UTICA, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) and the Julia O. Wells Memorial Education
Foundation, Inc. announced today the establishment of a $750,000 permanently endowed
scholarship that will help generations of nursing students pursue their education while
strengthening the healthcare workforce across the Mohawk Valley and New York State.
The new endowed scholarship represents a significant investment in nursing education and reflects
a shared commitment to expanding access to higher education, reducing financial barriers for
students, and preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.
The announcement builds upon a partnership spanning nearly four decades. For the past 38 years,
the Julia O. Wells Memorial Education Foundation has contributed nearly $850,000 to the SUNY
Poly Foundation, helping nearly 600 SUNY Poly alumni and current students pursue their
educational goals through scholarship support.
“This extraordinary gift reflects a shared belief in the power of education to transform lives while
addressing one of our region’s greatest needs,” said SUNY Poly President Dr. Winston Soboyejo.
“We are deeply grateful to the Julia O. Wells Memorial Education Foundation for its remarkable
generosity and enduring partnership. As SUNY Poly continues to educate the next generation of
nurses and healthcare professionals, this endowed scholarship will help talented students pursue
their calling, reduce financial barriers, and ensure our communities benefit from a strong,
compassionate, and highly skilled healthcare workforce for years to come.”
“This transformative investment demonstrates the lasting impact philanthropy can have on both
students and our institution,” said SUNY Poly VP of Institutional Advancement Andrea LaGatta. “The
Julia O. Wells Memorial Education Foundation has been an extraordinary partner for decades, and
this endowed scholarship ensures its legacy of supporting SUNY Poly students will continue for
generations. Endowed scholarships provide permanent support for future students while helping
the university continue its mission of expanding opportunity through education.”
“When the Julia O. Wells Memorial Education Foundation, Inc. was incorporated in 1988, our
mission was—and still is—to educate nurses,” said Kathleen Santarcangelo, president of the
memorial foundation. “Today, as we transition our remaining resources into lasting endowments,
we are incredibly proud to present $750,000 to SUNY Poly. This gift represents decades of
commitment to ‘Growing Nurses,’ and we are confident that SUNY Poly will steward this legacy with
excellence, supporting nursing students who dedicate their lives to caring for others.”
SUNY Poly’s School of Nursing passed the half-century mark last year, celebrating more than 50
years of educating nurses and advancing nursing education. This endowed scholarship builds on
that proud legacy, ensuring that future students will have greater access to the opportunities and
support they need to succeed for decades to come.
####################
About SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly)
SUNY Polytechnic Institute, located in Utica, N.Y., is a vibrant and inclusive community where
students, faculty, and staff are empowered through a forward-looking STEAM education and
dynamic campus experience. Founded in 1966, SUNY Poly is currently celebrating its 60th
anniversary, marking six decades of impact, innovation, and service to the Mohawk Valley and
beyond. As New York State’s premier public polytechnic, SUNY Poly fosters innovation and
interdisciplinary learning across its four colleges—Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, and
Health Sciences—preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Guided by a bold vision for societal impact, SUNY Poly advances use-inspired research and
transformative collaborations that drive economic development, technological progress, and
humanitarian solutions—locally in the Mohawk Valley and globally across diverse communities. For
more info, visit http://www.sunypoly.edu.
