting more involved with Management Leadership for Tomorrow.
Jane Somuah
Class of 2021
Hometown
Miami, Florida
Education
Barnard College | BA Economics
What does this award mean to you?
This award has played a major role in affording me an incredible opportunity to pursue my graduate degree at a premier business school. Thanks to this scholarship, I can afford to attend Columbia Business School—a critical step toward achieving my professional goals. An MBA from Columbia will enable me to accelerate my career, develop my leadership skills, and enhance my business education. On campus, I am a member of several organizations, including the Black Business Student Association and African Business Club. Thank you so much for your support.
What impact do you hope to have after graduation both professionally and personally?
After graduation, personally I hope to serve as a role model to minorities for what education, dedication, and hard work can achieve. Professionally, I look forward to leveraging my business school experience in becoming a leader within my chosen career. I believe that my diverse background coupled with my Columbia MBA stands to offer substantial value (add to any organization I’m a part of) an impact I would not have been able to make without this generous award.