New Scholarship to Support Community College Graduates Transferring to NYU

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation launched a scholarship program to support outstanding community college graduates transferring to New York University’s College of Arts & Science (CAS).

The Joseph R. Attonito CCTOP Scholarship, named after the late Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation trustee Joseph R. Attonito, will provide 20 selected scholars to receive $25,000 in each of their two years at CAS over the next five years, according to a press release. 

These students will transfer to NYU’s CAS through the Community College Transfer Opportunity Program (CCTOP), an initiative designed to ease the transition for students moving from community colleges to the university.

The recipients will be required to explore the culture and history of Long Island and the New York City region and integrate their findings into their academic studies, the press release said.

“We are delighted to continue our support for New York-area community college students transferring to the College of Arts & Science at New York University,” said Kathryn Curran, executive director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. “These talented, motivated students gain access to faculty and scholarship across the liberal arts, including the local history at the core of the foundation’s mission.”

The CCTOP program assists students with the academic and social transition from community colleges to NYU. It offers orientation activities, personalized advising and access to academic resources that help students thrive in their new environment. For students enrolled in CCTOP, the scholarship provides significant financial relief, enabling them to focus on their studies without the added burden of tuition costs.

“The Joseph R. Attonito CCTOP Scholarship is a critical complement to the transition services we provide to students who have arrived from local community colleges through CCTOP,” said Wendy Suzuki, the Seryl Kushner Dean of CAS. “These students truly enrich our community, and on their behalf and that of the College and University, I offer the Gardiner Foundation my sincere thanks.”

Claire Wilgus, a student at CAS and a 2024 graduate of the program, said the program helped her transition from the City University of New York to NYU.

“When I began looking into four-year institutions for my bachelor’s, I never imagined attending a school like NYU,” Wilgus said. “Then my professors and advisors told me about CCTOP and encouraged me to apply. Getting that acceptance letter initiated a complete shift in the journey I had anticipated for myself. Without the generous scholarship, this would not have been possible.”