SUNY Fredonia to provide a scholarship for one student in every school district in the county
Individual merit-based scholarships – each valued at $6,000 – at the State University of New York at Fredonia have now been designated for a high school senior in every school district throughout Chautauqua County for the 2024-2025 academic year.
The President’s Award of Excellence scholarship, announced by President Stephen H. Kolison Jr. at the October meeting of the Chautauqua County School Boards Association, recognizes outstanding academic performance and will support non-tuition expenses, such as fees, room and board and books.
We are making available close to half a million dollars over the next four years to support this initiative. We are excited to partner with local school districts to make higher education more affordable.” - SUNY Fredonia President Stephen H. Kolison Jr.
A student’s eligibility for receiving other needs-based financial aid will not be reduced as a result of receiving the President’s Award of Excellence scholarship.
"I am delighted to make these special President’s Award of Excellence scholarships available to deserving students throughout our home base of Chautauqua County. These $6,000 academic year scholarships are renewable, hence a student from every school district in the region can receive a total of $24,000 over a four-year period to defray the cost of a college education at SUNY Fredonia,” said President Kolison.
Scholarship recipients must be enrolled full-time, maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA and reside in a university residence hall or townhouse.
“We are proud to have received the President’s Award of Excellence Scholarship,” said Sylvester Cleary, president of the Chautauqua County School Boards Association. “This scholarship will enable one student from every district in Chautauqua County to receive funds to pursue their college education at SUNY Fredonia. It will help our students achieve their academic and career goals and make a positive impact on the world.”
A total of 20 scholarships – one for each school district in the county, including BOCES, with two for the larger Jamestown, NY, school district – will be made available to a first-year student enrolling at SUNY Fredonia. Each school district will select its scholarship recipient. A new round of scholarships will be awarded each year.
Close to a half-million dollars will be available over the next four years to support this initiative, Dr. Kolison noted.
“We are excited to partner with local school districts to make higher education more affordable,” Kolison said. “I am looking forward to welcoming to Fredonia the 20 recipients of these special scholarships from throughout Chautauqua County in Fall 2024.” Kolison presented the actual certificates to members of the CCSBA board at their meeting.
The scholarship is truly important to students living in the county, said Raymond Fashano, the CCSBA’s executive director. “This scholarship gives a student from each school district a great opportunity for a successful career learning from a prestigious institution such as SUNY Fredonia,” Mr. Fashano said.
“We feel honored that Dr. Kolison is standing up for public education, reaching out to our community through CCSBA, providing opportunity, and leadership so together we can better our best,” Mr. Cleary added.
