News
August 15, 2018SUNY Schenectady County Community College Smart Scholars Backpack Giveaway
The Junior League of Schenectady and Saratoga Counties handed out backpacks filled with school supplies to members of SUNY Schenectady County Community College’s (SUNY Schenectady) Smart Scholars program yesterday. This event, which is part of the League’s Operation-Back-To-School Initiative, was held in the Van Curler Room at SUNY Schenectady. The Smart Scholars program is a partnership between SUNY Schenectady and Schenectady High School, which allows high school students to take college courses.
This project is made possible through community grants, individual member contributions, and in-kind donations. This year, the backpacks and supplies for the students entering 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade were donated, in part, by Stewart’s Holiday Match, WGY’s Christmas Wish, and Junior League member donations.
“Operation Back-to-School initiative, which was established in 2003, continues to build on our legacy of building a better community by providing more than 10,000 students with school supplies since its inception. In 2010, we began our partnership with SUNY Schenectady’s Smart Scholars program and have provided almost 2,500 filled backpacks to the Smart Scholar Students. The members of the Junior League and our sponsors believe that when a student begins the year prepared, they begin the year prepared to succeed. We are proud to take part in this wonderful partnership which continues to enhance the education of Schenectady youth,” said Elissa Prout, Junior League President.
“We firmly believe that this collaboration between SUNY Schenectady and the Junior League is a perfect union of community partners,” said SUNY Schenectady Board of Trustees Chair Ann Fleming Brown. “It certainly is meaningful that more than 400 backpacks have been distributed over the past five years. The Junior League has been a long-time supporter of SUNY Schenectady through a scholarship and has supported the Smart Scholars initiative since its inception in September 2010, and we are very grateful.”
“The Smart Scholars Early College High School is one of the most extraordinary programs in New York State and an outstanding opportunity for Schenectady High School students to receive college credit while attending high school,” said SUNY Schenectady President Dr. Steady H. Moono. “We greatly appreciate this support from the Junior League of Schenectady and Saratoga Counties as they continue to help prepare these students for success through the League’s Operation Back-to- School program. The students are receiving resources including notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, highlighters, thumb drives and binders that will all contribute to helping them succeed.”
