Growing scholarship program inspires students, donors

PLATTSBURGH | The growth of the Plattsburgh College Foundation's North Country Scholarship Program has resulted in record-high investment in the region's rising stars attending SUNY Plattsburgh. In fall 2023, the foundation awarded a total of $463,000 in scholarships through the program, which rewards top graduates of high schools in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties by providing up to four years of assistance toward the cost of attending SUNY Plattsburgh. Of that funding, named scholarships, sponsored by area businesses and individuals, accounted for $81,250, up from $71,250 in fall 2021, when a total of $408,000 in scholarships were awarded. In addition, the number of first-year North Country Scholars alone has steadily risen from 65 in fall 2021 to 70 in fall 2022 and 77 in fall 2023. Scholarship Continues to Grow "The North Country Scholarship program has continued to grow over the past several years," said SUNY Plattsburgh Director of Annual Giving Paula Bachman '06 G'08, who oversees the program. "The response from local businesses, community members, alumni and friends is increasing, and there is an eagerness to invest in the North Country and our future leaders. "Our efforts truly empower young people," she said. "While we are helping to continue their education, we are also deepening their roots in the community so that when they graduate from SUNY Plattsburgh, they are ready to enter the workforce and enhance North Country businesses. It's exciting." For some students, like SUNY Plattsburgh sophomore Ethan Blaise, receiving a North Country Scholarship is what makes pursuing higher education possible. "College today is just so expensive, so having that support financially is really important; it's one of the biggest reasons why I chose to go on to further education," said the Peru, N.Y., native, who is double majoring in political science and Latin American studies. "If I would have had to take out a lot of student loans, I don't think that would have been a path for me." Values Education Blaise is the recipient of one of four named North Country Scholarships sponsored by Plattsburgh resident Nancy Olsen, who credits her support of the program to her belief in the value of education. "As a retired teacher, I know how important education is in all different fields," said the native of Rochester, N.Y., who moved to Plattsburgh in 1967 and taught at the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base Northside Elementary School. She said that although college isn't for everyone, it's important to support those who wish to pursue higher education. "Too many kids have loans, and the way things are now, the interest is higher than the loan at the end," Olsen said. One of the program's newest named-scholarship benefactors, Dannemora Federal Credit Union, views its support as an investment in the future of North Country communities. The organization will sponsor its first scholar in fall 2024. 'Wanted to Give Back' "We knew that the next generation of leaders is coming from these college students, so we wanted to give back to them in a way that would positively affect their education and future roles in our community," said DFCU Business Development and Marketing Manager Anna Channell and Director of Digital Services and Innovation Bradley Currie in a joint statement. "We hope the sponsored scholar understands that with the support, we want nothing more than for them to succeed in both their education and desired professional roles. We aspire that the graduates will thrive right here in our North Country communities," they said. For Blaise, who hopes to attend law school after SUNY Plattsburgh and eventually become an attorney, having the opportunity to connect with Olsen and other North Country Scholars and benefactors at annual gatherings like May's North Country Celebration makes the support that much more meaningful. 'Feel the Impact' "That's one of the special parts about the scholarship — the fact that you get to meet and know the person who is invested in your future, and it really creates that sense of unity," he said. "You feel the impact of somebody investing in you." Blaise first met Olsen, an avid skier, while in his first year at Plattsburgh. Though he hasn't yet accepted the invitation to join her on the slopes —he's "a little too scared" of skiing — Blaise said he has a lot of respect for Olsen and finds her inspirational. "I really do feel like I'm honored to have her as a sponsor," he said. For more information about the North Country Scholarship Program, visit www.plattsburgh.edu/ncs.

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Growing scholarship program inspires students, donors

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