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President's Challenge Scholarship
Welcome to SUNY Ulster's PCS Community
Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc.
Welcome to our information link. Alison Buckley, ED.d., SUNY Ulster's 7th president introduces you to President’s Challenge Scholarship in the above video link.
In 2016, SUNY Ulster President Emeritus Dr. Alan P. Roberts and the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. (UCCF) developed a dynamic scholarship program to support first-generation college-bound students. This scholarship is made possible through the support of community donors, including a foundational administrative start from President Emeritus Dr. Robert T. Brown, to whom the President's Challenge Scholarship (PCS) Program was dedicated in 2017.
Initial scholarship support came in 2019-20 from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation (JSF) from West Palm Beach, Florida, in the form of over $100,000 in scholarship grants as well as Rich and Donna Croce, who donated throughout the programs tenure more than $100,000 and sponsored 17 students to date.
In 2021, PCS received a $1,000,000 endowment from SUNY Ulster's champion and most prolific donor, the late Ms. Darlene L. Pfeiffer. In the fall of 2021, JSF pledged additional financial support for student scholarships and program administration for almost $400,000 over five years, bringing JSF's total support to nearly $500,000!
We envisioned a scholarship that would reach all nine school districts in Ulster County - and we have accomplished that goal. Can you help us grow our donor community to support these students who would be the first in their families to graduate from college? Below is fundamental information about the PCS Program and the donors who supported last year's scholarship recipients and a list of those supporting students this year. We're excited to begin fundraising to support the next class of 50 students! We want to meet with you and discuss the opportunity for you to help us reach more students who could benefit from the mentorship and college readiness support provided by the PCS Program.
Meet Our President's Challenge Students!
Ellenville Central School District
Highland Central School District
Kingston City School District
During the Spring Campus Visit in March 2024, Kingston PCS students toured the Advanced Manufacturing Labs at SUNY Ulster.
Marlboro Central School District
Marlboro PCS students join together for a photo op!
New Paltz Central School District
Onteora Central School District
Rondout Valley Central School District
Saugerties Central School District
Wallkill Central School District
Student Eligibility - Requirements to Apply:
- First-generation, college-bound students
- 80% cumulative GPA in eighth grade
- 75% cumulative GPA in four core classes (English, Math, Science and Social Studies) through mid-April
- 85% or higher attendance in school
- Minimal discipline infractions
- Preference is given to students with economic need.
Student Experience - Campus Visits, Coaching and College Readiness Skills
Students will participate in activities on the SUNY Ulster campus and at their school district to support their college readiness skills. Students will also be able to connect with their sponsors at each on-campus event.
Honoring new PCS Recipients
A SUNY Ulster/Foundation team member presents scholarship awards at each school district's 8th-grade Moving Up Day event. Foundation Board Director Laurel Sweeney (right) is shown with students and Principal Debra Clinton (left) at the Marlboro Moving Up Day Ceremony in June 2024.
PCS Promise
New scholarship recipients take the PCS Promise their first time on campus and sign the Promise Book.
Campus Visit Program
PCS Orientation
Semester Check Ins for Enrolled Students
Commencement
How You Can Help (Sponsorship Commitments Below):
We can structure your annual contributions so that due dates correspond with your budget processes and commitment schedules. Below are our sponsorship opportunities.
PCS Awards for 2024 - 50 Scholarships Funded - Thank You to Our Sponsors!
1. Jean Lerner (Sponsor of 10 students in total)
2. Rudy and the late Joyce Hellenschmidt (sponsor of six students!) [Endowing one student yearly!]
3 - 6. Johnson Scholarship Foundation (sponsor of 23 students in total)
7. Elna Magnetics (committed to sponsoring five total)
8. Garfield and Ferraro Families Memorial Scholarship (committed to sponsoring five students total)
9 - 12. Ferriday Fund (sponsor of twelve students in total)
13. Kathleen and Bill Cloonan (sponsor of four students)
14. New Paltz Rotary (sponsor of six students)
15 - 16. Kiwanis Club of Saugerties (sponsor of seven students)
17. County Executive Jen Metzger (sponsor of 2 students)
18. George Devine and the Future of New Paltz (sponsor of 2 students)
19. Dee Jaye Kurta/ Kurta Family Scholarship (sponsor of 2 students)
20. Rob and Audrey Hunter (sponsor of 2 students)
21. Casey and Emily Scanlon (new sponsor)
22. Nik and Nelda Gerner (sponsor of 3 students)
23. RVBA Rondout Valley Business Association (new sponsor)
24. Shawn Beqaj (new sponsor)
25. Stephen and Susan Hirsch (sponsors of 4 Students)
26. David & Deborah Levine (new sponsors)
27. Tony Marmo/Normann Staffing (sponsor of 2 students)
28. Mo Keegan & David Bolles Family in Memory of Danny Barnes (new sponsors)
29. Elliott and Judi Auerbach (new sponsors)
30. Steve MacDonald & Priscilla Derven (Sponsors of 3 students)
31. O'Connor & Partners, PLLC (new sponsor - Olana & Joe O'Connor 5th sponsorship)
32 - 35. Thomas C. Barron (sponsor of 7 students)
36. Linda & JB Gillette (new sponsors)
37. George & Catherine Sifre Family (sponsors of 5 students)
38. Richard & Patricia Brooks - Control Point Associates Inc (new sponsors)
39. Alfred Peavy - Ruth Gale Realty in Memory of Calvin (Cal) Corrigan Smith (sponsor of 3 students)
40. Rondavid Gold and Carol Super Gold (sponsor of two students)
41. Hudson Valley Catskill Region Multiple Listing Service (sponsor of three students)
42. Sarah M. Schmidt Memorial Scholarship (sponsor of 2 students)
43. The McGinty Family Be The Change Fund (sponsor of 2 students)
44. Victoria St. John Gilligan IHO Lorraine Salmon (sponsor of 3 students)
45. Rich and Donna Croce (sponsor of 18 students)
46. Ed Hill enterprises (sponsor of 6 students)
47. Barbara and Joe Cohen IHO Lorraine Salmon (sponsor of 2 students)
48. Hayes Clement (sponsor of 4 students)
49. Sherman & Carol E. Adin Scholarship
50. Braby Blackwell Family Memorial Scholarship
SOLD OUT (Thank you for your support!)
