EMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY
President Buckley with college students Johanna, Frandy, and Bryan at a PCS Campus Visit experience.
A MESSAGE FROM SUNY ULSTER PRESIDENT ALISON BUCKLEY, ED.D.
The President's Challenge Scholarship (PCS) Program offers a remarkable opportunity to connect with and empower first-generation students in our community, supporting them from high school through their college years. These invaluable connections underscore SUNY Ulster's mission to educate the individual and elevate the community. This fall, President's Challenge Scholarship recipients achieved significant milestones. They completed their degree requirements, earned recognition for their academic excellence, and gained practical experience through internships in their chosen fields. We are especially delighted to welcome one of our recent Alumna Skylar Barringer '24 to the SUNY Ulster team, where she has launched her professional career as an Enrollment & Success Center Clerk. These achievements exemplify the transformative power of education and the profound impact of the President's Challenge Scholarship. This program opens doors to a college education and paves the way for meaningful and fulfilling careers. Our engagement with PCS students begins in the 8th grade, and we are privileged to witness their growth and development throughout their academic journey. We are excited to welcome high school students back to campus on April 1st and 2nd for their spring visit experience. To learn more about the President's Challenge Scholarship and how you can support this impactful program, please call 845.687.5093 or visit the PCS Donor Information page.
SUNYULSTER.EDU/FOUNDATION
ERICA LUNDEN (SECOND FROM THE RIGHT) WITH HER MOM, SISTER, AND FRIEND AT THE RECEPTION TO HONOR DECEMBER GRADUATES.
CELEBRATING PCS STUDENTS COMPLETING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS IN DECEMBER! In December, we celebrated two PCS students, Erica Lunden and Kayla Perales who completed their SUNY Ulster degree requirements! As an 8th-grade student, Erica was part of our first PCS cohort at Rondout Valley Central School District in 2016. After high school, Erica took some time off to work but returned to SUNY Ulster to finish her degree as a full- time student in Individualized Studies. While on campus, Erica worked as a student aide in SUNY Ulster’s Center for Academic Planning and Support (CAPS). Kayla was a member of our 2019 cohort at Kingston High School and was an individualized studies major at SUNY Ulster. During her time on campus, Kayla was active with the college chorus. Kayla and Erica were recognized on the Dean's List for their academic achievements last semester. We’re excited to keep in touch with them and look forward to continuing the celebration at SUNY Ulster’s 61st Commencement Ceremony on May 24th, 2025. Good luck to Erica and Kayla as they continue their studies and launch their careers! Thanks to Foundation Board Director Emeritus Rich Croce & Donna Croce and Foundation Board Director Floyd Lattin for supporting PCS students on their college journey!
THE PCS PRESS
ALUMNA SKYLAR BARRINGER JOINS THE ENROLLMENT AND SUCCESS CENTER TEAM AT SUNY ULSTER!
PCS student and SUNY Ulster alumna Skylar Barringer ‘24 has joined the SUNY Ulster community as an Enrollment and Success Center Clerk! Skylar will be responsible for supporting SUNY Ulster admissions events, processing applications, and helping manage front desk operations. Skylar's cheerful demeanor is sure to brighten the experience for new students on campus! Skylar graduated from SUNY Ulster last May and plans to continue her studies. However, gaining valuable work experience while saving money to fund further education is her top priority. Congratulations, Skylar! Thank you to the Rondout Valley Scholarship Foundation for supporting students through the President’s Challenge Scholarship Program!
SKYLAR BARRINGER WORKING IN SUNY ULSTER'S ENROLLMENT AND SUCCESS CENTER.
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Academic Accolades for PCS College Students!
PCS COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM THE FALL SEMESTER GROUP CONNECTION IN OCTOBER 2024. SANDRA BENITEZ (LEFT) AND YASEEN SALEH (CENTER) WERE BOTH RECOGNIZED ON THE DEAN'S LIST FOR THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE!
Congratulations to all our enrolled students who completed their fall semester! Many students face significant demands at home, work, and school. Special congratulations to those students who, despite these demands, made high honors and were featured on the President’s List and Dean’s List for their stellar academic achievements. Full-Time President’s List (comprised of students whose final average for the period of all courses taken is 3.7 or higher, plus other requirements) Michael Benitez (Highland High School graduate) Lindzy Carlson (Rondout Valley High School graduate) Daniel Farfan (Ellenville High School graduate)
Full-Time Dean’s List (comprised of students whose final average for the period of all courses taken is 3.30 or higher, plus other requirements)
Sandra Benitez (Wallkill High School graduate) Miya Gambino (Saugerties High School graduate) Natalie Hinkley (Saugerties High School graduate) Jahmelia James (Saugerties High School graduate) Erica Lunden (Rondout Valley High School graduate) Sophia Pannitti (Saugerties High School graduate) Kayla Perales (Kingston High School graduate) Yaseen Saleh (Marlboro High School graduate) Jamie Seward (Kingston High School graduate)
We look forward to these students completing their requirements at SUNY Ulster and having bright futures!
