Success Scholars Recognized for Exemplary First Semester

The University is celebrating its largest number of new Success Scholars this year—1,253 students. The number of Success Scholars—first-year students recognized for their outstanding academic record their first semester—has grown 63% since the program started in 2019.

First-year students (and transfer students in their first year) who achieve a 3.75 GPA, have completed at least 15 credits their first semester and are in good standing are awarded an Invest in Success Scholarship through the program.

Award winners, called “Success Scholars,” receive a merit scholarship of $1,000 per year, renewable annually for four years, as long as they maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 and successfully complete at least 15 credits each semester.

The program acknowledges the work of students and was created to help encourage and retain students who have excelled in their academic work.

“The Invest in Success Scholarship recognizes the hard work of all these students for a remarkable first semester at the University and wants to support their continued success,” says Chris Johnson, associate provost for academic affairs. “Their exemplary performance is a great way to start off their academic careers at Syracuse.”

To celebrate the new Success Scholars, first-time recipients are invited to a reception in the spring semester of their first year, in which they are honored and can connect with staff representing a variety of resources on campus, such as the Renée Crown University Honors Program, Syracuse Abroad, Syracuse University Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (The SOURCE), ’Cuse Works and the Shaw Center for Public and Community Service. This year’s event is being held this week.

“We celebrate these students who have achieved such great success in their first year,” says Kal Srinivas, director for retention and student success. “We honor their commitment and dedication to their studies with a scholarship that we hope will continue to encourage and inspire them to reach for their goals.”