A press release: December 16, 2010

ALBANY, NY – The Hudson Valley Community College Foundation has awarded six $2,500 scholarships to students at the college through a gift of $15,000 from the Women’s Fund of the Capital Region. The scholarship fund was established to assist adult women in completing their education and pursuing career aspirations.

The scholarships were awarded to the following students in November through a competitive application process that included the submission of a compelling 300-word essay.

  • Alyse Cook of Rensselaer
  • Jeannette Doody of Troy
  • Christina Duerr of Albany
  • Rita Fisher of Rensselaer
  • Elizabeth King of Troy
  • Kathryn Tisaj of Rensselaer

These women are majoring in a variety of disciplines: Business Administration, Cardiovascular Therapy, Chemical Dependency Counseling, Early Childhood Education, Public Administration, and Respiratory Care.

Scholarship recipients must be 25 years of age or older, in their senior year at Hudson Valley and have at least a 2.5 GPA, coupled with a strong determination to succeed academically. They also must demonstrate financial need and be residents of Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady or Schoharie counties.

"There are long-lasting benefits for women who persist against the odds in achieving a higher education. Scholarship support is vital for these Hudson Valley students and in these difficult economic times, especially, the Hudson Valley Foundation is deeply appreciative of the generosity of the Women’s Fund in assisting them," said Rachel M. Kimmelblatt, Chief Development Officer of the Hudson Valley Community College Foundation.

Future awards, to be given to first-semester seniors, may be renewed if the student earns a 2.75 GPA or better during the semester in which the original scholarship was received.

"We are excited that these awards will make an immediate and decisive difference in women’s ability to earn the degrees they need for financial security," said Susan Houpt, chair of the Women’s Fund of the Capital Region Steering Committee.

The Women’s Fund is a collaboration of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region and United Way of the Greater Capital Region, bringing together more than 300 women — donors, volunteers and community and business leaders — committed to supporting projects that create systemic change and move women and girls toward financial stability and independence.

Anyone interested in establishing a scholarship can call the Hudson Valley Community College Foundation at (518) 629-8012 or visit hvcc.edu/scholarships.

The Hudson Valley Community College Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable corporation, formed in 1983 to philanthropically support the college’s mission. Gifts to the Foundation from alumni, corporations and friends are used to enhance programs, facilities and scholarship opportunities at the college.

Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers more than 70 associate’s degree and certificate programs in four schools: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Sciences; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and workforce and academic preparation programs offered through the Educational Opportunity Center. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, Hudson Valley has an enrollment of more than 14,000 students, and it is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. Hudson Valley has more than 65,000 alumni.