Who are Say Yes Scholars?
Say Yes Scholars are Say Yes Syracuse Scholarship Guarantee eligible Syracuse City School District high school graduates who attend Say Yes Higher Education Compact partner colleges.
Throughout the year, Say Yes Syracuse hosts special networking and career development opportunities designed especially for our Say Yes Scholars. These events are made possible via collaboration from Say Yes Higher Education Compact partner colleges and local corporate and community partners. The events help unite and connect our Say Yes Scholars and local supporters in meaningful relationships that may lead to increased college persistence and increased access to internships and/or employment. If you, or your company/organization, would like to help support our Scholars in this way, please contact Kristi Eck, Education Program Director, at keck@syr.edu.
The Say Yes Scholar Portal launched November 5, 2012! This online portal enables the Scholars to better connect with Say Yes Syracuse and, in return, allow Say Yes Syracuse to better serve and communicate with our Scholars. The Portal serves as a future alumni portal/database so Say Yes Scholars and Say Yes can easily continue to remain in contact with Say Yes Syracuse after earning their college degree. We look forward to seeing our Say Yes Scholars serve as future mentors, leaders, and internship/employment providers to our younger Say Yes Scholars, creating a legacy of reciprocal support and advancement within the Say Yes Scholar family. Our first four-year college Say Yes Scholar cohort will graduate in Spring 2013; we can’t wait to honor and celebrate them!
If you are a Say Yes Scholar and you have not signed up for the Say Yes Scholar Portal, please take 5 minutes to Create a New Account and sign up today! Your Portal application will then be reviewed and approved and you will be emailed to confirm that your account has been approved and ready for full use!
A Pre-College Program for our Say Yes Scholars: Summer Success Academy
Say Yes to Education and Onondaga Community College (OCC) partnered together for the second year to offer a 5-week Summer Success Academy (SSA) program at OCC. The SSA program, piloted in 2011, was created to prepare students for the challenges of college life. This year's program began July 6th and ended on August 10, 2012. SSA students took OCC courses, received academic support from tutors and mentors, and got a jump-start on college life and academic studies. SSA students enrolled in a total of 3 college courses including at least 1 developmental course and a 1 credit introduction to college course. The college life course oriented students to OCC services, college life, and introduced them to study skills they could learn to be academically successful at OCC and beyond. Through this program, SSA students had an opportunity to make new friends who share their motivation, desire to succeed, and intent to have an amazing and one-of-a-kind summer experience. SSA 2012 was fully funded by Say Yes to Education and OCC.
2013 Summer Success Academy - Apply TODAY!
If you are a SCSD senior graduating this spring, or your graduated from a SCSD high school in spring 2012, you are planning to enroll at either Onondaga Community College or SUNY Morrisville this fall 2013, AND you interested in attending the 2013 Summer Success Academy, please email Kristi Eck (Say Yes Syracuse Education Program Director) at keck@syr.edu. The 2013 Academy will take place at Onondaga Community College from July 8-August 16, 2103. Applications are currently being accepted. Please apply as soon as possible! The early deadline closed on April 10, 2013; however, there are still a few spots left!
Questions about Say Yes Scholarships and/or College?
Please visit this website’s "College Scholarships" section for detailed information on Say Yes Scholarships, eligibility, partner colleges, and the application process. Thank you.
2012-2013 Say Yes Scholar Events
Please be sure to “Like” us on Facebook, join the Say Yes to Education group on LinkedIn, and check this website often for future events and/or opportunities.
May 29, 2012: “Meet the Founder” Reception with Say Yes to Education, Inc. Founder: George Weiss, Say Yes community and corporate partners, and Say Yes Scholars at Say Yes Syracuse office.
May 30, 2012: Say Yes Scholar, Jaquiel Ash (Monroe Community College, '12) spoke at the Say Yes to Education Young Authors Series Book Premiere Party at McKinley Brighton School
June 11-15, 2012: Summer Institute Training for Youth Enrichment Specialists hired to work in Say Yes Summer Camps. 80 Say Yes Scholars were hired to work in Say Yes Summer Camp and participated in the week’s comprehensive training and skill development program.
June 20, 2012: Saks Off 5th Avenue VIP Fundraising Night at Destiny USA to support the Say Yes Scholarship fund. Say Yes Scholar, Jaznea Brumfield, provided remarks at the event as she was joined by other Say Yes Scholars and Say Yes team members.
June 25, 2012: CenterState CEO Golf Tournament at Turning Stone Resort - a portion of the event's proceeds were donated to the Say Yes Scholarship fund. 5 Say Yes Scholars joined Say Yes staff at the event and luncheon.
July 2, 2012: 80 Say Yes Scholars began working as Youth Enrichment Specialists in Say Yes Summer Camps. The Say Yes Summer Camp was free to Syracuse City School District (SCSD) students in grades K-5. Camp was 6 hours per day, including free breakfast and lunch and held session from July 2-August 9, 2012.
