Jasmine was named the first Presser Scholar at New Jersey City University (NCJU), a NASM Accredited Hispanic Serving Institution added to the Scholar Award Program in 2023-24.
In May, Jasmine graduated with her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance. As a student at NJCU, she sought opportunities to expand her worldview, including participating in the NJCU Afro Peruvian Loop tour to Peru to gain exposures to Afro Peruvian Jazz. She also toured as a percussionist with Urban Bush Women, a black women-led theatrical dance company and social activism ensemble that seeks to tell untold and under-told stories to activate social change. For four years at NJCU, she served as the assistant to Professor Theddy “Huevito” Lobaton, and organized and ran the NJCU Drum Circle during Professor Lobaton’s tours. Fluent in both Spanish and English, Jasmine translated communications from Professor Lobaton to students, faculty, and other English speakers that they encountered on tour.
“Being awarded as a Presser Scholar has been an amazing opportunity. Getting this Award has been a push forward for me in my career, both financially and as a musician. Financially, I can now look forward to paying off my student loans and shifting my focus to expenses towards my teaching license. As a musician, The Presser Foundation has given me motivation. Having the Presser Foundation award me as a Presser Scholar after looking into what I have done during my time at New Jersey City University is a huge recognition. It shows me that I am going in the right direction, and it means everything to me, it’s uplifting. Once more, thank you to The Presser Foundation for the Award and the recognition.”
