Our goal through this comprehensive campaign is to raise an ambitious $145 million in scholarship funding that will enable HWS to attract and retain the most gifted and promising scholars, athletes, artists and leaders, regardless of their financial circumstances, and to allow them to graduate and enter the workforce without the burden of excessive debt.
Preparing Students to Lead Lives of Consequence
In this video, students share the transformative experiences that shaped their HWS education and set the trajectory for their futures.
Trustee Mehrnaz “Naz” Vahid-Ahdieh '85, P'17 came to the U.S. to escape the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Her recent gift establishes a scholarship to support students who have also come to the U.S. as refugees or immigrants.
Our relationship-rich academic experience positions HWS as an ideal place for students to learn and grow. Increased scholarship support will continue to make this education a possibility for exceptional students like the scholars below.
Biruk Nardos Abebe '25
Dr. Harold C. '56 and Mrs. Donna C. '57 Britt Endowed Scholarship in Physics
Biruk Nardos Abebe '25 has been developing a research project exploring “water world” exoplanets, combining his interests in physics, astronomy and computer science. In January 2024, he presented his findings at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) conference in New Orleans.
Kayla Powers '24 is the president of HWS Debate. Powers made their second appearance at the World University Debating Championship in 2024 after an historic finish in 2023. Last year, Powers and partner Sreyan Kanungo '23 became the first HWS team to win an elimination round in the open division, advancing all the way to the octofinals.
Matthew Brand '24 completed an internship last summer with Citigroup's Global Wealth Management Division. Brand will return to Citi in New York City post-graduation as a Private Banking Analyst. “Citi has such a team-oriented and welcoming culture. They truly want everyone to succeed because team success means company success. I couldn't be happier to be a part of that and to contribute toward maintaining that standard,” he says.
Student Trustee Samari Brown '24 was named to the All In Campus Democracy Challenge Honor Roll for her dedication to increase voter engagement and turnout at HWS. The honor roll recognizes only 175 student leaders nationwide who “have gone above and beyond to advance nonpartisan student voter registration, education and turnout efforts in their communities.”
Marjorie Plants '25 is spending a semester abroad in the Czech Republic. The recipient of a competitive U.S Department of State 2024 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Plants is studying at Charles University's Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education.
Hunter Meshanic '25 recently attended the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Syracuse Education Conference with Professor of Psychological Science Jamie Bodenlos and fellow students. Alongside licensed professionals, service providers, and advocates, HWS students delved into critical topics such as adolescent suicide, domestic violence, substance abuse, self-care, and the role of peers and family in helping others, as well as crisis response strategies.
Joseph A Romano '82 in honor of Samuel Yamashita Scholarship
Student Trustee Jesse Whelan-Small ’24 is one of only four students in the Class of 2024 to be inducted to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. Whelan-Small earned the highest honor of Phi Beta Kappa by demonstrating excellent academic standing, breadth of academic studies and intellectual curiosity. On campus, Whelan-Small is a Research Assistant with Professor of Sociology Wes Perkins and and is a member of the Druid Society.
Ainsley Woods '24 has secured a position as an associate consultant at Mastercard in New York City after graduation. Woods completed an internship with the corporation in the summer between her junior and senior years at HWS. Through the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education, Woods was connected to alumni who work or have worked for the company before the internship began.
Alexandra Davidson '24 coauthored a new study revealing how ultraviolet light suppresses the bacteria that causes fire blight, which can decimate apple and pear harvests. Davidson, a biochemistry major, began her research at Cornell AgriTech in 2022 as a summer lab technician. In the summer of 2023, she returned to continue working in the lab of Kerik Cox, an associate professor at Cornell's School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section.
During the 2023-24 academic year, HWS awarded more than $70 million in financial aid to our students. About $7 million came through income generated from philanthropic support. A gift in support of endowed and/or current use scholarships ensures we can provide students with an exceptional education that allows them to focus on their futures.
