Supporting Excellence and Opportunities
The costs of college can put the dream of higher education out of reach for many deserving students. In fact, while Binghamton’s quality and value attract top students, two-thirds of every class admitted to the University cannot enroll without financial assistance. Scholarships or fellowships can make all the difference.
Binghamton’s scholarship and fellowship donors can change the path of students’ lives by lifting barriers to access, recognizing academic excellence and providing for a smaller debt load upon graduation — because a student’s talents, drive and potential should matter more than their financial means when it comes to the opportunities they receive.
Thomas Holland
Thomas Holland ’24, recipient of the S. H. Ho Foundation, David and Martha Ho, MA ’78 Family Scholarship for high-achieving, first-year students, is part of the Binghamton University Scholars Program. He hopes to become a civil rights attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union to directly work with and help people.
Thanks to this scholarship, I likely will not have to take out any loans for my undergraduate degree, which I am obviously very happy about, and it will make it easier to afford any post undergraduate schooling I choose to pursue.
Martha Ho
The education I received at Binghamton was first rate, personalized and no nonsense. David and I are now in the position where we can help the next generation of young people to get the same opportunity, one at a time
David Ho
My grandfather set up the S. H. Ho Foundation, and he taught us to be humble, listen to all and help others. He came from this same unassuming background starting as a dishwasher in a small restaurant. If he could make something of himself despite all the hardships he faced, we all can as well.
Charles M. Kim ’98 and Jean Su Maeng-Kim’s loyal support has been as varied as it has been generous. Scholarships are just one of the many resources the couple has continued to invest in to help students. Kim, a Binghamton University Foundation board member, has said Binghamton gave him the tools to succeed without incurring excessive debt. They want to give students similar opportunities.
Catherine Mac
Catherine Mac ’23 received the Jean Su and Charles M. Kim '98 Scholarship for students with financial need and preferably of Korean-American descent. She hopes to become a plastic surgeon or dermatologist to help people boost their confidence and self esteem.
Thank you for your generosity, which has allowed me to explore my passions at Binghamton University. My family faced a financial setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, thus I am grateful to be able to continue my education with this scholarship. This scholarship allows me to put all of my focus into my schoolwork, without worrying about paying off any debts. The scholarship also allows me to save up money to pay for medical school tuition.
Alice Kim
Alice Kim ’24 received the Jean Su and Charles M. Kim '98 SOM Scholarship for School of Management students with demonstrated financial need and academic merit, and preferably of Korean descent.
My lifelong dream of becoming an accountant is moving forward, thanks to your kindness. You have lightened my financial burden, allowing me to completely focus on my academics. Your selflessness has inspired me to help others and give back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.
Jordan Huyghue
Jordan Huyghue ’22 received the Jean Su and Charles M. Kim '98 Virgin Island Scholarship for students with financial need who are from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Huyghue hopes to become a software engineer and advance as an entrepreneur. Huyghue launched Shades By Jhue in November 2020, selling handmade hair growth oils made with organic and vegan ingredients and has a long-term goal of selling natural-made hair products and hair tools to strengthen and grow natural hair, in addition to custom colored wigs.
The scholarship is a lifeline to many students who cannot afford to attend college. My senior year of high school was one of the most stressful years of my life due to two category five hurricanes destroying my island; so, the last thing I was expecting was acceptance to the No. 1 premier public university in New York with a scholarship. It was definitely an eye opener that all the hard work I put in during my high school years and summers had paid off.
"This young Virgin Islander intends to continue to excel while studying computer science and mathematics at Binghamton University so that I can be an inspiration to others and pay it forward. Thank you very much.
The Binghamton University Foundation board of directors, in partnership with University President Harvey Stenger, designated $1.5 million to establish the endowed George Floyd Scholarship for Social Change. The scholarship supports historically economically disadvantaged, underrepresented minorities and recognizes their demonstrated activity and/or achievements related to social change, restorative justice or racial equality. Among the recipients for academic year 2020-21:
Micah Jumpp
Micah Jumpp ’21, MA ’22, who is in the accelerated/4+1 degree program in geography.
She has challenged her hometown school district to review its curriculum and books,
teach complete and accurate histories of Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC),
and create equity spaces for BIPOC and LGBTQ+.
“I won’t stop, so change will never stop. I want my education and association through
Binghamton to lead me to a place and profession in public interest law where I will
be ready for the next moment that calls for change,” she said.
Claudian Francis
Claudian Francis ’22, who designed her own major in strategic, legal and business communications and is minoring in Africana studies. She developed The State of Black College America and Coronavirus — sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Binghamton — for Black leaders to come together and discuss ways the coronavirus is affecting minority communities and provide equitable and feasible solutions for college students on how to move forward. The digital conference reached over 12 universities and historically Black colleges across the nation.
She plans to obtain a Master of Business Administration and a law degree, then open a patent law firm to help minority inventors and entrepreneurs secure patents for their inventions and build generational wealth.
“Through this scholarship, being able to further my education at Binghamton University will provide me with the resources and skills necessary to begin graduate studies and teach others in the future,” she said. “Education is a vessel for change, and building up the next generation of leadership is essential to keep us all moving in the right direction.”
The Clifford D. Clark Diversity Fellowship Program offers highly competitive fellowships to newly admitted graduate students, with preference to incoming doctoral students. Fellows include first-generation college students, students who demonstrate they have overcome a disadvantage and those who contribute to the diversity of the student body. Support includes stipends, full-tuition scholarships, research and travel opportunities, and other benefits.
Ashley Bui
Ashley Bui, MS ’19, is in her fourth year of the doctoral program in behavioral neuroscience. Her dissertation work focuses on the effects of maternal care on alcohol consumption and stress reactivity.
When I was accepted into the behavioral neuroscience graduate program, I was already beginning to worry about expenses and how I'd make it five-plus years, so receiving the Clark fellowship definitely appeased some of those anxieties. I was overcome with an immense feeling of gratitude.
“I plan on becoming a psychology, cognition, or neuroscience professor at a college/university after I procure my doctorate. My ultimate goal is to become a dean or provost of diversity at a college/university. My work on the University's first-generation college mentoring network (BFirst) creation committee inspired this career goal, as it helped me realize my passion for helping underrepresented minorities in academia.
“All of the outreach and service I am currently participating in within the University is very similar to what I want to be doing in the future: improving diversity initiatives and creating more equitable environments/opportunities for underrepresented minorities at the collegiate level.
“The fellowship support helps me reach these goals because it allows me to have time for these outreach endeavors without sacrificing my lab work since I only have to be a teaching assistant for one semester per academic year as opposed to two, which most graduate students in my program have to do. The fellowship also offers additional travel and summer stipends, which definitely aid in my professional development.