On Point for College Utica Awards Celebration Dinner to be held November 13th
The On Point for College Utica Awards Celebration Dinner will honor students, community leaders and organizational partners on Thursday, November 13th at 5:30pm at the Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro. Brief remarks will also be given by special guest Danielle McMullen, New York State Assistant Secretary for Education (Higher Education). On Point for College and Harvard graduate as well as Founder and President of HMJ Consulting, Hilda Jordan, will serve as MC. On Point graduate, DuWayne Engram, with the YWCA Amend Together Program will be the On Point Student Speaker. John Watt, Vice Chairman of the Board of NBT Bancorp, will also make remarks.
On Point for College provides students with comprehensive services that help them overcome barriers to empower their success and fulfill their potential. On Point for College changes lives through college, certificate programs, apprenticeships and other pathways that helps students fulfill their educational and career dreams.
The organization is dedicated to developing programs and cultivating relationships to change the lives of traditional and non-traditional students by breaking down barriers through access to training, college and careers for success in life. On Point for College works with students from application to graduation and beyond, making higher education accessible to youth who have the desire and the will, but who feel college and other post-secondary opportunities are out of reach due to economic, academic and other barriers.
On Point for College Utica has been honoring star students and partners since 2013. We have helped more than 2200 first-generation Utica area adults overcome obstacles to their success. Over 1,000 students have already graduated with the help of On Point for College in the Utica Region with several hundred more currently in colleges and universities.
Awards will be given to the following honorees:
The On Point for College Campus Angel Award is given to an individual at a college or university who has done an extraordinary job to helping On Point’s first-generation, lower-income students overcome challenges and empower their success. For ongoing student support, the 2025 On Point for College Utica Campus Angel Award will be presented to the Associate Director of Alumni Relations at SUNY Poly Michael Aiello.
On Point for College Utica’s Foundation of Hope Awards are given to organizations and individuals who have effectively collaborated to positively help change our student’s lives and communities. The On Point for College Foundation of Hope Award will be presented to Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and the UpMobility Foundation for their leadership and investments in organizations through Mohawk Valley Gives Initiative in recognition of their wonderful work and partnership with On Point helping forward the educational dreams of students.
The On Point Make a Difference Award is given to individuals whose work with On Point has made a difference in the lives of On Point students. This year’s recipients Bill and Joan Blanchfield whose caring support, speaking at dozens of student orientations, and instrumental advice has helped advance On Point’s work empowering students.
The 2025 On Point for College Community Leader Award goes to President & CEO of PAR Technology Corporation Savneet Singh for his key leadership and vital support helping make it possible for our On Point students achieve their educational and career dreams.
The On Point for College Utica Dream Maker Award is given to organizations and individual leaders who, through their leadership, investments and collaboration, have helped make the educational and career dreams of our students come true. This year’s Dream Maker award is given to the NBT Bank President of the CNY and Mohawk Valley David Kavney and NBT Bank.
The On Point for Career Services Award is given to individuals and organizations that have forward the career aspirations of students by connecting students with great area career opportunities. This year’s award goes to MVCC and President of MVCC Dr. Randall VanWagoner. Each year several hundred On Point for college students attend MVCC.
For more information call Kevin Marken at 315-454-7293 or make your donation to help make a student’s educational dreams come true online at: www.onpointforcollege.org/celebration
Sponsors making this event possible include: Community Bank, The Fountainhead Group, WFXV, Herkimer Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Bank of America, Bank of Utica, Adirondack Bank, SUNY Poly, NBT Bank, PJ Green, Marcia and John Watt, Hamiltion College, University at Albany and the University at Albany Foundation, MVP, Michael Frame & Heather Hage, Fibonocci, Ginny and John Donahue, Strategic Financial, ICAN, SUNY Canton, Key Bank, Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation, First Source Credit Union, Berkshire Bank, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Pacemaker Steel & Piping, and Indium Corporation.
About On Point for College:
On Point for College is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1999. The organization works to help first-generation students access and succeed in college and careers. To date, the organization has helped more than 4,500 students earn degrees from more than 200 college and universities. For general information about On Point, please visit onpointforcollege.org. For media-specific information, please visit onpointforcollege.org/media
