“Foundations” is a new student development series that started this semester. The goal of the series is to assist students in building the foundation for essential life skills, including leadership, career development, financial wellness, community involvement, healthy relationships and self-care, as well as physical health and nutrition. Representatives from Athletics, Career Services and the Office of Financial Literacy, in partnership with the Offices of Health Promotion and Engagement Programs, steered the committee of representatives to deliver the dynamic series.
From left: Mark Trumbo, Athletics; Tracy Tillapaugh, Sport Management Department, Falk College; Syeisha Byrd, Office of Engagement Programs; Noah Goldmann; Zadia Wallace; Eldon Tsoi; Derek Brainard, Office of Financial Literacy; Veronica Tearney, Athletics; and Katelyn Cowen, Office of Health Promotion
Undergraduate students who attended all six sessions had the opportunity to win a $1,000 scholarship.
The series attracted 70-80 students each session, and 45 students attended all six sessions. Those 45 students were eligible to submit a reflection piece with some of their key takeaways and action steps from the series that entered them in to win a $1,000 scholarship. This semester, five students were awarded the first-ever Foundations Scholarship:
Julianne Doherty ’20, College of Arts and Sciences
Noah Goldmann ’21, College of Arts and Sciences
Gabriel Lizer ’21, College of Arts and Sciences
Eldon Tsoi ’21, School of Information Studies
Zadia Wallace ’19, Falk College
“All of the students who attended the series took away valuable skills in setting the foundation for their future, not just at Syracuse University, but past graduation and into their professional and personal lives,” says Derek Brainard, financial literacy coordinator and one of the organizers of the series. “All of the students that participated took the initiative to learn about topics critical to their future and we look forward to continuing this series so that even more students can leverage these skills.”
Next semester, the steering committee is looking forward to bringing other life skill areas to the series by expanding the program and partners involved. Students will have the opportunity to enter to win a $1,000 scholarship again during the spring semester if they attend all the sessions and write a reflection piece.
For additional information, visit the Foundations webpage.
