Hudson Valley Students Honored at Foundation Scholarship Celebration
May 13, 2025
The annual Hudson Valley Community College Foundation Scholarship Celebration was held on Thursday, May 1, 2025. The ceremony formally recognized students who were awarded scholarships by the Foundation during the 2024-25 academic year, during which time the Foundation provided scholarships and awards totaling $593,014 to 372 students.
Close to 200 donors, students, family and friends attended the celebratory luncheon and heard remarks from college and Foundation officials, as well as students and alumni who shared stories of the positive impact of the scholarships and awards they received.
Alum Ryan Smithson ’08 was in attendance at the event to speak on the impact scholarship support had on his educational journey. Smithson attended Hudson Valley after serving as an engineer in the Army Reserve in Iraq, and was inspired by an assignment in Professor Maria Pollock’s creative writing class to author a book about his experiences.
“Thank you to HVCC for your huge impact on my life, and for the work you do every day to inspire and guide the students in our community,” said Smithson. “Following 9/11, service to my country became an important part of my life. While enrolled at HVCC, however, I also began serving my community in organizations like Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and I received the John L. Buono Award for Civic Engagement. This further encouraged me to stay involved with my community and set up roots, when a big part of me also wanted to withdraw and isolate. Even though I felt alone for the first couple years at home, the recognition from HVCC and especially from Professor Pollack proved to be life-changing.”
“A scholarship isn’t just financial assistance; it’s a recognition of hard work, unlimited potential, and a brilliance that each of our students brings to the world,” said Foundation Executive Director Derek Martin in his remarks at the event. “All of our scholarships are given to lend a hand, to support and encourage our students towards success. Many of our scholarships are made to inspire and empower students on a given career path. Many are given in memory of, or in honor of, a special person – someone who made a difference. But each one is a legacy that lives on in our students as they go forward to shape a better future.”
Each academic year, the Hudson Valley Community College Foundation offers scholarship opportunities that make a college degree even more affordable. Scholarships are sometimes designated for students in a particular academic program or from a certain geographic area. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Foundation is always expanding scholarship opportunities. If you would like to contribute to an existing scholarship or to create a new scholarship fund, contact the Foundation at (518) 629-8012 or visit the Support/Start a Scholarships webpage.