July 6, 2012: Summer Success Academy (SSA) Alumni Panel at Onondaga Community College. 2011 Summer Success Academy graduates, Abdi Ali and Iaja Williams, helped lead the alumni student panel as they spoke about their experiences in the 2011 SSA and the benefits their participation in the SSA provided them throughout their first year of college.
July 7, 2012: 2012 Summer Success Academy cohort enjoyed a team building day on lower and upper ropes courses at Orenda Springs in Marcellus, NY. Thanks again to the professional, engaging Orenda Springs staff for an amazing, memorable day!
July 9, 2012: First day of Summer Success Academy classes at Onondaga Community College for 29 Say Yes Scholars.
July 9-August 10, 2012: Summer Success Academy at Onondaga Community College
July 9, 2012: Vinh Ho, a Say Yes Scholar majoring in urban policy and planning at University of Pennsylvania, began a 5 week internship with Say Yes Syracuse under the supervision of Education Program Director, Kristi Eck.
July 14, 2012: Say Yes Scholars Adrianna Benton (Herkimer County Community College 2011 graduate) and Ke’Sean Lyons (current Scholar at Fashion Institute of Technology) held the “Young Designer’s Fashion Show” at the Red House Arts Center from 2:30-4:30 and 5:30-7:30.
August 2, 2012: Mayor Miner’s Summer Meetings Series (Burnet Park).
August 7, 2012: Mayor Miner’s Summer Meetings Series (Thornden Park).
August 9, 2012: Mayor Miner’s Summer Meetings Series (McKinley Park).
August 10, 2012: Say Yes Scholar Back-to-College Ice Cream Social & Resume Workshop with corporate and community partners. Say Yes Syracuse corporate partners volunteered their time at the event to provide one-on-one resume conferences with the Scholars. Thank you to our volunteers for helping our Say Yes Scholars be prepared to return to college with a fresh resume after a summer of hard work!
August 16, 2012: Mayor Miner’s Summer Meetings Series (McChesney Park).
August 23, 2012: Say Yes Syracuse Scholars, Arielle Kaigler-Hall (Medaille College) and Teneia Walker (Buffalo State), spoke on behalf of Say Yes Syracuse Scholars at the Say Yes to Education Buffalo Press Conference to celebrate the launch of Say Yes Buffalo. We look forward to having Say Yes Buffalo Scholars join our Syracuse Scholars in the future!
November 16, 2012: Say Yes Scholar and 2012 Summer Success Academy graduate, Marissa Williams (Onondaga Community College), joined Say Yes Syracuse, Onondaga Community College (OCC), and Bank of America leadership and spoke on behalf of Say Yes Scholars at the press conference to thank Bank of America for the $10,000 donation given to help support the 2013 Summer Success Academy.
January 8, 2013: Say Yes Scholar Career & Networking Fair held at Say Yes Syracuse offices
February 13, 2013: Say Yes Scholars attending Syracuse University: Paola Benevento and Bilal Bey served as co-keynote speakers at the Corporate Volunteer Council's (CVC) 2013 Signature Project Kick-Off event at King+King Architects in Syracuse, NY. Say Yes Syracuse was selected by the CVC to be their non-profit of choice for the 2013 year for community service and corporate engagement projects! Our Say Yes Scholars and K-12 students look forward to engaging with CVC members representing over 40 local corporations and businesses over the coming months.
March 5, 2013: Say Yes to Education 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City! 10 Say Yes Syracuse Scholars representing Syracuse University, Medaille College, Buffalo State College, Le Moyne College, New York University, and the Fashion Institute of Technology, attended the Gala thanks to the generosity of Bob and Sue Congel who sponsored their table!
March 6, 2013: Say Yes Scholars: Megan Reynolds, Tevin Martin, Vasiliy Pechenny, and Tila Rizal joined Say Yes Syracuse's Director of Operations, Education Program Director, and Scholarship Director to present on behalf of Say Yes Syracuse at the annual New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYTAP) Youth Conference in Albany, NY.
April 9, 2013: HW Smith K-8 School 8th grade students visited Syracuse University to tour the campus, have lunch in a dining hall, meet an Admissions Representative, learn about Say Yes Syracuse Scholarship opportunities, and enjoy a keynote speech from Dean Biklen, School of Education. Say Yes Scholars attending Syracuse University: Bilal Bey, Megan Reynolds, Tevin Martin, and Jameel Shareef were amazing, inspiring speakers who served as panelists. They encouraged the rising Say Yes Scholars to do their best in the remainder of their 8th grade year, challenge themselves, pursue opportunities presented to them, and surround themselves by a positive peer group throughout their high school years and beyond. Great advice, Scholars!
Stay tuned for more upcoming events in May!
