Paul Smith's College launches Summit Scholars scholarship program

Scholarship aims to increase access to higher education for residents of the Adirondacks

by Jeff Macharyas

Paul Smiths, NY (10/29/2024) — Paul Smith's College announced the launch of the Summit Scholars program on October 28, 2024-a scholarship initiative aimed at supporting high school graduates within the Adirondack Park.

Beginning in fall 2025, fifty Summit Scholars scholarships will be available to deserving students. Through generous donations to Paul Smith's College, the Summit Scholars program will increase access to higher education for Adirondack residents who aspire to earn a four-year degree.

College attainment may seem out of reach for some Adirondack families. In fact, the college-going rate for high school graduates in the Adirondack Park counties is significantly lower than the state average, with some counties seeing rates as low as 50%.

According to data from the New York State Education Department, the college enrollment rate for high school graduates in Franklin County is only 44%, significantly below the state average. This scholarship program is designed to address this gap and enhance educational attainment in the region, ultimately, contributing to a stronger local economy.

Starting in fall 2024, the Summit Scholars program offers 10 scholarships of $10,000 each to eligible students. The goal of this scholarship is to:

• Drive increased retention of the region's youth by equipping them with ready skills, education and leadership
• Foster the region's future innovators, entrepreneurs, stewards and engaged citizens
• Create a pathway for greater economic well-being for succeeding generations

With Summit Scholars, a high-need student who benefits from TAP and Pell Grants may be eligible for full tuition assistance of $10,000, with Paul Smith's College meeting the gap with its own Summit Grant. This means students contribute as little as $2,500 per year, enabling them to graduate without student loans.

A select list of high schools within the Adirondack Park have been identified as eligible to nominate Summit Scholars for the fall 2025 class. Paul Smith's College hosted an event announcing which schools will get a Summit Scholar on October 28, 2024 at the school's library.

"We are deeply grateful to our donors for their vision and generosity," said Dan Kelting, president of Paul Smith's College. "This scholarship will make a significant difference in the lives of our students and the future of our region."

About Paul Smith's College: At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year college located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We are able to draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provide experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at paulsmiths.edu.

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