Melanie Aracena '24 was prepared to work two part-time jobs, three if necessary, to afford her graduate education. But for the second time, Siena has her back.
Before Melanie was faced with the financial challenges of graduate school, she was confronted with the cost of an undergraduate education. No one from her family had ever attended college, and if Melanie was to be the first, she'd have to find a way to pay for it. Every option was on the table – including the Army.
"My mom really didn't want me to go to the Army and I'm not sure how I would have passed bootcamp."
When it came down to decision time, she didn't have to fret about bootcamp. Melanie earned a coveted spot in Siena's Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), which makes college possible for underserved high school graduates with high financial need. Melanie took the opportunity, which includes built-in academic and social support services, and seized it. Now, with her degree in social work, Melanie hopes to pay it forward.
"Growing up in a Hispanic household, therapy is frowned upon, but I had a great social worker in high school who inspired me to get a college degree. She told me I can be an Hispanic woman and make it professionally. I believed her, and now I want to motivate others. I'd like to become a professor and inspire other diverse students in order for them to believe they can reach their goals regardless of their circumstances."
An important next step will be earning her master's in social work. Melanie was accepted into the advanced standing MSW program at the University at Albany. She's already lined up part-time work as a social worker in the psychiatric wing at Ellis Hospital, but it's unlikely that job alone will cover tuition, books, and rent. The Lonnstrom HEOP Excellence Award will help pick up the difference.
The award was established in 2014 by Doug Lonnstrom ’66, Ph.D., retired professor of quantitative business analysis, and his wife, Cris, to support HEOP students in pursuing their careers and goals after graduation. The $5,000 award may be put toward transportation, moving, living expenses, tuition and book costs. Melanie is one of 13 members of the HEOP Class of 2024. Eligibility for the reward requires that a graduating HEOP student has either been accepted into a graduate program or has accepted a full-time job. The applicant must also write an essay and include instances of leadership within HEOP and the Siena community. Last year, the Lonnstroms endowed the scholarship thereby ensuring it will benefit one graduating HEOP student each year in perpetuity.
"The Lonnstroms don't know me at all, but when I met with Doug and Cris, Doug seemed to know everything about me. He clearly read my essay carefully, and it's obvious how much he cares. He genuinely wants me to keep in touch."
Melanie says it would have difficult to find an apartment and cover living expenses without this scholarship. She would have done anything to make ends meet, but now that stress is gone.
"I wouldn't be where I am today without Siena and HEOP, and now I'm so thankful to Siena and the Lonnstroms for helping me to get started in my next chapter."
"We are so grateful to Doug and Cris for their extraordinary support of our students. Doug told me before he retired, 'I'll take care of you guys,' and he meant it. We know one deserving, graduating senior will forever get a major boost exactly when they need it. Doug and Cris have made sure of that."
Yasmin Fisher '10, director of HEOP
