63 District Scholars Receive SUNY Orange Sojourner Truth Awards

For the past thirty-one years, in honor of Sojourner Truth, SUNY Orange (Orange County Community College) has celebrated its youth by awarding them for their achievements.  The college continues to recognize the accomplishments of  these deserving students in grades 6-12 and encourage college attendance as an option for students from groups traditionally under-represented in the college population.

For 2021, all nominated students will receive Certificates of Recognition from SUNY Orange. Scholars also received a letter and certificate of recognition from NYS Assemblyman and NFA Alumnus, Hon. Jonathan Jacobson. 

Students across Orange County are recognized in one of the following areas:

• Athletics
• Citizenship
• Creative Arts
• Diversity
• English Language Arts
• Foreign Languages
• Mathematics
• Perseverance/Effort
• Sciences
• Technology 

As we move through our lives during this uncertain time, now more than ever, we feel compelled to acknowledge our youth and encourage them with thoughts of a brighter future. Recognizing their achievements is our way of doing so.

From the Hudson Valley Press, Sojourner Truth, for whom the program is named, lived in the mid-Hudson Valley after escaping from slavery. She is hailed as one of the most distinguished and highly regarded women of the 19th Century. Born Isabella Bomefree (later spelled Baumfree) in about 1797 in Hurley, N.Y., Isabella was sold four times before she and her daughter were given their freedom in 1828. She spoke low Dutch until she was about 10 years old and never learned to read or write. In 1843 she changed her name to Sojourner Truth to reflect her chosen mission of traveling to show people their sins and telling them what is true. She is often cited as one of the most effective and powerful speech-makers of her time.

To learn more about this program, visit SUNY Orange’s Sojourner Truth website at www.sunyorange.edu/stap or call the Office of Student Services at (845) 341-4000.

Scholars featured in this post are recipients from Meadow Hill School: Abigail Bailey, Mokechi Fumoto, Vilma Alejandra Orellana Cabrera, and Angelica Gonzalez.

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!