Giving Rise to the Dreams of Others

Gaining a Global Perspective

When Brian Bauer '22 graduates and is commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, he'll employ not only his education in international relations from Syracuse University's renowned Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences, but also his experience studying abroad in Asia. Based in Hong Kong during a Syracuse Abroad program his sophomore year as a cadet in Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), Bauer studied Mandarin, religion and economics while completing his ROTC course requirements online. He also capitalized on the Syracuse alumni network to secure an internship at the Ogilvy public relations firm in Hong Kong.

Bauer is interested in working in another country after graduation and knows that his time abroad will be a major asset. He plans to be fully active duty in the military for at least four years, then hopes to attend law school and eventually practice law and serve part time in the Army Reserve. He is especially interested in international law, which would give him the opportunity to explore the world and work with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Bauer’s experiences have been made possible in part by the Gloria and Sidney Danziger Scholarship and the Syracuse Army ROTC Scholarship. Already a member of the Forever Orange Student Alumni Council, Bauer plans to keep giving back to the Orange community that has given him so much. “I want to support students and let them know that being part of the Syracuse University community is about representing something bigger than yourself. You’re part of a family.”

Preparing for a Political Future

Gretchen Coleman '22 is helping to bring meaningful change to voting reform in our nation. When she saw that young voters consistently turn out in lower numbers than older generations, she got to work founding Ballot Z, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to broadening youth voting in her home state of Illinois. The recipient of the Coronat Scholarship to study political philosophy and political science at Syracuse University's College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Coleman continues to prepare for a career in election reform. This year she completed the application process and was named a finalist for the prestigious Truman Scholarship for public service leadership. Mentoring for the Truman award and other prominent national scholarships is one of the special benefits of being a Coronat Scholar. In addition to tuition, this highly competitive scholarship also supports study abroad, research projects, summer internships and participation in the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

Coleman serves as treasurer for the campus chapter of the College Democrats of America and is a student research mentor for the Syracuse University Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE), and she is engaged in research for her honors thesis project analyzing political trust and distrust among her peers. She has interned for New York State Senator Rachel May; Illinois Congressman Sean Casten; and the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis in the capital city of Rabat, where she participated in the Syracuse Abroad World Partner program AMIDEAST Area and Arabic Language Studies in Morocco.

Advisor Nathan Raybeck marvels at Coleman’s intellectual prowess, noting her desire to understand every “facet and nuance” of an issue. “Gretchen is unwavering in her democratic ideals. Her determination gives me hope for our political future.”

Inspiring Research and Leadership

With a penchant for problem-solving, Hong Beom Lee '23 finds plenty to fuel his interest in physics and mathematics at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He looked forward to the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research and was thrilled to start his sophomore year. The Founders’ Scholarship and the Invest In SUccess Scholarship allow Lee to maintain his fast-paced pursuit of learning through the study of biophysics. His focus is on the tactoid, an elongated particle that appears as a spindle-shaped body under a spinning disk confocal microscope. Lee is a regular in the lab, where he evaluates slides under microscopes and works with various chemicals to conduct his experiments. Other times, he’s reviewing journals and papers to gain a better understanding of current theories. In the research lab of Professor Jennifer Ross, Beom is seeking to understand how the cell organizes its interior without a manager. Continuing at his current level of achievement, Lee's work may be published.

As a student in the Renée Crown University Honors Program, Lee enjoys interacting with other students who want to excel. Through small Honors classes and seminars, he gets to debate topics in depth with fellow students. He also pays it forward as a physics peer coach, strengthening his own understanding of challenging physics lessons at the same time. Lee says his scholarships motivate his education even further. “Being a scholarship recipient pushes me to work extra hard, because the University gave me this opportunity. I want to show it was a good decision."

Building a Future in Aerospace

Divyne Hutchinson '24 has always wanted to fly. To get a jumpstart on a future in aerospace, she joined the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program as a junior in high school. After a visit to Syracuse University and some research into the aerospace engineering program in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, she knew Syracuse was for her. Hutchinson worked extra hard to ensure her admission. And, to help with the cost of attending, she applied for and received the Wilder J. Leavitt and Mary P. Morningstar Scholarship for Military-Connected Students offered through the University’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.

Hutchinson is now a cadet with the University’s Air Force ROTC, where upon graduation she’ll earn the commission of second lieutenant in the Air Force in addition to a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering. She's excited about all the academic opportunities available to her—like when she and her classmates got to virtually design, build and test a Mars Rover. After graduating, Hutchinson envisions serving her country as a developmental engineer for the Air Force or perhaps joining the Space Force. “It takes a lot of financing to achieve your dream, and for donors to continue to give with scholarships like this is a huge help," Hutchinson says. "I know when I reach my goals and I’m at a great place in my life, I am going to give back.”