For Immediate Release
Washington, D.C. – On Saturday, April 30th, 2016, the founders of the Asia SiVon Cottom (ASC) Memorial Scholarship Fund, Mr Clifton and Dr. Michelle Cottom, hosted a trip from Washington, D.C. to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City, but for them this was no ordinary visit, it was proof that their daughter’s memory is yet alive.
Asia Cottom, 11, their daughter was one of three DC Public School students on the airplane when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon that morning. The plan was for her to take part in one of America’s premier undersea projects-the Sustainable Seas Expedition. She was chosen to go on a four-day National Geographic field trip to the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary in Santa Barbara, California, unfortunately that never happened. Although it is a heart breaking story this courageous family made a decision to keep the memory of their daughter alive by providing “hope” to young people who desire to attend college. They have created a scholarship fund for students seeking to study subjects that fall under the discipline of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). STEM includes subjects in the fields of Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer and Information Technology, Engineering, Geosciences, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Mathematical Sciences, Physics, Science, and Social Sciences. To date they have awarded over $250,000 in scholarships to students across the country.
The ASC Memorial Scholarship Fund has hosted several tours around the world spreading hope and love to young people everywhere. Earlier this year Dr. Michelle Cottom hosted a group of young girls from Washington, DC to Senegal, West Africa. “I was blessed to chaperone the group of girls from Sousa Middle School on a trip of a lifetime to Senegal, West Africa. We spent 10 days exploring beautiful Mother Africa. We toured Goree Island were Asia and our Ancestors were honored in a Tribal Celebration. The participates were able to witness the exact location where slaves were held for months while they waited for slaves ships to transport them to the US. To stand in the “door of no return” rendered me speechless. To witness such inhumane treatment broke my heart.” said Dr. Cottom when asked about this trip. Not only did we visit and tour the ASC Memorial Scholarship Fund also adopted a school: The Lycee De Djilor Saloum, under the leadership of the English Department headed by Ibrahima Thiandoum. Mr. Thiandoum and I will establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to meet some of the educational needs of the students. Our partnership will hopefully create a pipeline of international ASC STEM recipients. I think this is what Asia would want” said Dr. Cottom. We should applaud such a courageous family for what they are doing to better the world in the name of Asia Cottom.
For more information about the ASC Fund or how you can help reach others please visit www.asiacottom.com.
For media inquires: www.asiacottom.com Cedric@greencowpr.com 586.738.0147