LaGuardia Students Nataly Briones and Tamoy Bloomfield Named Women’s Forum of New York Scholars
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (October 29, 2025) — Two LaGuardia Community College/CUNY students—Nataly Briones, a Human Services: Mental Health major, and Tamoy Bloomfield, a Paralegal Studies major—have been selected as recipients of the Women’s Forum of New York Scholarship, each receiving a $10,000 award in recognition of their academic excellence, leadership, and resilience.
Briones and Bloomfield both embarked on their higher education journeys after becoming parents. Briones is the mother of four children, and Bloomfield is the mother of three.
The scholar winners were honored at an awards ceremony on October 8. Since 1987, the Women’s Forum Education Fund Award has “recognized and supported extraordinary women over the age of 25, who have overcome extreme adversity to resume their education.” Applicants must reside in New York City and attend a two-year or four-year institution in pursuit of their first associate or bachelor’s degree.
“This scholarship has given me the confidence to continue headstrong and trail-blaze. It represents all those sleepless nights, tears cried, hours of endless tutoring—and the hard work that paid off,” said Briones, 36, a first-generation college student who was born in Ecuador and raised in New York.
Briones is an ASAP student and CREAR (College Readiness, Achievement and Retention) Futuros mentor, supporting 15 first-year students through weekly one-on-one and group sessions.
“As a CREAR Futuros Mentor we help other first-generation students navigate their college experience for successful outcomes. Sometimes that involves advocating for students and sometimes it’s about lending a listening ear. We are here to serve as the support system many students need to graduate,” said Briones.
CREAR Futuros, sponsored by the Hispanic Federation, is a peer mentorship initiative designed to improve access, retention, and graduation rates for Latinx students and others in need of support. LaGuardia is proud to be a partner institution, with Casa de las Américas, a cultural and academic support center at LaGuardia, serving as the liaison between the Hispanic Federation and the college.
“Nataly is a dynamic leader—cheerful, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to her mentees,” said Lorenley Báez, Director of Casa de las Américas and program coordinator of LaGuardia’s CREAR Futuros. “She fills every bucket: student, scholar, mentor, and parent. And she does it all with grace and humility.”
After completing her LaGuardia degree, Briones plans to continue her academic journey by pursuing a degree in Food Studies at NYU.
NYC-native Tamoy Bloomfield, 44, is passionate about justice and advocacy. She hopes to one day work as an attorney specializing in family or criminal law.
Bloomfield is a 2025-26 President’s Society Ambassador, a Civic Fellow—an on-campus role supporting LaGuardia’s government affairs team, and a student representative on the College Senate where she serves on the Executive Committee. She is president and founder of The Law Society Pre-Law League, a student-led organization that provides peer support, networking opportunities, and resources for students interested in legal careers. Her initiative aims to create a vibrant space for aspiring legal professionals at LaGuardia, offering workshops, guest speakers, and mentorship opportunities.
“I launched the Law Society because I saw a gap in support for students pursuing law,” said Bloomfield, who completed a paralegal internship this past summer with the Queens District Attorney’s domestic violence office. “This scholarship affirms that our voices matter and that our work is making a difference.”
“Tamoy combines vision and determination with a deep sense of purpose, qualities that define her both as a scholar and as a leader,”said Hector Fernandez, Professor of Paralegal Education. “By founding The Law Society Club, Tamoy helped to inspire a new generation of LaGuardia students, especially our Paralegal students, to lead and excel. She created more than a student club, she established what we hope will be a lasting space for growth, mentorship, and student opportunity. Tamoy truly embodies the best of LaGuardia.”
“Tamoy doesn’t wait for opportunities — she creates them, and then brings others along for the journey,” said Andrea Irias, Esq., Paralegal Studies Program Director. “In every setting, Tamoy changes the culture around her from participation to collaboration. I’ve seen it in my classroom as well my program. With her intelligence and initiative, there is nothing she can’t accomplish.”
Organizing and leading are second nature to Bloomfield. During her 12 years as a stay-at-home mother, raising her three daughters, she served as president of the PTA, a member of the School Leadership Team, and a Title I Committee Member.
Bloomfield says that she draws inspiration and motivation from two tragedies in her life. A dear uncle was killed in front of their family home in Brownsville, Brooklyn, when she was five years old; his murder was finally solved 30 years later. In 2023, her best friend died in a car accident.
While the last few years have brought many changes and challenges, Bloomfield is proud to be doing things in her own way. Currently in her last semester at LaGuardia, she plans to work as a paralegal while pursuing a bachelor’s degree and then attend law school.
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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