Brian Amaya ’27, an accounting major in the School of Business at the State University of New York at Old Westbury, recently participated alongside SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. and other students from across the system in an information session to highlight the importance of SUNY’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
Held at Schenectady High School in Schenectady, New York, the event connected high school students with Amaya and other SUNY EOP Ambassadors who shared their experience with the program. Since its inception in 1967, SUNY’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program has provided access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to students from low-income backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college.
"The Educational Opportunity Program continues to be a driver of student success and upward mobility on SUNY campuses throughout New York State,” SUNY Chancellor King said. “We are proud to offer prospective students the opportunity to learn more about the robust support programs, like EOP, available to empower them on their academic journey. SUNY is committed to ensuring that there is a place for every New Yorker at our campuses, so that all students can be empowered to pursue the high-quality, affordable education to help them unleash their full potential after graduation.”
During the information session, students from Schenectady High School had the opportunity to meet with Amaya and other EOP students the University at Albany and Stony Brook University. The current SUNY students shared their experiences with being enrolled in the EOP program and answered questions from the high school students on how the program works, and how it will help them thrive.
“EOP gave me the best opportunity to channel my hard work with similar minded people and be a part of a community focused on success and career development,” Amaya told the audience.
In its nearly 60-year history, SUNY EOP has helped support some 90,000 students to graduate and evolved into one of the country’s most successful college access programs. EOP eligibility is based on income and academic readiness. EOP currently serves more than 9,000 students across 55 SUNY campuses.
Learn more about EOP at SUNY Old Westbury.