Excluding the especially eager students, most middle and high schoolers are not planning and preparing for their college careers until late in the game. Reaching higher education can be especially tricky for children who plan to be the first in their family to graduate from college.

That’s where SUNY Ulster’s President’s Challenge (PC) program comes in. Over the past few years, the college has recruited eighth graders from across the county to be mentored and financially supported with college preparation and applications. As the June selection for a new crop of program kids approaches, the college will have supported nearly 200 local youths since its inception. Mia, a Rondout Valley student whose last name was not provided, was among the first students to enroll in the program.

“People have walked out on me in my life,” she said in a video on the college’s website, “so I am really happy that, as people walk out, there are more people that walk in who believe in me.”

The program was founded in 2016 by Dr. Alan P. Roberts, president of the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc (UCCF). While it started off small, the program has expanded to reach numerous local school districts, including Onteora, Kingston, Rondout Valley, Highland, Wallkill, Ellenville, Marlboro, New Paltz and Saugerties. The program was initially funded by the Johnson Scholarship Foundation of West Palm Beach, Florida, and has received continued support from generous community donors.

“We're looking to help students whose parents or guardians may not be as focused on or even know how to guide them through the path,” said Lorraine Salmon, executive director of institutional advancement and external relations for UCCF. “By coming back and forth to our college during the year, they kind of embody going to college and get used to the idea. When they graduate, it's a little less intimidating.”

Groups of students at each school are paired with PC mentors, who are already at most high schools to help older students think about college. These mentors watch over the students as they complete their high school career, offering guidance and support with their schoolwork and college search. Additionally, Salmon said that the students are bussed to the college twice a year to get a taste of the college experience. They are able to take college classes, get their own college ID card, explore the library, and even sit down for lunch with the college president. Donors and UCCF board members also attend to give motivational speeches and share life lessons. Once the students graduate through the PC program, they are awarded a two-year scholarship to SUNY Ulster.

Additionally, students have the opportunity to earn college credits through SUNY Ulster’s “Collegian Program.” Each school district hosts teachers who are able to teach college courses; PC students who have the necessary grades to enroll in these classes will have their tuition paid for them.

“We like to think that we’re reaching students who might not otherwise be thinking about [college], and we reach them early, and get them to really think about their future and how they might want to [explore college] when they're in 11th and 12th grade,” Salmon said.

The PC program is far from a handout, as students must prove their academic abilities and dedication to learning before they are accepted. One of the main requirements is that the students must be first-generation college students. However, students whose parents enrolled in a semester of college, but did not graduate, still qualify for the program. Salmon explained that the students’ backgrounds are often verified by seeing if they receive free or discounted lunches. On top of that, eligible students must have an 80 percent cumulative grade point average (GPA) in eighth grade, a 75 percent GPA in their core classes (e.g. math, science, and English) through mid-April of eighth grade, and at least an 85 percent attendance rate at school. Students must also have little history of discipline at the school.

Once students fill out their applications, a board at their school district will choose a group of 10 students to be interviewed by the college. From that, five students from each district are chosen to participate. If a chosen PC student decides to leave the district, their scholarship money is given to the denied students who remain on a wait list.

“The students are able to rise above what I would call extraordinary hardship, and center themselves long enough to sit in a room with adults and tell their stories succinctly,” Salmon said. “And often with such compassion for the hardship that they're in rather than angry.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Salmon said the college has not been able to invite these high schoolers to the campus. While the college held several online sessions to replace the visit for PC students, it’s difficult to reach 100 percent participation without the personal connection that was once offered. Generally speaking, Salmon said the program has been able to operate and make progress as usual. She said the college is keeping tabs on PC students’ progress and is looking forward to welcoming them back to the campus, hopefully, in the fall.

Despite the past four years of success, the program still relies heavily on financial support from the community. In the first two weeks of June, the 2021 PC class interview will be underway, meaning 45 students will need sponsors to pay for the program. Folks can make a one-time donation of $7,200 to support a PC student through four years of the program, which costs $1,800 per year. Donors are encouraged to sponsor students with their friends: three donors could support a student for only $450 a year, per person. According to the college, 18 students still need sponsors for the 2021 program year. You can learn more about becoming a donor by visiting bit.ly/3toTHrv.