June 2023 Awards: 100% of Scholarships Funded - Thank You to our Program Sponsors!
Thanks to the donors below, we have awarded 50 scholarships to 8th-grade students from all nine school districts in Ulster County!
1. Jean Lerner (Sponsor of 5 students - 1 annually!)
2. Rudy and the late Joyce Hellenschmidt (Sponsor of 5 students!) [Endowing 1 student per year!]
3. Johnson Scholarship Foundation
4. Johnson Scholarship Foundation
5. Johnson Scholarship Foundation
6. Johnson Scholarship Foundation (sponsor of 23 students in total)
7. Saugerties Kiwanis
8. Saugerties Kiwanis
9-10. Glenn Sutherland and Cynthia Lowe (Endowed Sponsor of 3rd and 4th students
11. Anna and Ken Brett (Sponsor of 2nd students)
12. Allan Stein (Sponsor of 2nd Student)
13. Richard and Gillian Murphy (Sponsors of 4 Students)
14. Floyd Lattin (Sponsor of 5 Students)
15. Hayes Clement (Sponsor of 3 Students)
16. Victoria St. John Gilligan (Sponsor of 2 Students)
17. Dan Proctor and Dale Robbins (Sponsors of 3 Students)
18. Rondavid Gold and Carol Super Gold (NEW Sponsors)
19. Steve MacDonald & Priscilla Derven (Sponsors of 2 Students)
20. The Ferriday Fund
21. The Ferriday Fund
22. The Ferriday Fund
23. The Ferriday Fund
24. Stephen and Susan Hirsch (Sponsors of 3 Students)
25. Alison Buckley Ed. D. & Mark Evans, Ph.D. (NEW Sponsors)
26. Thomas C. Barron (NEW Sponsor)
27. Thomas C. Barron (NEW Sponsor)
28. Thomas C. Barron (NEW Sponsor)
29. Rosendale International Pickle Festival Volunteers IMO Anita Williams Peck (NEW Sponsor)
30. Joe and Katie Ferraro (Sponsor of 3rd student in Saugerties! Thank you!)
31. Elna Magnetics (Sponsor of 3rd student in Saugerties - Thank you!)
32. Ulster County Italian American Foundation (NEW Sponsor)
33. Thoben Hill Properties - the Hill Family
34. George Devine and The Future of New Paltz Scholarship
35. Joan and James Quigley (NEW Sponsors - Thank you!)
36. Sawyer Savings Bank
37. Rich and Donna Croce IMO Michael D. Croce (17th Sponsorship!)
38. Dennis and Todd O'Brien IMO Joyce O'Brien
39. New Paltz Rotary Club (5th sponsorship!)
40. The late H. Neil Zimmerman (4th Sponsorship!)
41. Wallkill Valley Federal Savings and Loan (2nd sponsorship!)
42. WSDG & Normann Staffing (NEW Sponsors!)
43. IMO Frank and Helen Delaney (New Sponsorship by Tim Delaney)
44. Rondout Savings Bank (4th Sponsorship)
45. County Executive Jen Metzger (NEW Sponsor!)
46. Dee Jaye Kurta (NEW Sponsor!)
47. Luke and Meghan Keyser (NEW Sponsor)
48. Rich and Colleen Parete (NEW Sponsor)
49. Rotary Club of Kingston (2nd Sponsorship)
50. Jay and Laurie Bloomfield (2nd Sponsorship)
PCS Leadership Society
Click on the link below to see our levels of giving within PCS by donor and by school district and to acknowledge your friends and peers in the community who are supporting our students.
Please Reach Us Here to Become a Donor:
You can change a life. Please click on the link below to reach us now!
President’s Challenge Scholarship Sponsors with students
President’s Challenge Scholarship Sponsors with students
President’s Challenge Scholarship Sponsor with students
Carol Daley
Nancy Clarke
Administrative Program Coordinator,
President's Challenge Scholarship
845-688-1927
Barbara C. Caldwell
Interim Executive Director of Institutional Advancement and External Relations
845-687-5093
Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc.
Email: foundation@sunyulster.edu
Website: www.sunyulster.edu/foundation/presidentschallenge
Location: 491 Cottekill Road, Stone Ridge, NY 12484, USA
Phone: 845-687-5093
Facebook: facebook.com/SUNYUlsterFoundation