Yerelin Garcia of the Bronx travels to Albany with Paul Smith's College students to advocate for student financial aid programs

2014 Feb 20

Yerelin Garcia of the Bronx joined hundreds of college students from across New York State at the capitol building in Albany to advocate for support of student financial aid programs as part of the New York Student Aid Alliance Advocacy Day on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Garcia is a student at Paul Smith's College.

In addition to attending a rally at the Empire State Plaza, Garcia and the other Paul Smith's students met with state Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, R-Peru, and state Sen. Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury, to share their personal stories, advocate for aid programs and thank them for their support.

Garcia was among students from more than 45 institutions who shared stories about the value of student aid programs, including the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), Grad TAP, the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), the Science and Technology Entry program (STEP/C-STEP) and the Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP).

The event was sponsored by the New York Student Aid Alliance, a coalition of public and private campuses, their students and stakeholder organizations who support vital student aid programs for students in New York State.

Laura L. Anglin, President of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, the statewide association for more than 100 private, not-for-profit New York State colleges and universities that coordinates the New York Student Aid Alliance, said, "Students by the hundreds came to Albany to share their stories. They talked with state legislators and with each other about how critical investments in state student aid programs are making their aspirations for a higher education possible, and how we will all benefit from their earning a college degree."

Each year, more than 370,000 students depend on state student aid programs to achieve their college aspirations. More than five million New York State students have received state aid to help meet their college expenses over the past four decades.

ABOUT PAUL SMITH'S COLLEGE

At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. We are the only four-year institution of higher education in the Adirondack Park of New York State. Our experientially based programs, in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences, draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere.

For more information: www.paulsmiths.edu.