SUNY Plattsburgh EOP Students Head into Summer with Awards, Scholarships, Jobs

Several SUNY Plattsburgh Educational Opportunity Program students head into the summer with awards in hand and pre-medical programs and summer jobs on the horizon.

Now in its 57^th year, EOP provides access, academic support and financial aid to students who show promise for succeeding in college but who may not have otherwise been offered admission. Program participants receive a variety of academic support services and modest financial support to alleviate non-tuition costs such as books and supplies. Available primarily to full-time, matriculated students, the program supports students throughout their college careers within SUNY.

EOP ‘Instrumental in My Development’

Angelina Briggs accepted the 2024 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Educational Opportunity Program Students Excellence from SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. in April at the Franklin Terrace Ballroom in Troy, N.Y.

The award, now celebrating its fifth class of honorees, recognizes outstanding EOP students for their academic merit and perseverance. Named in memory of McConney, a graduate of the University at Albany and former assistant dean for special programs at SUNY, he, alongside former Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, helped create the EOP as a statewide program.

“EOP has been instrumental in my development as a SUNY Plattsburgh student. I do not believe I would have been able to achieve any of my successes without the support of EOP,” Briggs, a Manhattanite, said. “Being able to be recognized for all I have done for the SUNY Plattsburgh community is unbelievable, especially through the program which has poured into me so much.”

Briggs, an audio and radio production major, graduated earlier in May. In her final semester, she took 23 credits, was the treasurer of the Student Association and was the vice president of Black Onyx, the Black student union.

She aims to work in marketing or public relations in the entertainment or music industry.

“My pride in her is an understatement,” said Fredrica “Freddy” Appau-Wemette, senior EOP counselor. “My students will always have whatever support their story requires from me. Angie is no different, but I always remind them that they did the work. She did the work.”

She cited Briggs’ internship in South Korea, during which Appau-Wemette said Briggs learned to speak the language “like a local.”

“She is a blueprint for many students like herself in EOP to come. I am grateful to have been able to be part of her journey,” Appau-Wemette said.

Medex Assemba Ebere, Joseph Ramos and Julia Gyebi were selected for the SUNY Pre-Medical Opportunity Program, which looks to address persistent income disparities in medical education by attempting to level the playing field for talented and capable EOP students who pursue a career in medicine.

The pre-med program partners with SUNY’s medical universities at the University at Buffalo, Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, the SUNY College of Optometry in New York City, Stony Brook University on Long Island, and Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

The program provides academic coaching, mentorship, clinical exposure, help with MCAT test preparation, laboratory sessions, tutoring and research experience.

Ebere ’27 is a biomedical sciences major from Gabon, a small African country.

“Receiving this award is deeply meaningful, as it acknowledges the dedication and effort I’ve put into my studies over many months,” he said. “To achieve this, I had to push myself to study consistently, even during times when I lacked the motivation.”

Ebere will complete the program at SUNY Downstate and Stony Brook University. It begins in June.

The in-person program at SUNY Downstate allows students to participate in discussions with health practitioners, workshops and experience faculty presentations, he said.

EOP ‘Encourages Me Not to Give Up’

Ebere said the program’s overarching goal is to prepare students for graduate and professional school while helping them navigate the rest of their undergraduate careers.

“My aspiration is to become a doctor, contributing to health care and making a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

In addition to his initiative, Ebere credits the EOP program, which provided encouragement and support that helped him along the way.

“The EOP program helps me a lot by encouraging me to not give up on my dream and to also continue to work harder,” Ebere said.

‘EOP Adviser also a Friend’

Ramos, a biomedical sciences major from Brooklyn, said the program will help him increase his confidence as he prepares to apply for medical school.

“Attending this medical program allows me to gather insight into what specific specialty may interest me the most,” Ramos said.

The college senior credited his EOP adviser, Jessica Santos, for telling him about the Pre-Medical Opportunity Program.

“Without her guidance, I would not be sure of what to do with my college life,” he said. “I am grateful because I don’t only view her as my adviser but as a friend.”

EOP Provides a ‘Strong Sense of Community’

Brandford Dankwa, a management information systems major, was the most recent  SUNY Plattsburgh EOP student to be named an Arthur O. Eve EOP Student Ambassador, a program designed for EOP students to serve as mentors for their fellow students, create a student EOP support network of EOP students across the SUNY system, advise the chancellor on strengthening the program and help inspire more students to seek opportunities through EOP.

“Receiving this ambassadorship for the Educational Opportunity Program is a tremendous honor and a significant milestone in my academic and personal development,” Dankwa said. “It recognizes my efforts and accomplishments, which were made possible by EOP’s constant support and resources. This position allows me to give back to a program that has helped me succeed as well as assist other students in navigating their own educational journeys.”

Dankwa said EOP’s role in his success was crucial, as it provided academic support and a “strong sense of community.” The program’s financial assistance “alleviated the stress of tuition and living expenses, allowing me to focus on my studies.”

“This ambassadorship role is a testament to the transformative impact of EOP on my life. It is an opportunity for me to inspire and assist other students as they pursue their dreams, just as EOP as done for me,” Dankwa said.

‘Looking Forward to What’s Ahead’

Kathryn Breen of Connelly, N.Y., who graduated in May with a bachelor’s in environmental studies and a minor in political science, interned in Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestha’s office in the New York State Assembly in Albany this past semester and was then offered a summer job in Shrestha’s office.

“Kat has a 3.85 GPA. She is a stellar student,” said Appau-Wemette.

“I am very excited and looking forward to what’s ahead,” Breen said.

Who is eligible for EOP?

To be considered for admission to EOP, students must:

• Be a New York state resident for 12 months prior to enrollment
• Have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Be ineligible for admission under traditional admission standards — students who fall slightly below the criteria for general admission
• Qualify as economically disadvantaged according to income guidelines set by the state Education Department
• Enroll as a full-time student

For more information on SUNY Plattsburgh’s EOP, contact the office at 518-564-2263 or email [email protected].

— Story by Assistant Director of Communications Felicia Krieg. Photos provided.