Former BCC student Najee Barnes-Lassiter was six years old when his mother died of a heart condition. When Najee also ended up having heart issues and had to be in and out of the hospital while attending BCC, his grandmother Kim Lassiter couldn’t believe it was happening all over again.

“Despite all of his health issues, he never wanted to give up,” said Kim, who raised her grandson. “He was an amazing kid from the time he was born. Najee knew how to nurture relationships. Everybody thought they were special around him. He was a very honest individual. He was kind. He was considerate…just a beautiful person. And he loved being around us, and we loved being around him.”

Najee, diagnosed with a rare disease called Danon Disease, initially struggled academically, but ended up with a 3.0 grade point average. Najee was determined to graduate from BCC. Kim would often wake up in the middle of the night to find him studying in the other room. “Whenever he said he was going to do something, he did it,” Kim said in tears.

Despite his need for constant medical attention, Najee, who even attended BCC wearing a large heart monitor (that looked like a boom box) to keep his heart going, loved everything about the campus. He even had someone on campus who he called Mom – CUNY Edge Director Denise Comara.Najee died just a few months after he graduated. His grandmother Kim has kept in touch with Denise and decided she wanted to give back to BCC in the form of the scholarship. The Najee Scholarship started in 2023 at $5,000, which the donor will continue to support in years to come. To date, the award has been presented to three student recipients:  Assanatou Alabani, Deena Langhorn, and Dareen Bridges.

“By awarding me the Najee Scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden, which will allow me to focus on the most important aspect of school: learning,” said Alabani in a thank you note to the donor. “Your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.”

Kim couldn’t think of any better way to allocate the funds she has collected as a tribute to Najee. “Who knows, I might even end up coming to school here,” she said. “I am thinking about it.”

How proud her grandson would be.

About the BCC Foundation

The Bronx Community College Foundation was established in 1985 to provide support for student scholarships, faculty research, program development, community education and cultural enrichment. Through the dedication and generosity of individuals and organizations, the Foundation serves the campus community throughout the year, providing a safety net for students who need assistance to reach their academic and career goals.