CMSV students rally for financial aid

With her family struggling financially due to her mother’s disability, Natalya Morgan doubted she would be able to attend the College of Mount Saint Vincent (CMSV), where she had planned to study nursing.

Three days before the first semester started, she received life-changing news: her education would be paid for through New York’s Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). 

“[My mom] had no idea how she would pay off college,” said the 19-year-old, now a freshman in her second semester at CMSV. “Without the program, it wouldn’t have happened.” 

On Feb. 9, Ms. Morgan, along with three fellow HEOP beneficiaries at the school, traveled to Albany for New York Student Aid Alliance Advocacy Day. The event gives students the opportunity to meet with legislators who have supported student aid programs like HEOP, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and others. 

It was the first trip of its kind sponsored by CMSV, which partnered with the New York State Education Department to bring the program to the college this year. 

Fifteen students at the school are now enrolled in the financial aid program, which includes a pre-freshman summer program for its students and requires participants to attend eight hours of tutoring at the college each month.

For the students in the program, the trip to the Legislative Office Building in Albany was a chance to not only meet other HEOP students, but also shed light on the importance of New York State’s student aid programs.

“A lot of people do struggle,” said freshman Tiffany Cabral, 18

The road trip to the capital started bright and early, with the traveling students boarding the bus at 6 a.m. that day.

Once they arrived, they heard stories from other HEOP students, who had struggled to find answers to their tuition problems before receiving financial aid. 

Students also spoke with a representative for Bronx state Sen. Jeff Klein about the need to continue expanding financial aid programs in the state. 

Ms. Morgan and Ms. Cabral are two of 370,000 students in the state who rely on state financial aid to attend college. 

“It makes me want to get [more] involved,” said Ms. Cabral. 

After the trip, they brought “stand for student aid” signs and stickers back to Riverdale with them. 

For CMSV’s HEOP director Kathryn Sciocchetti, the Albany trip empowered students. 

“I wholeheartedly believe in student advocacy in all forms,” she said. “Giving the Mount students the chance to visit Albany and prove the significance of programs like HEOP is allowing them to advocate for themselves.”

“Now, the powers that be just have to listen and deliver,” she added.