Scholarships have the power to change a student鈥檚 life trajectory. By lessening or removing financial barriers to an education, they help forge opportunities that were once considered impossible.
At 51爆料网, programs like the Otto Sussman Trust Scholarship provide critical assistance to students in need, especially those facing unexpected hardships. This allows them to focus on academics without incurring considerable debt.
The impact of the Sussman Scholarship extends far beyond the classroom, as evidenced by the following stories of recent graduates whose lives鈥攁nd careers鈥攈ave been positively transformed.
Investing in Success
鈥淭he Sussman Scholarship allowed me to prioritize my course load while exploring professional development opportunities,鈥� says Philip Okituama 鈥�25, who now works for PNC Bank in Pittsburgh.
Philip Okituama 鈥�25 appreciates the demands of college life. He also understands the importance of staying focused on what matters most.
鈥淚 applied for the Sussman Scholarship last fall because of financial pressures,鈥� says Okituama, who graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in information management and technology from the (iSchool). 鈥淭he scholarship allowed me to prioritize my demanding course load while exploring professional development opportunities.鈥�
They included an iSchool-organized trip to the in Houston, where Okituama networked with a 鈥渟lew of technology companies.鈥� Among them was PNC Bank, which offered him a job as an associate analyst in their corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh.
The Sussman Scholarship also enabled Okituama to take up residence on the Dean鈥檚 List and graduate summa cum laude.
鈥淏ecause of the scholarship, I didn鈥檛 have to work a part-time job while going to school,鈥� says the and . 鈥淭his freed me up to do more meaningful things.鈥�
The New Jersey native studied business at Wells College before transferring to Syracuse in 2023. He praises the iSchool鈥檚 professors, peer advisors and student services staff for helping him 鈥済row [his] professional toolkit and prepare for the real world.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 proof that Syracuse invests in its students鈥� long-term success,鈥� Okituama adds.
Embracing Adversity
Alex Shaffer 鈥�25 used the Sussman Scholarship to help cover academic and basic living expenses.
Alex Shaffer 鈥�25 does not so much as adapt to adversity than embrace it.
鈥淚 have a disability,鈥� declares the sociology graduate of the . 鈥淎t one point, I was living out of a hotel and working as much as I could to make ends meet, due to the rising costs of medications, treatments and medical equipment.鈥�
The Sussman Scholarship helped Shaffer meet basic living expenses and purchase a laptop. 鈥淚 was able to finish my degree program and buy professional clothes for my internship and my job after graduation,鈥� says the Ren茅e Crown University Honors student, who minored in and .
At Syracuse, Shaffer thrived on helping others. In addition to presiding over the Disability Student Union, they served as agency coordinator鈥攁nd for a year, vice president鈥攐f the . This mindset infused their experience, where they studied the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.K.鈥檚 Equality Act.
鈥淚鈥檓 interested in how 鈥榟oles鈥� in the [social services] system can potentially harm young adults,鈥� says Shaffer, who also investigated LGBTQ+ issues and disability resources.
The credits Syracuse for giving them opportunities to succeed when other universities didn鈥檛. 鈥淚鈥檓 forever grateful to Syracuse.鈥�
Fulfilling Potential
鈥淭he Sussman Scholarship helped me realize my capabilities without worrying about money,鈥� says Corrine Soo 鈥�25, a graduate of the five-year, professional B.Arch. program.
Corrine Soo 鈥�25 has lost count of the number of times she paused to admire the sunset from Hendricks Chapel or the fall colors along the Einhorn Family Walk. 鈥淪ometimes I stopped just to gaze at the stars,鈥� recalls the graduate of the 鈥檚 five-year undergraduate architecture program. 鈥淚 love how safe and hospitable our campus is. It鈥檚 been my home away from home.鈥�
Such moments of reverie were well-earned. Mounting financial pressures, due in part to her parents鈥� divorce, prompted Soo to apply for the Sussman Scholarship. Being able to cover her academic expenses was the difference between continuing her degree or having to change course.
鈥淭he Sussman Scholarship helped me reach my fullest potential and make the most of my final year at Syracuse,鈥� says the Brooklyn native, who minored in psychology and graduated magna cum laude.
Soo鈥檚 degree program culminated in a design-build capstone project titled LA F[i]ESTA. Her group鈥檚 installation, , was highly immersive. It also was Soo鈥檚 first full-scale project.
鈥淭he Sussman Scholarship helped me realize the extent of my capabilities without having to worry about money,鈥� says Soo, who also burnished her public relations and graphic design skills at Syracuse. 鈥淭here鈥檚 more to me than just architecture.鈥�
