In the spring Syracuse University launched a game-changing fundraising initiative, aimed at significantly expanding scholarship support for high-achieving students. The Syracuse Promise seeks to raise $50 million in scholarship funding over the next three years, and the Orange community has responded with incredible enthusiasm—already raising over $5.2 million in new funding. This growth will provide more meaningful scholarship packages and position the University to award scholarships to more students, which is vital to keeping enrollment strong and ensuring the affordability of a Syracuse education.
At the heart of The Syracuse Promise is a transformative matching program that empowers donors to enhance their impact and deepen their commitment to student success. Fueled by two generous unrestricted estate gifts, the University is offering a 1:2 match for contributions supporting scholarship endowments, in particular. Eligible gifts include contributions of $100,000 or more that establish new endowed scholarships, and $50,000 or more to enhance and sustain existing ones.
Today, 78% of Syracuse students receive some form of financial aid, and in recent years, the University has reduced the average student debt burden by more than 10%. The University also takes pride in meeting the demonstrated financial need of every incoming student, but the type of aid provided—scholarships and grants compared to loans—is a major factor in its ability to attract the best students. This underscores the importance of growing and sustaining permanent funding sources in perpetuity.
“Endowed gifts provide ‘forever funding’ that grows over time and insulates both students and the University from external factors like world events and economic uncertainty,” says Tracy Barlok, senior vice president and chief advancement officer. “Institutions with more endowment funding per student are positioned for greater success and long-term security, and The Syracuse Promise gives our donors an excellent opportunity to partner with us in building lasting support for future generations of students.”
The simplicity of the match program boosts its appeal. Donors can establish new endowed funds or strengthen existing ones.
Pictured with their family, Syracuse University Trustee Jeannine Lostritto ’90 and her husband, Glenn, were the first donors to The Syracuse Promise initiative
From the moment they learned of The Syracuse Promise initiative, University Trustee Jeannine Lostritto ’90 and her husband, Glenn, wanted to lead by example. The first donors to support The Syracuse Promise, they made an additional gift to their Lostritto Family Endowed Scholarship, which supports undergraduate students in the School of Architecture and was established a few years ago.
The Lostrittos, who also established a current-use fund that supports architecture students studying abroad, were particularly drawn to The Syracuse Promise initiative for its ability to grow their endowed fund and provide a greater, lasting level of financial support to students.
“We started this scholarship because we believe in the power of education to change lives,” says Jeannine Lostritto. “The School of Architecture is so important to us because students arrive with a clear purpose, and over the course of the challenging five-year program, they grow not only as professionals but as a close community that feels more like family.”
Lostritto isn’t alone in recognizing the familial nature of the architecture community and how it motivates others. Bernard Armstrong III ’85 was a peer advisor to Christopher Baylow ’88, P’24 during their student years, and helped him through a challenging time. When Armstrong made a Syracuse Promise gift expanding the School of Architecture 150 Global Study Endowed Scholarship, which he established a few years ago in honor of the school’s 150th anniversary, Baylow felt inspired to make his own gift in appreciation for their lasting friendship. Their combined gifts, with the match contribution, will provide $225,000 in additional funding for the already-endowed scholarship, which supports undergraduate students with preference to those studying abroad in Florence, Italy.
“It’s a critical skill for aspiring architects to understand the influence of purposeful design across various communities, cultures and historical periods. I’ve been fortunate to live in and travel to many parts of the world, and I’m thrilled to give Syracuse students the opportunity to develop these global perspectives,” Armstrong says. “I’m also deeply grateful to my friend, Chris, for his support and shared belief in helping this next generation of talented architects.”
The Syracuse Promise initiative is especially powerful for those who wish to make an enduring endowment-level gift but who might not have previously thought it possible. For Joe ’84 and Linda Bockskopf, The Syracuse Promise match put their desire to create an endowed scholarship in reach, and they’re delighted to provide enduring support for SU students.
The daughter of Italian immigrants, whose own college experience was made possible by a full scholarship, Linda knows the life-changing impact of scholarship support. The Joseph T. Bockskopf ’84 and Linda D. Bockskopf Endowed Scholarship supports SUSTAIN Scholars in the College of Arts and Sciences. The SUSTAIN program enhances undergraduate STEM student learning, academic performance, retention to graduation, and STEM career or higher education placement.
“Linda and I wanted to give back and help SUSTAIN Scholars who might not have the financial resources to attend SU,” says Joe Bockskopf. “We wanted to endow a scholarship, but we were unsure about the timing of when to begin. We preferred to do something during our lifetime so we could see the benefit the scholarship would have for students. The Syracuse Promise initiative presented an opportunity that was too good to let pass, and the matching funds will enhance what we’ve donated to provide even greater support.”
Like the Bockskopfs, Robert ’85 and Teresa Heitsenrether recognize the power of education and the need to create opportunity for bright students regardless of their financial circumstances. They established the Robert and Teresa Heitsenrether Endowed Scholarship Fund to support first-generation college students pursuing undergraduate degrees at any of Syracuse’s schools and colleges.
“As a first-generation college student myself, I understand the transformative power of a Syracuse University education. While I have been making annual gifts to existing SU scholarship funds, I wanted to make a greater impact and help make an SU education more affordable for first-generation students,” says Robert Heitsenrether. “My wife and I were considering funding a scholarship over time, but when we became aware of The Syracuse Promise initiative we decided to fully fund a scholarship up front to take advantage of the matching funds. We hope to continue growing the impact of our scholarship over time with additional contributions to the scholarship.”
Scholarships can support students pursuing advanced degrees too. Stephanie D. Jones L’03 established the Spirit of Sankofa – Stephanie D. Jones L’03 Endowed Law Scholarship for students in the College of Law, with preference for residential students who are in leadership positions of student associations in which she participated. Wanting to make an impact as soon as possible, Jones has fully funded the scholarship, and the College of Law expects to begin awarding the scholarship to a student in Spring 2026.
“Being in student leadership at the College of Law was an invaluable kickstart to my legal career and professional development,” Jones says. “While ‘sankofa’ has several meanings, to me it means moving forward while never forgetting the learnings of the past. It is my honor, knowing how much student leadership did for me, to support generations of SU law students in their leadership journeys through the Spirit of Sankofa scholarship.”
Reflecting on the outpouring of generosity from donors since the launch of the initiative, Barlok says it demonstrates the true connection of the Orange community. “Many of our donors were once students who received scholarship support themselves, or family members of SU students, and their own Syracuse experiences inspired them to carry the tradition of giving forward. This is the exact kind of engagement and support that The Syracuse Promise symbolizes, and we hope it compels others to join in this partnership.”
To learn more about The Syracuse Promise scholarship fundraising initiative, contact Lynn Vanderhoek at 315.443.9236 or Lavander@syr.edu.
