Giving Opportunities: Scholarships

“Receiving this scholarship is the most amazing gift I’ve ever gotten – it makes me the first one in my family to be able to go to college.  I understand that a scholarship is an investment in a student, and I will not squander the opportunity that your scholarship has given me.” 
 
You can open the door of opportunity and assist a deserving student with a gift to scholarships.  The Foundation has awarded nearly $11 million in scholarships and grants to more than 12,000 students since 1969.  Over $1 million in student support has been distributed annually since 2007.
 
Despite the College’s best efforts to contain costs, tuition and fees continue to rise.  Annual tuition now approaches $4,000 for full time students, and this can be an obstacle for many exceptional students who have a profound and compelling need for assistance.  These awards have a tremendous impact on the lives of students, most often making the crucial difference in a young person’s future.  Scholarship gifts are completely tax-deductible, and can be made on an annual basis (renewable every year) or permanently endowed. 

• An Annual Named Scholarship provides direct funding which is renewable from year to year. To name a fund with specific criteria we ask for a commitment of $5,000 or more annually. These gifts are awarded in full in the year they are donated. 
  
• An Endowed Named Scholarship can establish a permanent fund that will provide on-going support.  A minimum donation of $45,000 will provide approximately $1,500 in scholarship support each year after an initial first year of maturity.  Gifts at this level and higher will establish a named fund in perpetuity with specific criteria.

Many donors have set up Named Scholarship Funds to honor or recognize a loved one with criteria that reflect their interests.  While our Scholarship Office aims to have the most flexibility to meet the needs of current students and the applicant pool, we encourage potential donors to think about where their gift might make the most impact. 
 
Applicants go through a selection process, and are screened by our independent Scholarship Committee.  Grade point average is a primary consideration for the Foundation in making its awards, but other factors, such as financial need, special circumstances, and service to the College or community are also taken into consideration, depending on the terms of the particular scholarship. Please see Scholarships for a detailed description of the award process and list of named scholarships.

Donors of named scholarship funds receive letters from the recipients of their generosity, and are welcome to follow their progress.  In October, scholarship recipients and donors are invited to participate in our annual Scholarship Recognition Ceremony. 
 
For other ways to support Scholarships, please see Commemorative and Tribute gifts.
 
To discuss establishing a scholarship fund, please contact
Ilene Lieberman, Director of Annual Giving
(914) 606-6834
ilene.lieberman@sunywcc.edu link e-mail

For a complete list of scholarships and scholarship donors, please see our most recent Annual Report.