The Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship

The Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship Program (ESDHSP), offered by the State University of New York (SUNY) and The Rockland Community College Foundation, 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/or campus activities. Funding is based on availability.
Candidates are required to:
• Be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status.
• Be New York State residents.
• Demonstrate how they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education.
• Demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the diversity of the student body by facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and campus activities.
• Be admitted to a degree-seeking program and demonstrate high academic achievement.
• Preference will be given to full-time status; however, part-time students are also eligible.
• High school students, with a GPA of 85 or above.
• RCC continuing students, a 3.2 GPA or above.

Preference will be given to candidates who are:
• From a low-income background (e.g., Pell-eligible as undergraduates)
• First-generation college students (students whose parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree)
• Able to demonstrate a history of overcoming adversity
• AmeriCorps alumni
• U.S. Veterans (e.g., Airforce, Army, Marines, Navy, etc.)

This Scholarship Program is open to any and all prospective candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and are 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.