Scholarship Circle, 2023

Students whose lives you are changing skidmore.edu/scholarshipcircle SCHOLARSHIP CIRCLE

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

To lead lives of consequence. That is the goal of the Skidmore education—to provide Skidmore students with the opportunity to realize their ambitions and to fulfill their dreams. To provide our life-changing education to every student who is equal to the challenge, no matter their financial standing or capacity. This commitment enables Skidmore to create a community that is talented, ambitious, eager to learn, and diverse in every way.

As the need for financial assistance continues to rise, Skidmore cannot currently fund all deserving and talented students who apply for aid. This is a hard truth. But funded scholarships, like yours, make it possible for students to avail themselves of the full Skidmore education, which, to me, is as noble an undertaking as I can imagine. This is why scholarship aid is an essential strategic priority for the College, and will remain so for the long term.

Your support of scholarships is critical to providing talented students the education to lead lives of consequence, benefiting our graduates, our College, and ultimately our world. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your generosity.

– Marc C. Conner

These students represent a wide range of interests and passions. Chosen from more than 1,400 students who receive financial aid from Skidmore College, each has had a unique Skidmore experience and will leave the College ready to create change in their communities and around the world. Currently, over 52% of our students receive financial aid at Skidmore. These opportunities would not be possible without your generosity.

Thank you for your support of scholarships at Skidmore.

View profiles and updates personally posted by these students at: skidmore.edu/scholarshipcircle

SCHOLARSHIP CIRCLE

You have made a significant impact on the lives of the six outstanding students profiled here. We are grateful for your support of the Skidmore Scholarship Circle.

VICKY GRIJALVA ’24 FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

Self-determined multimedia communications major. Thoroughbred Ambassador. Dancer. Summer Experience Fund internship recipient. Former residential assistant. Social media assistant for communications. Junior class president. SGA residential life assistant.

I am a first-generation Latina student. My parents immigrated from Nicaragua to the United States to provide a better life for my little sister and me. They never had the opportunity to go to college.

I chose Skidmore, a college where I have had opportunities to discover various academic interests to help determine my major. Originally, I wanted to double-major in theater and psychology, but that path changed as I explored different courses, and I am now a self-determined major in multimedia communication. The support I have received from my advisors and professors at Skidmore has been incredible.

I am involved in the Student Government Association as the junior class president and the Residential Life Commission chair. I enjoy serving in these leadership roles because they allow me to give back to the Skidmore community. I am also a Thoroughbred Ambassador Admissions tour guide, which has been a fun experience. I enjoy meeting prospective students and telling them about all the resources and opportunities they would have as a student at Skidmore.

After Skidmore, I plan to get a master’s degree because I want to continue studying communications and be involved in student affairs work. I want to be able to pursue a career I am passionate about, and I hope I can make a difference in the world of education.

“Thank you for your generous gift to support scholarships at Skidmore. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be able to attend Skidmore, where I have been able to grow as a student and as a human being. With your support, you have changed my life.”

BRYAN CUZCO-SINCHI ’23 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Double major in social work and Spanish. Scribner Seminar peer mentor. President of Raíces. Member of Skidmore’s Latinx Cultural Club. Summer Experience Fund internship recipient. Residential Life assistant. Skidmore community service volunteer for underserved communities in Guatemala.

I will graduate in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree. As a low-income student, paying for college was a burden I thought I would not be able to overcome. Fortunately, through the generosity of donors like you and Skidmore’s Opportunity Program, I have been able to receive a college education.

Skidmore is three hours away from my home, which is a good distance, especially since I am very close to my family. Prior to Skidmore, I never traveled farther north than Albany, and the thought of living in Saratoga Springs was a challenge for me. Despite these concerns, I knew the benefits of a Skidmore education were worth it.

The student-to-faculty ratio at Skidmore is very important to me. I am grateful for my ability to develop close relationships with my professors, including getting to know them on a personal level. At Skidmore, these working relationships are made possible and valued.

After I graduate, I hope to work with immigrants at the United States-Mexico border or in my home city of New York. Without the support of donors like you, students like me would not be able to attend Skidmore and experience the many opportunities the college has to offer.

“My greatest accomplishment at Skidmore is being a Skidkid and making my parents proud. As a Latinx, Queer, first-generation college student, I am able to accomplish a dream my parents never had the opportunity to achieve.”

SYDNEY KASS ’23 PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK

Political science major. Economics and Spanish minor. Thoroughbred Ambassador. Chair of VoteMore. Holiday coordinator of Hillel. Member of Model United Nations and Model European Union clubs.

Skidmore has shown me my strengths, my weaknesses, and what brings me joy. Every day at Skidmore, I learn more about the world and myself. I will always be grateful to generous donors like you for allowing me the opportunity to attend Skidmore, where I am becoming the best version of myself and learning how I can best serve my community.

