SUNY Oswego student Isanere Nunez is a second-semester senior in the School of Education and recipient of the Vakirtzis Family Scholarship, Father Robert E. Hall Memorial Scholarship, Harold E. Morse '61 Family Scholarship and the R.E.A.C.H. Scholarship.
The deadline to apply for Oswego scholarship opportunities for the 2023-24 academic year is Monday, Feb. 5. The Oswego College Foundation and Oswego Alumni Association provide more than 900 scholarships and awards, totaling more than $1.5 million every year.
Two SUNY Oswego students, Isanere Nunez and Aiden Wilson, shared what made them apply for the scholarships they received and how earning this financial assistance impacted their education.
Isanere Nunez, a second-semester senior in the School of Education from Hamilton Heights, received the Vakirtzis Family Scholarship, Father Robert E. Hall Memorial Scholarship, Harold E. Morse '61 Family Scholarship and the R.E.A.C.H. Scholarship.
As a first-generation college student who also went to a small high school with few resources, Nunez shared that she felt ill-prepared for college. Not only that, but she was struggling financially and even had to take a semester off because she wasn’t able to afford school.
"My freshman year I couldn’t really focus on classes as much as I should have because I was trying to get a job, making sure I had money to get back home, pay for books, I couldn’t focus and give my one hundred percent attention to what I needed to," said Nunez. “I was also just trying to get used to college… It was to the point where I actually failed class that semester. And that was really hard for me because I thought ‘maybe college is not for me.’”
Nunez had never applied to Oswego scholarship opportunities because she assumed she would not be selected after struggling academically her freshman year. However, once she got a part-time job and was able to focus more on her studies, she decided to apply anyway.
“Once you’re out of survival mode, you realize you can actually do well and enjoy your classes,” said Nunez. "I applied to a few scholarships and it covered a lot… and I didn’t have to request more loans. I realized wow, I actually like school and I think this is for me and I’m glad I made it through. So those scholarships really changed a lot of how I’m living my experience right now as a college student.”
Aiden Wilson, a first-semester senior in the School of Business and international student from the Bahamas, was selected to receive the Timothy ‘02 and Andrea Barnhart Emerging Leaders Scholarship.
“For me, it meant a lot to even be selected for a scholarship. I’m an international student and when I saw [I was selected] I was surprised,” said Wilson. “To have it cover part of my tuition makes this a lot less stressful… It was just a reminder that I’m doing the right thing.”
Before Wilson received this opportunity, he believed what he suspects others do as well, that he would not be selected. He encourages others to at least apply.
“[When I went to apply] I thought ‘you’re not gonna get it,’ but I also thought there’s nothing to lose,” said Wilson. “I experienced the same thing when I applied to be an RA. I thought there was no way I was going to get it… But I put in my application and it led to me getting the position… One day I just thought I might as well give it a shot, and I ended up getting it.”
Those who are interested in applying to Oswego scholarship opportunities can do so on the scholarship website.