Hudson Valley Students Honored at Foundation Scholarship Celebration
May 6, 2024
The annual Hudson Valley Community College Foundation Scholarship Celebration was held on Friday, April 26, 2024. The ceremony formally recognized students who were awarded scholarships by the Foundation during the 2023-24 academic year, during which time the Foundation provided scholarships and awards totaling more than $560,000 to more than 360 students.
"Every year, we receive hundreds of applications from talented and ambitious students. They are here to work hard and succeed, and they face financial hurdles that could hold them back. Reading their essays, their stories of perseverance, and their goals for the future is truly inspiring,” said Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair April Clas during her congratulatory remarks to the student recipients. “We look for excellence in all things- a drive to contribute, a commitment to community and family, academic purpose, and a spark of potential that can only burn brighter. The selection process is rigorous, and our reviewers thoughtfully consider every application. We are deeply proud of each and every student.”
More than 40 donors were also invited to attend the event, where they met the students they have helped support, enjoyed a special VIP tour of the campus, and had the opportunity to see students hard at work in classrooms and labs. Following the tour, donors were joined by scholarship recipients and their families for a celebratory luncheon, and heard remarks from college and Foundation officials, as well as students who shared stories of the positive impact of the scholarships and awards they received.
The keynote speaker of the day was Nursing student Kim Ryan, recipient of an MVP Scholarship. She shared how MVP's generosity eased the financial burden of educational and childcare expenses, helping her to devote more time and focus on her nursing studies.
"I stand before you today as a proud recipient of the MVP scholarship, and I must say, earning this scholarship was unexpected and quite exciting for me,” Kim said in her remarks. “When I first started the one-year accelerated Nursing program here at Hudson Valley, I was a single mother working well over 50 hours a week to maintain my bills, childcare expenses, and tuition costs. If you were to ask me what this scholarship means to me, I would tell you that it represents an enrichment of my academic journey and a validation of my hard work, dedication, and achievements, alongside a relief from financial strain.”
Foundation Board Chair Frank Sarratori also thanked the donors for their investment in Hudson Valley’s students, saying in his remarks, "The impact of your scholarship goes far beyond the numbers on a check. It’s a gift of opportunity, allowing our students to focus on their studies, and dream bigger. It helps to clear the path and make way for bright ambitions. Most importantly, your scholarship is a vote of confidence. It’s a message that says “We believe in you. We believe in your potential.” That’s a powerful and encouraging message."
Each academic year, the Hudson Valley Community College Foundation offers scholarship opportunities that make a college degree even more affordable. Scholarships are sometimes designated for students in a particular academic program or from a certain geographic area. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Foundation is always expanding scholarship opportunities. If you would like to contribute to an existing scholarship or to create a new scholarship fund, contact the Foundation at (518) 629-8012 or visit the Support/Start a Scholarships webpage.