Excelsior Scholarship applications available

The application for the Excelsior Scholarship is now available. The goal of the state-run program is to make tuition free of charge for lower and middle-income students enrolled in a degree programs at SUNY and CUNY colleges, according to the Higher Education Services Corp., the state’s student financial aid agency.

Recipients receive up to $5,500 toward tuition.

More than 900,000 families are qualified to receive assistance, according to the governor’s website.

To be eligible, applicants are typically required to attend school full-time, reside in New York, and be in good academic standing. For the first year, families making up to $100,000 annually are eligible to apply.

As the state fully phases in the program, the income requirement will increase to $125,000, according to the state’s website.
The deadline to apply is July 21. For more information, visit HESC.ny.gov.

Mount alumna receives award
Roselande Cherubin, a 2017 graduate from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, received a community service award from Community Board 8 for her volunteer work at Hebrew Home at Riverdale.

Cherubin, who studied nursing at the Mount, began volunteering at the senior citizen assisted living facility during her freshman year. She started out working on Hebrew Homes’ transportation program and worked her way to more hands-on experience such as clinical rotations.

A kind word or even a bright “good morning” was enough to elicit a smile, she added.

CB8’s service award acknowledges the work of individuals and groups. Cherubin is one of three recipients.

Board of Regents reduces testing days
Starting in Spring 2018, the New York State Board of Regents will reduce the number of test days from three to two for students from third grade to eighth who take the English language arts and mathematics exams.

The Regents Board expects the decision will reduce scoring time for teachers, help schools move toward computer-based testing, and return some additional classroom time to teachers.