Metellus Perseverance & Resilience Scholarship

Background
The Metellus Perseverance & Resilience Scholarship is intended to recognize a student who has continued pursuing a college education while navigating significant personal, financial, family, housing, employment, or educational challenges.

Kalief Metellus' path to higher education was shaped by personal adversity and instability that required persistence long before college. This scholarship is designed to honor students who continue moving forward despite significant challenges and to recognize resilience, determination, and continued progress as meaningful measures of success.

Proposed Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a currently enrolled SUNY Old Westbury undergraduate student.

• Must be enrolled full time.

• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

• Must be in good academic standing and making satisfactory academic progress.

• Must be a sophomore, junior, or senior at the time of application.

• Demonstrated financial need may be considered as part of the selection process.

• Must submit a brief personal statement describing a meaningful challenge, how the applicant responded to it, and how the applicant has continued progressing toward educational goals.

Selection Emphasis
Academic achievement should be considered within the context of the applicant's circumstances, with emphasis placed on persistence and continued progress rather than academic performance alone.

Program Intent
The scholarship is designed to recognize progress and perseverance as meaningful indicators of student success. It is intended to acknowledge that achievement may be demonstrated not only by grades, but also by the ability to remain engaged in higher education while navigating substantial life challenges.