Last fall, I co-moderated the Honors Forum and Political Science Department’s Constitution Day Lecture with professors Akhil Reed Amar and Saikrishna Prakash. I am proud of myself for the confidence I demonstrated and my ability to inspire thought-provoking conversation about the law of our land.

My semester abroad in Madrid showed me the magic of multiculturalism. By embracing my own multicultural identity as a Cuban Jew, I was able to appreciate the many cultural identities of the amazing people I met, ultimately allowing me to better understand them and myself. As the world becomes more culturally heterogeneous, I hope to be someone who brings together people from different backgrounds so they might also grow to appreciate multiculturalism and see the beauty of cultural exchange.

Skidmore has always been there for me. When COVID prevented me from going home for Thanksgiving last year, the Skidmore community took care of me by cooking and delivering meals, calling on Thanksgiving Day, and providing thoughtful “welcome back” cookies. The generosity I experienced helped me feel at home.

“I am lucky to attend a school so uniquely teeming with unbridled kindness from my professors and peers. Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to be a part of the Skidmore community.”

DARREN JACKSON-WILKINS ’25 HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY

Theater major. Music minor. Thoroughbred Ambassador. Musical performer. Resident assistant. Actor. Stage manager. Future teacher.

I chose Skidmore because of its focus on interdisciplinary education. I always knew I wanted to study theater and music, but I have also been able to discover other interests such as business, arts administration, and English.

At Skidmore, I am able to truly explore all my passions and find the intersections between them. I am receiving conservatory-style training in theater and music while also learning how to market myself and my work as an artist and taking classes in English and dramaturgy.

An academic achievement I am especially proud of is maintaining a 4.0 GPA during my first year at Skidmore, while adjusting to being away from home and managing the college-level workload. I am grateful I was able to integrate into Skidmore’s community, which I believe helped in my overall success.

I have acted in two productions and stage-managed a student-directed production. Being involved with the Theater Department provides me with an opportunity to constantly learn new things and push myself outside of my comfort zone.

Creative Thought Matters is truly present for me, in the classroom and beyond. In classes, I am always using creativity to look at topics through a different lens. As a theater major, I am constantly trying to understand different ideas or concepts from varying viewpoints to create something honest and meaningful.

“Your gifts in support of scholarship at Skidmore make it possible for students like me to have unique experiences that help shape our futures. You provide us with a great education and a community that fosters leadership and professional skills alike. Thank you so much.”

APOLONIA “APPLE” ALVAREZ ’24 FORT

WORTH, TEXAS

Environmental science major. Student Government Association member. Sustainability Commission leader. Chemistry Department work-study student. Future environmental engineer.

I am a Hispanic, first-generation college student, born and raised in Texas. I have always pushed myself academically to create a pathway to college. I never thought I would leave Texas, but my desire for higher education has led me to pursue my passion for sustainability and explore other interests as well. With my scholarship from Skidmore, I have the support to make this goal a reality.

At Skidmore, I dedicate a lot of my time to the SGA Sustainability Commission. I recognize sustainability is not only an environmental issue, but also a societal and economic concern. My role on the Commission is to ensure just and fair sustainable efforts are incorporated within Student Government Association initiatives, while collaborating with the other sustainable groups on campus as well. Currently, the Commission is working on a proposal to develop a green grant at Skidmore to further expand on Skidmore’s Sustainability Plan with student-led projects.

After graduation, I plan to get a master’s in environmental engineering and then work as an engineer focused on sustainable practices and for agricultural projects in the United States. I believe there are social injustices within this sector and therefore a need for sustainable agriculture to assist with food insecurity and food sovereignty. I’d like to be a part of improving these efforts.

“Thank you for making my Skidmore education possible. I am grateful I can make my family proud. Your generosity allowed me the opportunity to go to college and show them what I am capable of!”

JACOB LORD ’24 MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS

Physics major and researcher. Peer Health Educator. Treasurer for Hillel. Jazz pianist. Avid hiker. Future scientist.

Once I graduate from Skidmore, I plan to attend graduate school and earn a Ph.D. in nuclear fusion and plasma physics. My scholarship made it possible for me to attend Skidmore, where I have incredible support from faculty in advising me on how I can reach my goals. I hope to use my Skidmore degree in physics to research alternative energy solutions to eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels.

My greatest accomplishment at Skidmore was presenting my research in cosmology last semester at a research symposium. I did this as a sophomore when almost all other presenters were juniors and seniors.

The student and faculty relationships make Skidmore so special to me and many of my peers. Skidmore allows professors to exercise innovative teaching methods that I have found very useful in my studies, regardless of subject.

“The scholarship support I receive has opened many doors for me. I am extremely grateful for my relationships with my professors, Skidmore’s academic support programs, the ability to do advanced research as a sophomore, and the connections I have made with other students who share a love of learning. Thank you.”