Syracuse University Launches $50 Million Scholarship Initiative
Syracuse University has launched a significant fundraising initiative named The Syracuse Promise, aiming to raise $50 million in scholarship funding over the next three years. This ambitious program seeks to bolster financial support for high-achieving students and has already garnered substantial community backing, with over $5.2 million raised to date. By enhancing scholarship packages, the initiative is crucial for maintaining strong enrollment and ensuring that a Syracuse education remains financially accessible.
At the core of The Syracuse Promise is a matching program designed to amplify the impact of donations. Thanks to two significant unrestricted estate gifts, the University is offering a 1:2 match for contributions that support scholarship endowments. Donors can establish new endowed scholarships with gifts of $100,000 or more and enhance existing scholarships with contributions of $50,000 or more.
The initiative is particularly timely, as 78% of Syracuse students currently receive some form of financial aid. The University has successfully reduced the average student debt burden by over 10% in recent years. Syracuse takes pride in meeting the demonstrated financial need of every incoming student, but the type of aid—primarily scholarships and grants versus loans—plays a significant role in attracting top talent.
Building Lasting Support through Endowed Gifts
Tracy Barlok, senior vice president and chief advancement officer, emphasized the importance of endowed gifts for both students and the institution. “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,” she explained. Barlok believes that institutions with more endowment funding per student are better positioned for long-term success and security.
The straightforward nature of the matching program has resonated with many donors. Among the first to support The Syracuse Promise were University Trustee Jeannine Lostritto and her husband, Glenn Lostritto. They made additional contributions to their Lostritto Family Endowed Scholarship, which aids undergraduate students in the School of Architecture. “We started this scholarship because we believe in the power of education to change lives,” stated Jeannine Lostritto.
The Lostrittos have previously established a current-use fund to support architecture students studying abroad and were drawn to the matching initiative as a way to enhance their financial support to students.
Another supporter, Bernard Armstrong III, who established the School of Architecture 150 Global Study Endowed Scholarship in honor of the School’s 150th anniversary, expanded his gift through The Syracuse Promise. His contribution, alongside a matching gift from Christopher Baylow, totals $225,000 for the scholarship, which prioritizes students studying abroad in Florence, Italy.
Armstrong noted, “It’s a critical skill for aspiring architects to understand the influence of purposeful design across various communities, cultures, and historical periods.” He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to provide Syracuse students with global perspectives.
Empowering Future Generations
The Syracuse Promise initiative has inspired many donors who previously felt unable to make an endowment-level gift. For Joe Bockskopf and Linda Bockskopf, the program made it feasible to create an endowed scholarship. The scholarship will support SUSTAIN Scholars in the College of Arts and Sciences, aimed at enhancing the learning experience for undergraduate STEM students.
Joe Bockskopf shared their motivation: “Linda and I wanted to give back and help SUSTAIN Scholars who might not have the financial resources to attend SU.” They viewed The Syracuse Promise as a timely opportunity to maximize their impact.
Similarly, Robert Heitsenrether and his wife, Teresa, recognized the transformative power of education and aimed to support first-generation college students. They established the Robert and Teresa Heitsenrether Endowed Scholarship Fund to make a more considerable impact on students’ affordability, fully funding their scholarship upfront to take advantage of the matching funds.
Scholarships are also available for those pursuing advanced degrees. Stephanie D. Jones, a graduate of the College of Law, established the Spirit of Sankofa – Stephanie D. Jones L’03 Endowed Law Scholarship. This scholarship prioritizes residential students in leadership roles within student associations. Jones fully funded her scholarship to ensure immediate impact, with plans to begin awarding it in Spring 2026.
Reflecting on the generosity shown by donors since the initiative’s launch, Barlok remarked on the strong connection within 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,” she noted.
To learn more about The Syracuse Promise scholarship fundraising initiative, interested parties can contact Lynn Vanderhoek at 315.443.9236 or [email protected].
