Nurturing Successful Futures

Scholarships and donations of all sizes can help bring college dreams to life for students from all backgrounds. Thanks to the support of generous donors and opportunities that Syracuse University scholarships afford, not only can students pursue their studies but often become inspired to give back.

Field Goals: Julius Rauch ’24

Growing up in Düsseldorf, Germany, Julius Rauch ’24 dreamed of playing soccer at a Division I school. For him, that meant traveling across the globe to play for Syracuse University. “I knew I wanted to compete at the highest level, and that is exactly what brought me to Syracuse,” Rauch says.

Rauch was impressed by the University’s training facilities as well as its academics. Studying entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises and finance in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Rauch loves the challenge his mind gets inside the classroom and that it matches the physical challenge of soccer. “Whitman has amazing professors who teach you by experience and not just by a textbook, which is beautiful.”

Rauch received an athletics scholarship and two academic scholarships, including the Dean’s Inclusive Excellence Scholarship through the Whitman School. “It’s nice being seen not just as an athlete but for all the work I put in the classroom, because it’s tough when you have to make up classes due to traveling for games,” Rauch says of his scholarships. “I cherish being awarded the Dean’s scholarship because it shows all the hard work I put into my studies is being recognized.”

Between classes, soccer practice and games, and the organizations he’s involved with—including the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Boys & Girls Club of Syracuse and a charity organization he started with teammate Noah Singelmann ’22—he’s grateful that the scholarships he’s received allow him to more easily enjoy his college experience.

“I think giving, in general, is important because it is a way to make the world a better place. I think when you give to somebody, especially in the form of scholarships, you believe they can be a difference maker in the world,” Rauch says.

Rauch, who also studied abroad in Madrid, says that unbeknownst to donors, they’ve enabled him and others to experience the opportunity of a lifetime and he looks forward to the day when he can do the same for future students.

“I think giving is a beautiful thing that causes a cycle of hope, gratefulness and opportunity. I can’t overstate the profound impact donor giving had on my life and career here at Syracuse. It makes such a huge difference and gave me a multitude of opportunities.”

Library Learning: Olivia Russo G'24

You probably don’t wonder why your local library has the books that it does or offers the community programming that it does, but Olivia Russo G’24 thinks about it. It’s part of what she learns in her classes as a master’s student in library and information science in the School of Information Studies.

“It blows my mind the capacity for good we have as librarians through community services and programs,” says Russo, who studied history as an undergraduate at Le Moyne College.

This is just one of the many lessons she’s learned in her classes where she’s discovered that there is way more to being a librarian than stocking shelves with books—it’s about building a community.

Russo received the Information Literacy Scholars scholarship, which, in addition to covering half of her tuition, provides her with part-time employment with the Syracuse University Libraries.

“I would not be at Syracuse University if I didn’t have the scholarship,” Russo says. As a scholar, she receives practical experience in a variety of capacities at the Libraries—from desk support in the Learning Commons to information literacy instruction and assessment.

“You cannot put a dollar amount on the hands-on learning experience that I get working at the reference desk and teaching in an undergraduate classroom. I get to teach fairly often, and it’s a really cool experience.”

Russo understands the importance of giving back to the University and how helpful it can be. "There are a lot of students who are at this University due to donors and scholarships and we’re all so grateful. It’s so important to give, especially from the library’s perspective where we’re all about sharing and creating knowledge. That goes to donating to the library too. If it weren’t for ample funding for the libraries, students wouldn’t have access to so many databases and pieces of information that’s crucial to our learning.”

Artistic Endeavors: Kyle Henry ’26

Kyle Henry’s ’26 family loves art. I guess you could say it’s in his blood. His grandfather was an art preparator for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and his grandmother worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, both in New York City.

That appreciation for art was passed onto Henry, who now studies art history in the College of Arts and Sciences and works at the Syracuse University Art Museum. One reason he likes working at the museum is the ability to engage with professors about art outside of the classroom. And of course, access to lots of art too.

Henry is a work-study student at the museum, which is just one way he’s able to help subsidize his education expenses. He’s also received several other awards and scholarships based on need and merit. “This isn’t my money, so that encourages me to work even harder,” Henry explains.

Working in the art museum, Henry gets to witness firsthand donations of a different kind. “The museum is a huge donor hotspot. Most of the pieces are either given by former students or people who have connections to Syracuse.”

These types of donations influence his academics and enrich his overall experience, inspiring him in his art history classes. He’s hopeful to receive another scholarship, which would help him study abroad in Florence, Italy, next year. Taken together, all these contributions—financial and educational—tell Henry he’s a valued member of the campus community, and he’s forever grateful.

“Thank you to the generous donors for building the Syracuse community. You’ve inspired other alumni to give, and you’ve helped make the campus a great place,” Henry says.