SUNYULSTER.EDU/FOUNDATION
SUCCESS STORIES IN THE MAKING
SUNY ULSTER STUDENTS MICHAEL BENITEZ (LEFT AND TOP RIGHT) AND CHRISTOPHER LENNON JR. (LOWER RIGHT) DURING THEIR INTERNSHIPS AT VIKING INDUSTRIES IN NEW PALTZ. A FOCUS ON INTERNSHIPS
PCS student Michael Benitez is in his second year of study in the Advanced Manufacturing Program at SUNY Ulster. Last summer, Michael interned at Viking Industries, quickly mastering complex machinery like the Hycorr rotary die cutter. The Viking team was so impressed that they extended his internship and offered him a full-time position upon graduation! Viking Industries has steadfastly supported SUNY Ulster and the PCS program. Sean Brix of the Viking Human Resources team shared, “We need more students like Michael to become the manufacturers of tomorrow. We are so pleased with how this worked out that we offered another PCS student in SUNY Ulster’s Advanced Manufacturing Program an internship experience.” PCS student Christopher Lennon Jr. began his internship experience last fall and continues to intern this spring semester. Chris works on assembly, inventory, and shipping three days a week and is learning to be a machine feeder. Chris shared, "The staff is super friendly there, and I have learned a lot about the cardboard and manufacturing industry." Thank you to the Highland Rotary and an Anonymous Donor for supporting PCS students on their college journey and to Viking Industries for providing Michael and Chris with these valuable career experiences!
PCSPRESS.ORG
UPCOMING CAMPUS VISIT DAYS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST AND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2ND 2025
Enrollment and Success Counselor and the PCS College Coach for Ellenville and Rondout Valley High Schools, Rebecca Mercado, explains the Campus Life Fair to PCS High School students at the Fall Campus Visit in October 2024.
We look forward to welcoming our PCS high school students to SUNY Ulster for their Spring Campus Visit experiences in April. The Enrollment and Success Center team is busy finalizing the student agenda but plan to focus on interpersonal communication and getting the students acquainted with one another across the school districts. As always, we welcome program sponsors to join PCS students for lunch. Please see below for when each school district will be on campus: Tuesday, 4/1 - Kingston, Marlboro, Onteora, and Saugerties schools Wednesday, 4/2 - Ellenville, Highland, New Paltz, Rondout Valley, and Wallkill schools We look forward to a great Spring Campus Visit experience for PCS students!
SUNYULSTERPRESIDENTSCHALLENGE.ORG
ELLENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL WELCOMES ITS NEWEST PCS STUDENTS!
Ellenville High School (EHS) invited the PCS team to help them celebrate their newest scholarship recipients in December. PCS College Coach and Enrollment and Success Counselor Rebecca Mercado and PCS Program Coordinator Nancy Clarke joined the EHS counseling and administrative community to congratulate and honor 9th-grade students selected to receive PCS. After speaking about the program's benefits, Rebecca and Nancy answered questions for family members. The Ulster Community College Foundation and SUNY Ulster are happy to participate in this annual event at Ellenville High School! Many thanks to the Ellenville PCS sponsors for 2024: Jean Lerner, Thomas C. Barron, Foundation Board Director Elliott Auerbach and Judi Auerbach, and Linda and JB Gillette. PCS College Coach Rebecca Mercado (right) and Program Coordinator Nancy Clarke (second from the right) join Ellenville High School Club Advisor and School Counselor Courtney Vandermark (third from the left) as they honor Ellenville's newest PCS recipients in December 2024!
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PCS PRIDE POINTS • The President’s Challenge Scholarship is available to select students in all nine Ulster County school districts.
• All scholarship recipients are first-generation college students. Preference is given to those with financial need. • Since the program’s inception in 2016, over 300 scholarships have been awarded with 50 new 8th- grade students selected each year. • Approximately 80% of PCS recipients pursue higher education, with the remaining students entering the workforce or military service. • The President’s Challenge Scholarship covers tuition costs after non-loan financial aid is applied and provides funding for technology and academic supplies, supporting student success in college. • All scholarship recipients participate in college readiness activities at SUNY Ulster as well as at their respective high schools.
• President’s Challenge Scholarship recipients enjoy two layers of support while in the program: - High school students are supported by a College Coach (a member of the Enrollment and Success Team at SUNY Ulster) and a Club Advisor (a member of the school district team). College Coaches work with students on learning styles, as well as academic and career planning. Club Advisors focus on academic progress, goal setting, and building camaraderie. - College students are supported by a faculty advisor in their major and a partner advisor in the Center for Academic Planning and Support. • Approximately 80% of President’s Challenge Scholarship students are paired with a TRIO program counselor at SUNY Ulster. These counselors meet regularly with the students to offer comprehensive support services throughout the academic year.
• Students also have access to support five days a week at SUNY Ulster’s Student Alliance Navigation Center (SNAC). They also participate in PCS Student Group Connect Meetings to foster a sense of belonging. • Donor investors are invited to campus visits and receive regular updates through newsletters, social media and the PCS Press, our digital magazine.
to invest in student success visit SUNYULSTERPRESIDENTSCHALLENGE.ORG
FUNDRAISING UPDATE 29 SPONSORSHIPS SECURED AND 58% TO 2025 GOAL!
