The State University of New York has opened applications for the Carey Gabay Memorial Scholarship that awards five SUNY students full scholarships, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.
The scholarship honors Carey Gabay, an attorney and public servant who tragically died as an innocent victim of gun violence in 2015. This program awards full scholarships to five incoming SUNY students who exemplify Gabay’s commitment to social justice, leadership and mentorship as his personal story of academic success and overcoming his economically disadvantaged background.
Gabay grew up in public housing and attended public school in the Bronx. After a successful high school career, he graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Law School. He had a longstanding commitment to public service and giving back to those around him, and while at Harvard University, he ran to become the president of its undergraduate student body. During his career, he has worked tirelessly in public service, beginning in 2011 as Assistant Counsel to the former Governor and then as First Deputy Counsel to Empire State Development Corporation.
The Carey Gabay Memorial Scholarship will once again award full scholarships to five students to attend SUNY four-year colleges beginning in the 2022-23 school year. These scholarships will cover all costs of attendance, including tuition, room and board, college fees, books and supplies, and personal and transportation expenses. Scholarship recipients will also participate in a mentoring program.
Applications are available here and must be submitted by June 30, 2022.
What is the Carey Gabay Memorial Scholarship?
The Carey Gabay Scholarship Program will award full cost of attendance scholarships to five students to attend a state-operated State University of New York. These scholarships will cover all costs of attendance, including tuition, room and board, college fees, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. These awards will go to students who, like Carey, have achieved academic excellence despite an economically disadvantaged background.
Which are the requirements?
- The student must be a current resident of New York State.
- The student must be an incoming freshman at a State University of New York who will be enrolled full time.
- The student must demonstrate significant financial need as determined by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by submitting a copy of a valid Student Aid Report (SAR) showing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
- The student’s high school record must demonstrate high academic achievement, including a minimum cumulative grade point average of 90.
- The student must submit an essay about the challenges overcome during the course of the student’s academic career, as well as their personal commitment to mentoring, leadership, and social justice.
- The student must submit two letters of recommendation from teachers or community members.
What do I have to do to continue receiving the scholarship?
- The student must maintain a full-time enrollment for any semester in which they receive a scholarship.
- The student must be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at the end of their freshman year and thereafter.
- The student must adhere to the Student Code of Conduct.
- The student must participate in a tutoring program.
- The student must demonstrate social commitment, justice, and giving back to the community by volunteering a minimum of 15 hours per semester.
- The student must submit a statement describing their volunteer activities each year, signed by a supervisor of the agency or organization in which they have served.
- The student must continue to demonstrate financial need as determined by completion of a FAFSA.
Where can I apply for the scholarship and until when can I apply for it?
Applications are available here and must be submitted by June 30, 2022.
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