Alfred State students write letters of thanks to donors of scholarships that will help them along their academic journey.
Allegany County
April 9, 2026
Alfred State students offer thanks for scholarship assistance
ALFRED — Alfred State scholarship recipients from across all schools and majors gathered recently to write letters of thanks to the donors that have made attending the college more affordable.
Elijah Adams, a senior sport management student, will use the funding from the Pat Fogarty Endowment Scholarship to pay for expenses he has while doing his internship.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I’m a person that has prided myself on giving back — it’s why I came to college in the first place, so that I can one day help people who came from the same situations I came from. It really does mean a lot to know that someone’s looking out for those of us who are really trying our best to create opportunities,” Adam said.
Nursing major Jennifer Cam will complete her associate degree but receiving the Deborah Wallace and Timothy Moore Nursing Endowed Scholarship will allow her to continue her academic path towards a bachelor’s degree.
“It means so much. As an adult learner who travels from Rochester, this is going to help me immensely. This will take a huge financial burden off me as a commuter going into the nursing field,” she said.
Alfred State gives out $653,000 in support to students. Nearly 150 students took time and wrote personal thank you cards, designed by ASC alumna Vina Pham, to the scholarship donors.
Mary Perkins, director of scholarships and college relations, started the “Thank You” event last year as a way to connect current students to the donors or organizations that provided the financial support for their awards.
“The ‘Thank You’ event is such a special day. Our students are so grateful for the assistance they receive, and it is exciting to hear their stories. It almost brings me to tears to hear the impact these scholarships have on our students,” Perkins explained.
Scholarships ease financial stress to students, but it also encourages them that their hard work is paying off.
Building trades major Levi Hammond Bozario, recipient of the Alan and Mary Ellen Hunt Endowed Fund Scholarship, added, ““For a person like me to get selected, I’ve never had an experience (like this). I feel like the fruits of my labor have really been shown. To be selected, it encourages me to keep going and perfect my abilities.”
Perkins continued, “We are so appreciative of all the individuals and organizations that support scholarships at Alfred State. Your gifts really do make a difference in our students lives.”
Selena Fullone, a recipient of the Patricia Fogarty Annual Award summed up the day perfectly, “This campus gives us so much and this scholarship means that I can be here comfortably and be able to spend almost all of my time giving back to the community that has given me so much.”
