Buffalo Promise Scholarships to Alfred State

Alfred State College (ASC) is proud to announce the first recipients of a new scholarship program to assist residents on the East Side of Buffalo. The neighborhood was savagely attacked by a gunman who opened fire killing 10 people at a grocery store on May 12, 2022. One year later there are many ways that people across the nation have rallied to support the neighborhood and ASC is proud to provide hope and brighter futures for community residents.

For many years Alfred State has focused support on this neighborhood through high school partnerships and by offering career-launching degrees at Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC) based in the community. Nasir Harris and Fernando Vega are the first to be awarded scholarships through Alfred State’s Buffalo Promise initiative. 

“Buffalo’s East Side is still reeling from the May 2022 mass shooting and many of our students, parents, and alumni were personally impacted,” said ASC VP of Institutional Advancement Danielle White. “The tragedy happened on the same day when we held our commencement in Alfred. It’s unimaginable how that celebratory graduation day was abruptly interrupted for so many of our families. Alfred State’s President Dr. Steven Mauro and his wife Melissa established the Buffalo Promise Scholarships to encourage us all to lift one another up even in the shadow of such hate. We welcome others to contribute so that the Buffalo Promise Scholarships continue to grow and help more students.”

Buffalo Promise Scholarships are available for city residents, preferably from East Side neighborhoods. The awards are to assist with non-tuition costs such as fees, housing, meals, and tools for those seeking applied technology degrees at either the Wellsville or Northland campuses of Alfred State College. There is a minimum grade point average requirement to ensure that each student stays focused on their studies, earns their degree, and launches a new career.

“We will forever mourn the loss of the ten lives lost in May 2022 and continue to pray for all impacted by this act of violence,” said NWTC President and CEO Stephen Tucker. “In the wake of this horrible tragedy, however, we are proud to have witnessed our city - the City of Good Neighbors - choose love over hatred. Today, on behalf of myself and the entire team at NWTC, we congratulate Nasir Harris and Fernando Vega on being the first recipients of Alfred State’s Buffalo Promise Scholarships. Nasir and Fernando represent determination, dedication, and grit. We are proud to honor them today alongside Alfred State College.”

At Alfred State, an astonishingly high number of new students, 77% of those enrolled from New York, are eligible for all SUNY tuition costs to be paid thanks to Pell, TAP, and Excelsior. Buffalo Promise Scholarships help with other fees since tuition costs are not an obstacle to low-income families who choose ASC. US News ranks Alfred State the #1 SUNY among all Regional Colleges and #2 SUNY on Social Mobility for assisting low-income families and first-generation college students. ASC has an employment and continuing education rate of 98 percent.

“I’m proud to tell you about Nasir Harris and Fernando Vega,” said ASC Dean of the School of Applied Technology Jeff Stevens. “They chose to learn career skills at our Northland campus in Buffalo where they can stay close to home. Nasir’s studies in Electrical Construction and Maintenance provide her with strong electrician skills, knowledge of current codes, and hands-on experience. Fernando’s degree in Welding Technology is also hands-on and safety-minded using equipment just like the pros. Employers are eager to hire grads with these skills, so these students are on a solid path to good-paying careers.”

For those who would like to join this effort and honor the legacy of lives taken during the 2022 mass shooting, encourage community residents to utilize education to enrich their lives, and show that our world is full of kindness for one another, give to Alfred State’s Buffalo Promise Scholarships. The amount of assistance and the number of recipients can grow with continued contributions. 

Make an online donation by clicking “Make a gift to Alfred State” and choosing the Buffalo Promise Scholarship at www.AlfredState.edu/give.

Since opening its doors on September 3, 2018, Northland Workforce Training Center has provided 876 individuals, and counting, with opportunities to overcome personal and societal barriers by facilitating training for in-demand careers in advanced manufacturing and clean energy. Of the 316 graduates to date, 275 have been placed in jobs. These placements have a combined economic impact of more than $10.6 million in wages added to the Western New York economy. A unique Northland partnership with two State University of New York (SUNY) colleges offers associate degrees or certificates from Alfred State College and Erie Community College.