York Students Complete Mentorship Program and Awarded Scholarships by Resorts World Casino

By Niko Balkaran

Six York College students completed the Resorts World Casino sponsored Gumbo Coalition University (GCU) mentorship program, according to York’s website. The GCU program ran online twice a week over the course of 12 weeks and began in January.  

The Gumbo Coalition University, while not an educational institute, helps students across the country learn leadership skills such as “making decisions under pressure,” according to the GCU website.

“This was an enriching experience; I learned so much about being a leader and the necessary skills needed to be a successful and productive leader,” Aarti Maharaj, a participant, said in an article on York’s website. “[It was] a necessary combination of skills, abilities and attributes for becoming a transformative leader. As a future educator, I learned a lot of valuable life skills and lessons I can apply to everyday use as well.”

Various leaders taught classes in the business world. One lecturer was Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, the country’s largest civil rights and urban advocacy organization. Another lecturer was Hope Knight, a former York College board member who was recently honored at the college’s 55th-anniversary foundation gala. 

Seven of the students who participated in the program were awarded a $1500 scholarship from Resorts World Casino.

“Resorts World is proud to support a variety of education, mentorship and networking efforts to help expand opportunities for the next generation of leaders,” said Michelle Stoddart, vice president of Community Development at the casino.