NYCLSA Scholarship Opportunities

​Both the NYCLSA Promising Student Award and the NYCLSA Professional Development Scholarship Award are funded through our generous members who contribute directly to the fund and who support fundraising activities at NYCLSA’s annual Symposium. 

NYCLSA Promising Student Award

​NYCLSA recognizes the challenges that students in our developmental courses and programs may face relating to the expenses of higher education. Our organization has been awarding this $300 scholarship to students with bright futures and vast potential annually since 2009. The 2026 award applications opens Friday, February 20, 2026 and will be accepted until April 24, 2026.

Applicant Criteria:

• Enrolled as a student in a two- or four-year institution of higher education in New York State and must plan to continue at an institution of higher education.
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and passing grades in any developmental courses taken.
• Submit a letter describing why they feel they should be given the Promising Student Award, specifically how it will help them continue in higher education and support their academic goals, and how their involvement in developmental education, tutoring and/or other academic support centers have helped them prepare for other college courses. They must be sure to specify what developmental education courses they took, or what difference the tutoring or other academic support centers made to their success as well as how they would use the money if they won this award. (Maximum one page.)
• Applicant must be nominated by a current NYCLSA member in good standing (excluding current Board members).

NYCLSA Member Nomination Criteria:

• A PDF format nomination letter, on official school letterhead that speaks to the student's potential to succeed in college as well as their financial barriers. It must specify their cumulative GPA and their final grade in any developmental courses taken, or courses for which they used a tutoring or other academic support center. 
• Your contact information (full mailing address; email address; and phone number) must be included. (Maximum one page.)

NYCLSA Professional Development Scholarship Award

​NYCLSA is pleased to once again offer a 2026 Professional Development Scholarship. 

Open to NYCLSA members in good standing, this $500 scholarship is awarded annually to support professional development opportunities such as attending a training event or institute directly related to the applicant’s work in developmental, co-requisite, or preparatory college teaching, learning assistance, tutoring, or similar ventures. It may be used to defray the costs of enrolling in a graduate-level course or attending a conference in the field, including the next NYCLSA Symposium.
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Applications are due by the end of the day on April 24, 2026.

NYCLSA started this $500 scholarship in 2003 to support the professional development of NYCLSA members in good standing for the last year or longer and who have worked in developmental education for at least two years. This scholarship had been used for opportunities such as attending the Kellogg Institute, the Technology Institute, On Course, SI training, and graduate courses in developmental education or related fields.  From 2003 – 2017, it has supported 14 NYCLSA members.

Professional Development Scholarship Application Form

the Promising Student Scholarship Nomination Form

Promising Student Award Winners
2026 Margie Grubbs, Finger Lakes Community College, nominated by Nicholas Aiezza
2025 Manuel Toscano, SUNY-Genesee Community College, nominated by Kathlenee Klaiber
2025 Christol Wright, SYNY Empire University, nominated by Anne McDonough
2024 Beryl Remacle-Grimm, Finger Lakes Community College, nominated by Nicholas Aiezza
2024 Kevin Rodriguez, SUNY-Oneonta, nominated by Natalie MacIntyre
2023 Christina Martinez, Rochester Institute of Technology, nominated by Alexandra Collins
2023 Gabriela Martinez, SUNY-Westchester Community College, nominated by Stephen Perry
2022 Nancy Campuzano, Keuka College, nominated by Larry Parker II
2021 Cheliese Helmer, SUNY Schenectady, nominated by Dr. Ruby Roberts
2020 Tianna Hunt, Niagara County Community College, nominated by Pamela Lange
2019 Kayla Robinson, Niagara University, nominated by Julie Czyrny
2018 Michelle Hickman, North Country Community College, nominated by Kate Wells
2017 Ashley Groll, Niagara University, nominated by Sharon Green
2016* Braxton Stinson, Daemen College, nominated by Lindsay Masters
2016* Jaime Alvarez, Corning Community College, nominated by Edward Dougherty
2015 Chantal Christina, Genesee Community College, nominated by Kate McCann Klaiber
2014 Luis Diaz, SUNY Oneonta, nominated by Deborah Reep Maskin
2013 ** No Promising Student Award recipient.
2012 Naomi McPeters, Hudson Valley Community College, nominated by Aaron Nooney
2011*** Brandy Taylor, Corning College, nominated by Beth Bentley
2011*** Sameera Uddin, Marymount Manhattan College, nominated by Cindy Mercer
2010 Leah Lichtenberger, Medaille College, nominated by Laura Comstock
2009 Ainsley Stoll, SUNY Oneonta, nominated by Rita Richards

*We received a donation from George Henry of Townsend Press to fund a second award.
**In 2013, the committee voted to move the application deadline from December to January moving forward.
***An anonymous donation of $250 allowed us to fund a second award.