Buffalo State Honors Challenge Program Students at Awards Luncheon

Buffalo State and Congressman Brian Higgins, ’85, will honor the academic achievements of local high school students at the sixth annual Buffalo State Challenge awards luncheon, Tuesday, June 28, at noon in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall.

The ceremony honors high school students who have participated in the “Challenge” incentive program during the previous year. The program is an early outreach initiative designed to cultivate college-going awareness among students in Buffalo’s public schools, beginning in the ninth grade. Through mentoring relationships, community service and leadership development, and academic support services provided by Buffalo State’s pre-collegiate programs, the Buffalo State Challenge starts students on the road to a successful college experience.

First implemented in 2010, the Challenge program has served more than 200 local students and is currently a partnership with McKinley High School—which saw a 10 percent increase in graduation rates from 2013–2015.

In addition to encouraging traditionally at-risk students to attend college, the program offers a $1,500 scholarship to Buffalo State for high school seniors who graduate with an 85 or higher grade point average and a combined SAT score in reading and math of 1,000 or higher. The scholarship is renewable for up to four consecutive years (a total of $6,000).

At the event, honorees will be recognized in five categories—“Persistence,” “Honorable Progress,” “Outstanding Achievement,” “Aim High Superstar,” and “Student of the Year.”

The awards luncheon is offered through the Admissions Office with support from the President’s, Dean of Students, Alumni Association, Enrollment Management, and Student Affairs offices; the Center for Excellence for Urban and Rural Education; the Science Technology Entry Program; and Upward Bound program, among others.