Visions Federal Credit Union (VFCU) created a scholarship for SUNY Oswego part-time, non-traditional/adult learner students enrolled at our Syracuse campus.
The scholarship, awarded each semester to two deserving students, provides financial support to empower, motivate and encourage them to continue on their path to earn their bachelor’s degrees.
“It is with great pleasure that VFCU can support these students who have multiple responsibilities including full time jobs, family obligations, among other challenges that face them as they pursue higher education," said VFCU Community Director Sarah Parton. "Many of their challenges reach past those of a traditional student who may reside on campus and are primarily full-time students only.”
Two students received awards in fall 2020 and two students received the awards in spring 2021.
The winners are:
- Fall 2020 – Debbie DeJesus, a criminal justice major who has aspirations of becoming a probation/parole officer or prison counselor
- Fall 2020 – Shayla Skipp, a human development major who hopes to someday continue on to graduate school and obtain a master's in psychology; she enjoys helping people with special needs and is a mentor to adults with disabilities
- Spring 2021 - Chase Randall, a criminal justice major who is graduating this semester, and who was especially thrilled to receive the award as it helps him to finalize his final semester with less worries of financing; Chase plans to follow in the footsteps of his family and begin a career in law or law enforcement
- Spring 2021 - Nychelle Thomas, a human development major whose passion is working with children, is currently is a front-end leader at Upstate Pediatric Primary Care; one of her future goals is to become a counselor within the Syracuse City School District
“We are very pleased and appreciative that Visions Federal Credit Union continues to support our non-traditional students," said SUNY Oswego Syracuse Campus Director Reginald T. Braggs. "These students who are parents, working jobs, taking care of their parents/grandparents, among other responsibilities have very few scholarship opportunities.”