Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 

(Buffalo, NY – March 19, 2025) Empire State University received a $200,000 gift from an anonymous donor that enables the university to expand the donor’s existing scholarship fund for students in western New York. 

Established in 2014, the Western New York Part-Time Student Success Scholarship was created to enable overburdened full-time students to move to part-time study, and to assist current part-time students to successfully complete their studies. 

Recipients of the scholarship are matriculated undergraduates residing in Erie, Cattaraugus, or Niagara counties who are working while pursuing their degrees. Additional consideration is given to students with children. 

In reflecting on their inspiration for funding this scholarship, the donor said, “As a mentor at SUNY Empire, I was so impressed by the students I taught. Many of them are juggling jobs and childcare along with school. I also saw too many students who felt forced to study full-time to receive state and federal aid, even though they already had full-time jobs and children to raise. That’s essentially three full-time jobs, and it makes it a real struggle to keep up your grades. I’m hoping that this scholarship will allow students to take classes part-time, so that they can take only the number of courses that allows them to succeed at school and at home.”  

Since its inception, the scholarship has been awarded to dozens of students, helping many of them successfully complete their degrees. Recipients have studied across all undergraduate academic programs and represent the entire western New York region. 

During the 2024-25 academic year, the Western New York Scholarship will be distributed to more than 50 students from across the region. Nina Nedkova, a Buffalo native, is one of this year’s recipients who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting and epitomizes the importance of helping students switch to part-time study. 

“I am 54 years old, and I have been waiting for many years for the opportunity to finish my education,” Nedkova said. “The financial aid for part-time study is not enough to cover my college expenses. I attempted to work and go to school full time for one semester, but it was very challenging. With this scholarship, I will be able to switch to part-time study and still have my school bills paid, making my life more manageable. My children will have a mother and grandmother instead of a tax-zombie while I am studying accounting.” 

Over the past decade, the scholarship has been impactful for students in the region, making it possible for them to juggle the responsibilities of school, work, and family life. With this new commitment, the donor will help even more students complete their degrees.