PCS SPONSOR ED HILL (RIGHT) WITH COLLEGE STUDENT SAM (LEFT) AT THE FALL CAMPUS VISIT IN OCTOBER 2024.
THANKS TO CURRENT PCS SPONSORS: DEE JAYE KURTA AND THE KURTA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP DAVID AND DEBORAH LEVINE THE GEORGE AND CATHERINE SIFRE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP SUSAN AND STEPHEN HIRSCH MOSS OAK SCHOLARSHIP AND SAWYER SAVINGS BANK FOR PLEDGING TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN 2025.
SUNYULSTERPRESIDENTSCHALLENGE.ORG
WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
IF YOU WANT TO HELP FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS ON THEIR COLLEGE JOURNEY STARTING IN 8TH GRADE, PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT'S CHALLENGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR 2025! FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF SPONSORS SUPPORTING THE UPCOMING 2025 AWARD YEAR, PLEASE SEE BELOW: JEAN LERNER (SPONSOR OF TEN STUDENTS - ONE ANNUALLY!) RUDY AND THE LATE JOYCE HELLENSCHMIDT (SPONSOR OF SEVEN STUDENTS - ONE ANNUALLY!) JOHNSON SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION (SPONSOR OF FOUR STUDENTS THIS YEAR - 23 STUDENTS TOTAL!) ELNA MAGNETICS (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - FIVE STUDENTS IN TOTAL) GARFIELD AND FERRARO FAMILIES MEMORIAL (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - FIVE STUDENTS IN TOTAL) FERRIDAY FUND (SPONSORING FOUR STUDENTS THIS YEAR - TWELVE STUDENTS TOTAL) NEW PALTZ ROTARY (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - SEVEN STUDENTS TOTAL) KIWANIS CLUB OF SAUGERTIES (SPONSORING TWO STUDENTS THIS YEAR - NINE STUDENTS TOTAL) IN MEMORY OF DRS. KENNETH AND MARIE-LOUISE JOHNSON SCHOLARSHIP C/O PAUL DELISIO (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - THREE STUDENTS TOTAL) IN HONOR OF KATHLEEN C. MIHM SCHOLARSHIP C/O PAUL DELISIO (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - THREE STUDENTS TOTAL) TRUSTEE EMERITUS JOHN J. WADLIN, ESQ. AND VIVIAN WADLIN IN HONOR OF PRESIDENTS EMERITI BROWN, KATT, AND ROBERTS (NEW SPONSOR) MELINDA AND GERARD LAMARCHE'S DO SOME GOOD FUND (NEW SPONSOR) LISA ST. JOHN (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - TWO STUDENTS TOTAL) KINGSTON ROTARY CLUB (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - THREE STUDENTS TOTAL) KURTA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP C/O DEE JAYE KURTA (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - THREE STUDENTS TOTAL) DAVID AND DEBORAH LEVINE (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - TWO STUDENTS TOTAL) GEORGE AND CATHERINE SIFRE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - SIX STUDENTS TOTAL) SUSAN & STEPHEN HIRSH (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - FIVE STUDENTS TOTAL) MOSS OAK SCHOLARSHIP (SPONSORING THREE STUDENTS THIS YEAR - FIVE STUDENTS TOTAL) SAWYER SAVINGS BANK (SPONSORING ONE STUDENT THIS YEAR - FOUR STUDENTS TOTAL) TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT STARTING IN THE 8TH GRADE, VISIT THE PCS DONOR INFORMATION PAGE AT SUNYULSTER.EDU/FOUNDATION OR CALL 845.687.5093. WE PLAN TO AWARD 50 SCHOLARSHIPS THIS SPRING!
PCS STUDENT TAKES PART IN ANNUAL READER'S THEATER EVENT
PCS student Jahmelia James (right) and her Oral Interpretation classmates pose for a photo with Professor Mary Tarcza (seated) after their final script performance in December 2024 in the Quimby Theater.
SUNY Ulster students from last semester's Oral Interpretation class, including PCS student Jahmelia, assembled for their annual Reader's Theater event. Students created and performed a script for their final project. The performance features a compilation of familiar songs, stories, and quotes woven together to reflect life. Thanks to Professor Mary Tarcza for leading this enjoyable performance and opening it up to the campus community!
SUNYULSTER.EDU/FOUNDATION
SUNYULSTERPRESIDENTSCHALLENGE.ORG
SAUGERTIES HIGH SCHOOL PCS HITS THE ICE THIS WINTER!
Saugerties High School PCS students and Club Advisor Melissa Chahanovich (second from the left) take a break from college planning for fun and camaraderie on the ice!
On January 7th, PCS College Coach Christine Castellana and Saugerties High School (SHS) Club Advisor Melissa Chahanovich teamed up to offer a fun engagement for SHS PCS students at Kiwanis Ice Arena! This outing has become an annual activity for Saugerties students to bond with each other in a non-academic setting, while still building skills useful to college and future careers. Thanks to the Ulster Savings Bank Charitable Foundation for supporting the PCS student experience!
PCSPRESS.ORG
SUNYULSTER.EDU/FOUNDATION
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