Ellenville Junior/Senior High School is proud to recognize five students as 2026 President’s Challenge Scholarship recipients: Amelia Baty, Gianna Cox, Alexa DuPont, Jarelyz Ocasio Colon, and Brittany Zuniga.
Selected for the scholarship while in Grade 8, the students are now in ninth grade and on a path toward higher education with the support of the President’s Challenge Scholarship Program. The program helps first-generation college students from Ulster County overcome financial barriers by providing two years of tuition-free education at SUNY Ulster, along with mentoring and college preparation support throughout high school.
The students were recognized on October 16 during a presentation at Ellenville Junior/Senior High School. As part of the event, SUNY Ulster Student Success Counselor Rebecca Mercado met with the current Grade 8 class to explain the scholarship’s benefits and encourage students to consider applying. Ellenville’s President’s Challenge Coordinator, Courtney Vandermark, presented the scholarship recipients with certificates in recognition of their achievement.
“The President’s Challenge Scholarship Program is an incredible opportunity for our students to begin thinking about their futures and take meaningful steps toward achieving their goals,” said Vandermark. “We are so proud of these five students and look forward to supporting them as they explore their interests, build confidence, and prepare for the next chapter of their educational journeys.”
As scholarship recipients, the students will have the opportunity to tour SUNY Ulster’s Stone Ridge campus and earn college credits through SUNY Ulster Collegian courses while still in high school, helping them prepare for the transition to college.
By introducing students to the possibilities of higher education as early as Grade 8, the President’s Challenge Scholarship Program helps them build a foundation for future academic success.