The Tangerine is Utica University’s student-run newspaper and online news source. Young Scholars was featured in the recent issue!

“Young Scholars was established in 1993, partnering Utica University with the Utica City School District (UCSD), and is designed to motivate students to stay in school, earn a New York State Regents diploma with Advanced Designation and pursue a college education.

Around 79% of Young Scholars are from minority or refugee backgrounds and at least 90% are first-generation college students.

The Utica Promise is a package Young Scholars (YS) graduates receive if they earn an Advanced Regents Diploma from Proctor High School. Students with an Advanced Regents Diploma receive financial help consisting of scholarships, grants, loans and work-study positions.

Assistant Director of Young Scholars Dorentina Binaku is a Young Scholars graduate. As a child of refugee parents, she said the program opened up college as an option for her future because it wouldn’t be financially feasible without the help.

“Once Young Scholars came along, our motto is ‘grow big dreams,’ and it truly allowed me to grow mine,” Binaku said.”

To read more of the article, click here!