March 13, 2015, New York, NY – The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) has established a scholarship at John Jay College in memory of New York City Police Department Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu who were murdered in December 2014 while serving the citizens of New York. The scholarship was announced on March 11 during the college’s NYPD alumni reception held in celebration of the longstanding partnership and collaboration with the NYPD. Commissioner William Bratton, First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker, BS ’77, and other department leaders joined over 200 NYPD alumni of John Jay at the special event.
“We thank the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations for their generosity and for partnering with the college to honor the memory of Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu,” said Jeremy Travis, President of John Jay College. “Their legacy will be bolstered by the officers who will pursue higher education, graduate from John Jay and become law enforcement leaders.”
The NECO scholarship will honor the fallen officers’ legacy of selflessly protecting the City by providing support to incentivize officers to obtain their baccalaureate degree at John Jay College. By supporting the educational goals of officers who are committed to the values of community, the importance of diversity, and the necessity of healing, the scholarship will contribute to the development of the future leadership of the NYPD.
Two scholarships, for up to$2,500 per semester, will be awarded each year for the next three years in honor of Detectives Ramos and Liu.
The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations was created on the conviction of its founders that the diversity of the American people is what makes this nation great. Its mission is to honor and preserve this diversity and to foster tolerance, respect and understanding among religious and ethnic groups. Additionally, NECO continues its commitment to the restoration and maintenance of Ellis Island, a living tribute to the courage and hope of all immigrants.
About John Jay College of Criminal Justice: An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York offers a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to upwards of 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations. In teaching, scholarship and research, the College approaches justice as an applied art and science in service to society and as an ongoing conversation about fundamental human desires for fairness, equality and the rule of law. For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu.
