Two high school graduates from Brooklyn and one each from Queens and Bronx — all of whom are aspiring doctors who excel both academically and through their community volunteerism — have been named the 2009 recipients of the prestigious Lois Pope Annual LIFE Unsung Hero Scholarship Award.

Mohammad Sadat and Chantal Strachan of Brooklyn, Daniel Asemota of Queens, and Maha Salama of the Bronx, all freshmen at City College’s Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, were presented with $25,000 scholarships by Lois Pope, a Florida-based philanthropist and President of Leaders in Furthering Education (LIFE) at a ceremony at City College on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Chantal, 18, graduated from Benjamin Banneker Academy for Community Development, where she was named to “Who’s Who Among American High School Students.� She was also a member of the Varsity Tennis Team and artistic director of the Dance Ensemble. Outside of school, she contributed to her community through singing in her church choir, and volunteering both as a tutor to at-risk children through the READ Foundation and at New York Community Hospital.

She said her desire to pursue a career in medicine stems from her belief that, “physicians, ideally, are the heart that contributes to the body of the community.�

Mohammad, also 18, graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School, where he earned designation as an AP Scholar with Honors and membership into the National Honors Society. He wrote for the school newspaper, was active in the Chess Club, among others, and attended the Queens Bridge to Medicine Program. When not in the classroom, he volunteered at both Brookdale University Hospital and Coney Island Hospital, both of which solidified his desire to become a doctor.

Through his volunteer work, he said, “I learned to work well with sick patients and understand more about compassion, caring, and the human condition.�

Dr. Ethan Fried, vice chair for education in the Department of Medicine at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center and a 1984 graduate of the Sophie Davis School, was the keynote speaker. Mrs. Pope also made remarks.

Unsung Hero Scholarships

Since its inception in 1997, the Lois Pope LIFE Unsung Hero Scholarship Program has provided funds for more than 40 students entering the Sophie Davis School. Four Pope Scholars are selected each year. All have demonstrated superb academic achievement, but more importantly have given selflessly of themselves in their communities.

“The recipients of these scholarships are teens from underserved communities who, through hard work, dedication, intelligence and creativity are working to transform themselves into individuals of outstanding achievement, character and leadership. They epitomize the true meaning of an ‘Unsung Hero,’� said Mrs. Pope.

Daniel Asemota, 18, is an honors graduate of Queens Gateway to Health Sciences High School, where he was inducted into the National Honors Society, served as vice president of the student government in his senior year, and attended the Queens Bridge to Medicine Program. He worked at a local nursery school and public library, and also tutored children through the South Jamaica Police Athletic League and his church.

Bronx resident Maha, 18, was valedictorian of her graduating class at the High School for Math, Science and Engineering at The City College of New York, where she was president of the National Honors Society. She worked on the school newspaper and was active in a number of other clubs. She participated in a neuroscience program at The Rockefeller University and worked and conducted research at Mount Sinai Hospital. She also volunteered as a peer tutor and at her local public library.

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