2016 Alum Alexis Alford Awarded $2,500 Scholarship by Borden Perlman
Photo courtesy of Alexis Alford
Borden Perlman, a risk-management and insurance advisory firm based in Ewing, NJ, have generously awarded Class of 2016’s Alexis Alford $2,500 in scholarship funds as she pursues her master’s degree in higher education.
Congratulations, Alexis! We are SO proud of you! Thanks also to Borden Perlman for supporting Alexis as she journeys through graduate school. We sincerely appreciate your partnership in achieving our mission.
Alexis Alford is a 2016 graduate of Foundation Academy Collegiate and is a 2020 graduate of Centenary University, earning her BS in Business Administration: Management & Marketing. In the summer of 2018, while completing her undergraduate studies, she served as an intern with Borden Perlman. She credits her experience with the insurance firm as a contributing source of inspiration for pursuing her master’s degree in higher education.
“I learned a lot about the insurance industry and working in a business environment that summer,” Alford says. “That experience, combined with my passion for education led me to pursue my master’s degree in higher education in an administrative support role. I know what it feels like to not know much about college, go through college depression, as well as just embarking into a new season. Being able to help others makes me happiest, and reassures me I am walking in my purpose!”
Alford will receive a total of $2,900 in scholarship funds to pursue her Master of Education from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. The scholarship is largely funded by Borden Perlman, with support from The Knight Fund, a scholarship program administered by The Friends of Foundation Academies. The Knight Fund is made possible thanks to donations from generous community supporters.
“Foundation Academies is providing their students with a high-quality public education that equips and empowers them with the skills to forge a path to bright futures,” said Jeff Perlman, Managing Partner of Borden Perlman. “We applaud students, parents, teachers, and the entire community at Foundation Academies for their dedication to college success, and we are thrilled to support Alexis, a member of the FA and BP families, in her admirable educational pursuits.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of maintaining strong relationships within the local community has been magnified for schools, businesses, and nonprofits alike.
“Borden Perlman has been a great partner and a generous supporter to Foundation Academies,” says Graig Weiss, CEO of Foundation Academies. “They have repeatedly gone the extra mile for our organization, working closely with us to help support our mission – whether it’s sponsoring musical performances, offering internships to our alumni, or now, helping Alexis on her path to leadership in the education sector. Now more than ever, we need Alexis’s voice and talents to help guide the thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. We are so grateful to Borden Perlman for sharing our values, and to Alexis for doing the hard work to live her purpose and help others.”
Alford is also excited about the many opportunities to come as she completes her master’s degree.
“Receiving these donations from Borden Perlman and The Friends of Foundation Academies is truly heartwarming. I’m more than thankful for this opportunity,” says Alford. “I’m passionate about my education because it’s one of the many things that I know will help me advance in life, next to my talents.”
About Foundation Academies
Foundation Academies is the largest and highest-ranking K-12 free public charter school in Trenton, NJ. Founded in 2007, Foundation Academies is currently serving more than 1,000 students across two campuses. With markedly less funding than Trenton district schools ($7,317 less per pupil), Foundation Academies’ dedicated teachers and scholars are proving that all children, irrespective of race, gender, or socioeconomic background can succeed at a great public school. On state exams, all grades at Foundation Academies are outperforming not just their Trenton peers, but NJ statewide averages as well. And 100% of Foundation Collegiate Academy graduates are accepted to college. For more, visit: foundationacademies.org
About The Friends of Foundation Academies
The Friends of Foundation Academies is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that supports, enhances, and promotes the work of Foundation Academies by raising funds and delivering services, programs, acquisitions, and partnerships that equitably serve the best interests of our school community. By promoting a culture of philanthropy and ingenuity, and through prudent investment, planning, stewardship, and accountability to donors and the community, The Friends of Foundation Academies Board advances the mission of Foundation Academies.
About Borden Perlman
Founded in 1915, Borden Perlman is a fourth-generation risk management and insurance advisory firm with regional focus and national reach. Their risk advisors create security for clients by identifying potential vulnerabilities to loss, providing a comprehensive plan to protect clients’ assets, and acting as tireless advocates for recovery if the loss occurs. Forward-thinking and proactive, Borden Perlman employs a personal approach with each client, providing expert guidance based on extensive industry knowledge and as trusted partners in a changing marketplace. For more, visit: https://www.bordenperlman.com/
Michelle Lawlor, Marketing and Communications Associate, spearheads Foundation Academies’ marketing and communication efforts. Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/Multimedia Communications from Rider University.