On Point for College Utica Awards Celebration Dinner to be held November 14th
The On Point for College Utica Awards Celebration Dinner will honor students, community leaders and organizational partners on Thursday, November 14th 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. She will also be the On Point Student Speaker.
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 900 students have already graduated with the help of On Point for College in the Utica Region with several hundred more currently in schools.
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 2024 On Point for College Utica Campus Angel Award will be presented to Hamilton College Director of Community Outreach Amy James.
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 Mele Fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties 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 are given to individuals whose work with On Point has made a difference in the lives of On Point students. This year’s recipients include Contents Writer and Grants Manager at Entrepreneurs Across Boarders and the UpMobilty Foundation Andrea Babenic whose caring support and instrumental advice has helped advance On Point’s work empowering students. Our second Make a Difference Award winner is On Point for College Graduate and volunteer David Beck who has also helped students in as an Assistive Technology Specialist MVCC and now as Food Pantry Coordinator at SUNY Poly.
The 2024 On Point for College Community Leader Awards go to Assemblywoman Maryanne Buttenschon and Utica Mayor Michael Galime for their 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 recipient has provided a vital expanded partnership with On Point for College to help hundreds of Proctor High School students access explore and forward their educational and career goals with On Point staff right on the Proctor campus. This year’s Dream Maker award is given the Utica City School District and Superintendent Dr. Christopher Spence.
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 Bank of America and Senior Vice President and Central New York Market Executive Elizabeth Pole.
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: Fountainhead Group, Herkimer Community College, PJ Green, WFXV, Hilda Jordan and HMJ Consulting, Mohawk Valley Community College, Bank of America, Bank of Utica, JP Morgan Chase, Adirondack Bank, Marcia and John Watt, SUNY Poly, Hamilton College, University at Albany and the University at Albany Foundation, Michael Frame & Heather Hage, Le Moyne College, SUNY Canton, Utica Academy of Science Charter School, Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation, Ginny and John Donahue, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Pacemaker Steel & Piping.
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 4,000 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
