NEW YORK STATE — State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor John King Jr. recently announced the sixth class of Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Student Ambassadors. 

Twenty students from 18 campuses will serve as mentors to other students and encourage high school seniors to enroll, help build on the established student support network for EOP students across the SUNY system, and advise SUNY on ways to keep strengthening the program. 

“For 60 years, SUNY's Educational Opportunity Program has supported tens of thousands of students as they work to achieve academic excellence and upward mobility,” said King. “EOP students are models of student success and some of our most effective ambassadors for the affordable excellence SUNY provides. SUNY is proud to recognize the hard work of our EOP students and provide them opportunities to support their peers during their academic journey.”

“Through the support of Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature, SUNY can provide our EOP students with vital opportunities to support both current and potential SUNY students to pursue their dreams,” the SUNY board wrote.

SUNY EOP Ambassadors are EOP students in good academic standing who are enrolled full-time for the fall 2026 semester. The student ambassadors will receive stipends of $2,500 per semester toward their financial aid package to carry out this role. 

The students selected to be EOP Ambassadors are:

• Chriss-Ann Pryce, SUNY Albany
• Haljazir Headley, SUNY Albany
• Abraham Olatunde, SUNY Binghamton 
• Emily Vasquez, SUNY Binghamton
• Sebastian Adams, SUNY Stony Brook
• Mark Hammond, SUNY Adirondack
• Christian Moore, Alfred State College
• Amaar Kelly, Buffalo State University
• Lia Lazare, SUNY Canton
• Tyrell Rivers, Corning Community College
• Roosvelly Charles, Farmingdale State College
• Tara Ventura Mercedes, Fulton-Montgomery Community College
• Rancelli Burdier, SUNY New Paltz
• Brian Amaya, SUNY Old Westbury
• Ahmad Quadri, SUNY Oswego
• Jesli Chopin, SUNY Potsdam
• Jada Villanueva, SUNY Purchase
• Arianna Sinclair, SUNY Sullivan
• Keily Montes, Westchester Community College 
• Khadijat Oladejo, SUNY Delhi

To serve as student ambassadors, SUNY students were nominated by the EOP directors, and a committee composed of SUNY system administrators selected each ambassador based on their demonstrated leadership, potential as a peer mentor, and commitment to the program.

The FY2026-27 enacted state budget included a $10.7 million increase in state funding for EOP. 

“The nearly 60-year-old initiative provides affordable excellence and comprehensive support to help students from low-income backgrounds who did not receive sufficient academic preparation in K-12—many of whom are the first in their families to go to college—succeed in earning a degree,” a news release noted. 

In its 59-year history, EOP has graduated nearly 90,000 students and evolved into one of the country's most successful college access programs. EOP eligibility is based on income and academic readiness. More information about SUNY's EOP can be found at https://www.suny.edu/attend/academics/eop.

Since 2022, SUNY EOP enrollment has increased by 21 percent, reflecting continued demand for the program and the confidence students and families place in its supports. At the same time, the most recent SUNY EOP outcomes show strong first-year retention for the Fall 2024 entering cohort across every sector; doctoral-granting institutions reached 90.1 percent, comprehensive colleges 72.3 percent, technology colleges 65.2 percent, and community colleges 64.5 percent. “These results demonstrate that when EOP is adequately resourced, students persist, campuses are strengthened, and New York's investment produces measurable returns,” the program added.

SUNY has taken steps to expand the support and resources available to EOP students. Last week, SUNY announced the expansion of the EOP Scholars Program for students pursuing careers in computer science, cybersecurity, and AI fields. In August, SUNY highlighted undergraduate summer research programs during a research symposium for EOP students. Recently, SUNY announced the expansion of the EOP Scholars Program, which provides comprehensive academic, financial, and mentoring support to ensure student success, to support students in fields including computer science, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The EOP Scholars Program was also expanded in February to support students in nursing and teaching degree programs focused on shortage areas, as well as in 2024 to include mental health fields and engineering. In 2021, SUNY launched the pre-medical Educational Opportunity Program to provide EOP students with additional support and mentoring towards their path to medical school.

To further support EOP students, SUNY launched a partnership with Kaplan to offer EOP students free access to comprehensive test preparation resources over the next three years, including practice tests for graduate-level admissions exams and professional licensure exams. In February 2025, King, the chancellor, announced an EOP Career Development Internship Program in partnership with state agencies to provide students with real-world professional experience and skill development within a field that aligns both with their academic pursuits and personal interests.

About the State University of New York 

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers and over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more, visit suny.edu.

EOP student ambassadors from the region

Contributed by the STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

Arianna Sinclair

Arianna Sinclair is a senior nursing student at SUNY Sullivan Community College, a two-time EOP Ambassador, and a fellow in the Catskill Hudson Area Health Education Center Fellowship Program. Throughout her college journey, she has embraced opportunities to grow as a leader, advocate and future health care professional. She previously served as Student Government Association President, an experience that strengthened her passion for student advocacy, leadership and building community.

Originally from Jamaica, Arianna has always understood the importance of community and having people who believe in you. Her experience as an EOP student has helped her grow in ways she could have never imagined, not only academically, but personally and professionally. Through EOP, she has gained meaningful relationships, opportunities, confidence and a stronger sense of purpose.

Outside of school, Arianna works primarily as a babysitter, caring for children and working closely with their parents. This experience has helped her develop patience, communication, adaptability, responsibility, and people skills that will continue to serve her throughout her nursing career. Working with both children and parents has also given her valuable experience in building trust and communicating with families, an important part of providing compassionate care as a future nurse.

As a returning EOP Ambassador, Arianna is especially excited to continue to give back to the program that continues to give her so much. She hopes to be a source of encouragement and support for students while helping them recognize their potential and make the most of their own EOP experience. For her, being an ambassador is more than a title; it is an opportunity to represent a community that has played such an important role in her growth.

Rancelli Marie Burdier

Rancelli Marie Burdier is a psychology major at SUNY New Paltz and a senior anticipating graduation in May 2027. As a first-generation college student and transfer student from SUNY Orange, Rancelli now serves as an EOP Ambassador and EOP Mentor at SUNY New Paltz. Her previous experience as an EOP Ambassador at SUNY Orange, along with her own transition between institutions, taught her the importance of community, mentorship and asking for help. These experiences inspire her commitment to supporting students through the pivotal moments of their college journeys. 

During her time at SUNY Orange, her academic excellence and resilience were recognized with the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence and Resilience and the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. 

At SUNY New Paltz, she serves as a peer coach with the Center for Student Success, supporting students as they navigate their academic experiences and connect with campus resources.

Rancelli is also a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, and Tau Sigma National Honor Society for transfer students. In 2026, she completed New Leadership® New York through the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society, strengthening her interests in civic engagement, public policy and community leadership. Her own journey has reinforced the importance of not playing it small, recognizing that asking for help is a strength, and seeking opportunities. She believes the journey is not about being perfect or doing the most, but about being true to who you are and being intentional about the work you choose to do. Through her leadership and mentorship, Rancelli hopes to empower students to believe in themselves, recognize their own strengths, and use that power to make a meaningful impact in their communities.