Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship Program for NEW Students

The Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship Program (ESDHSP) is designed to direct aid to undergraduate students who have demonstrated academic achievement and overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Candidates will contribute to the diversity of the student body by demonstrating their commitment to facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and activities.

The Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship Program (ESDHSP) is open to any and all prospective candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and is consistent with all current governing federal and state nondiscrimination law. All application submissions will be assessed and evaluated in accordance with the required eligibility criteria.

Award: Up to $3000 per year, split between fall and spring semesters (pending financial eligibility)
Awarded to: Full-time or Part-time students, college-wide

Program Eligibility Requirements
To participate in the ESDHSP, candidates are required to:
1. Be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status;
2. Be a New York resident;
3. Demonstrate how you have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education;
4. Demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the diversity of the student body by facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in your academic programs and campus activities.
5. Have a high school GPA of 80 or above
6. File a FAFSA and NYS TAP application;
7. Write an essay, 600 words or less, describing how you have engaged, facilitated, and/or enhanced diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in your campus and/or local community. Examples could include personal, academic, and/or work experiences and may include, but not limited to, your potential to contribute to enhancing diversity efforts in your academic programs at SUNY Suffolk and campus communities; experiences overcoming economic, social, educational disadvantages, and/or other barriers.

Even though financial need is not a requirement for program eligibility, applicants may utilize economic disadvantage as a basis for eligibility.

Preference will be given to candidates who are:
1. From a low-income background (e.g., Pell-eligible as undergraduates);
2. First-generation college students (students whose parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree);
3. Have overcome adversity;
4. Are AmeriCorps alumni, or are veterans.
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All campus distributions are pending annual state budget approval. While we have been awarding campuses scholarships for many years, funding may not be guaranteed every year.