Rising Together Campaign Impact Report

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RISING TOGETHER

~Rep{ 2023-2025

Removing Barriers, Fueling Dreams: Through the Rising Together Campaign, public investment and private generosity joined forces to expand opportunities for SUNY Schenectady students. Hand in hand, we eliminated barriers and opened new pathways to achievement.

ASAP: Funded by the SUNY Transformation Fund, the Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) program enrolled 160 students in its first year, offering comprehensive support to help them stay on track and succeed.

Public Funds Lit the Torch & Private Support Carried It: Thanks to the collaboration of government agencies, foundations, corporations, and private donors, SUNY Schenectady raised more than $8.5 million through the Rising Together Campaign. Collectively, we extended opportunities, innovation, and access to those who needed it most.

SUNY SCHENECTADY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Schenectady Promise: Thanks to the Schenectady County Legislature, the Schenectady Higher Education Promise covered up to six credits per year for each Schenectady County resident. Rising Together donors extended this impact, supporting students who were just outside the eligibility criteria.

Count Me In: With support from Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, the Count Me In pilot offered free job and entrepreneurship training to individuals with disabilities, creating more inclusive opportunities through the Office of Workforce Development & Community Education.

FOUNDATION

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Over $600,000 Given In Scholarships: Your gifts allowed us to provide more than $600,000 in scholarship awards, which eased the burden of tuition and kept dreams on track.

Nearly 9 out of 10 students benefited from financial help at SUNY Schenectady.

Empowering Young Minds:

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With support from the Student Opportunity Fund, students in the Liberty Partnership Program explored the intersection of creativity and confidence. For 70 weeks, middle school students engaged in hands­ on projects while building essential financial skills. Their culminating exhibit showed their projects and their personal growth, a testament to how donor support helps students and their families build bright futures.

Rising to the Top: Through your generous gifts, SUNY Schenectady covered 754 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society membership fees for students who achieved a 3.7 or higher grade point average.

The support gave students like Alicia access to prestigious recognition, leadership opportunities, and life-changing scholarships which helped her rise, lead, serve, and succeed.

"Thanks to the Foundation covering my membership, I felt seen and supported in ways that went far beyond a classroom. It's an investment that changed my life."

-Alicia, Human Services Major, PTK Al/­ New York Academic Team Honoree

Leveling the Playing Field for High School Students: The Rising Together campaign helped remove financial and systemic barriers so more students could earn college credits before even graduating high school.

Thanks to donor and foundation support, students who faced financial hardship participated in SUNY Schenectady's College in the High School (CHS) program, offered in partnership with 22 local high schools. CHS allowed students to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously, saving families time and money while boosting college readiness.

In tandem, the Smart Scholars program, funded by the New York State Department of Education, expanded early college access for underrepresented students through a structured academic pathway. In the past two years, 35 young scholars gained momentum in their educational journeys, well ahead of the curve.

Shoulder to shoulder, these programs provided early access to higher education.

A Safety Net for Success:

Bringing Art to Life:

Your generosity did more than stock our Food Pantry, it made healthy food more accessible.

With two local grant awards, we purchased 76 refrigerated lockers and a new freezer, giving students and families safe, flexible access to fresh, nutritious foods. Together, we ensured that no student had to choose between putting food on the table or going to class.

From staging Amahl and the Night Visitors, a one act opera, in the Carl B. Taylor Auditorium to hosting exhibits at the Rise Gallery, your support ensured that the arts were at the heart of our campus to inspire connection and creative growth.

"The Thanksgiving meal kit reminded me of home. It wasn't just about the food. It was about being able to pause, cook for my siblings, and feel like I was taking care of them while still keeping up with school. The Food Pantry helped me show up for my family and my education."

"Amahl and the Night Visitors united current music students, alumni, a guest choreographer, and a director -showing the powerful outcomes that emerge when creativity is shared, ideas are ignited, and community is elevated."

- Dr. Christopher Brellochs, Dean of the School of Music

-Anonymous

Bridging Education & Industry: SU NY Schenectady created stronger pathways between campus and career by bringing students and employers together through hands-on, forward-thinking programming.

Level Up: A campus-wide event brought local employers, faculty, and students alongside each other for a day focused on internships, mentorship, and professional growth. From resume reviews to networking and headshots, students gained the tools and the confidence to step into the workforce.

Ethical Al: Integrity led, with founder of HumanSkills.AI, the College explored how Al can be used responsibly at work. The event fostered important dialogue between faculty, staff, and industry leaders on preparing students for a future where ethics and technology go hand in hand.

Investing in Paid Internships: Because of your support, students had access to paid internships that helped them gain valuable work experience, and confidence, as they stepped into careers that matched their dreams.

"Your donation has given me the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to my community through my internship. Thank you for your generous investment in my future."

-Farida

The Ink's Barely Dry And Look What We've Already Done:

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$7,000,715 Raised Student Opportunity Fund Nurturing Student Success • • • • •

Scholarships awarded to more than 500 students 21 emergency grants provided to students in urgent need 55,585 pounds of food distributed to 655 households through the campus Food Pantry Eight paid internships piloted with more opportunities in development Subsidized airfare for a student to attend The Council for Opportunity Education TRIO Future Leaders Summit • More than 2,000 high school students gained college credits • Established five new endowed scholarships and six new annual scholarships including a new anonymous scholarship endowed at over $600,000

r-;908,143 Raised SUNY Schenectady Fund Opening Doors, Changing Futures • Campus beautification and technology upgraded, including enhancements to the Carl B. Taylor Auditorium, and The Quad • Invested in faculty excellence: one professor presented at the prestigious 2025 Gordon Research Conference in Maine and another participated in the Conductor's Institute of South Carolina at the College of Charleston • Supported the production of a student-centered podcast • Sponsored the Faculty Jazz Combos' performance at Music Haven in Central Park • Funded the American Culinary Federation certifications for students • Hosted a successful Aviation Program Reunion at Center City • Provided program support for the Rise Gallery • Conducted a two-year alumni survey and concluded 9 out of 10 graduates would recommend SUNY Schenectady to a friend, colleague, or family member

r-;630,045 Raised President's Workforce Innovation Fund Bridging Education to Industry • Hosted a strategic forum with local business leaders, featuring a keynote address by renowned economist Hugh Johnson • Bus trip to New York Restaurant Show at Javits Center for culinary students • Partnered with key industry players in the healthcare industry, manufacturing, aviation, and the criminal justice fields • Expanded learning with Mobile Training Labs