The Kessler Scholars Program is built around cornerstone activities designed to build a sense of community among Kessler Scholars and lead to desired outcomes, including year-to-year persistence and degree completion. Our core program activities include individualized student support, seminars and workshops, peer mentorship, student leadership opportunities and community service.
In addition, we have designed a number of program enhancements to complement the core activities and create transformational opportunities for our scholars to grow and develop personally, academically and professionally.
These career-focused programs aim to provide students with opportunities to expand their understanding of diverse industries and job-placement opportunities. By traveling locally, regionally and nationally to metropolitan areas, our scholars are exposed to different environments and organizational cultures, connect with Syracuse and Kessler alumni, and grow their networks and their professional skills as they prepare to join the job market. Career immersion trips are also incredibly beneficial for students at the start of their academic journey, as they help visualize a future than can impact their choice of academic major and their campus involvement.
The Kessler Coin Ceremony marks the beginning of the first-generation journey into college. This is an annual event to welcome and introduce the new Kessler Scholars to the program and the University community. Central to the event, new Kessler Scholars are presented with a Kessler Scholars Coin, a small token that reflects their belonging and importance in a community of first-generation scholars that reaches not only across their campus, but also with Kessler Scholars at 15 other institutions nationwide.
The Kessler Scholars Coin symbolizes the students’ shared strength and identity as Kessler Scholars.
The Kessler Scholars Program aims to transform lives by helping the students we support reach their goal of being the first in their family to earn a four-year degree. When Kessler Scholars reach graduation, it is a moment to celebrate!
All scholars in the program come together to celebrate this milestone, with graduating seniors sharing their plans ahead to model goal-setting and post-graduation achievement. A Kessler Scholars stole marks the culmination of their undergraduate academic achievement and adds visibility to their Commencement regalia, while the Kessler lapel pin marks their entrance to the Kessler and Syracuse alumni networks, where students are empowered by their achievements and connected with the ever-growing community of alumni that have achieved the milestone of graduating college.
The Kessler Scholars Leadership Retreat is an off-campus retreat focused on personal and leadership development and community building. Participants engage with peers, alumni and professionals to explore different perspectives of their identity, visualize their goals and increase their professional skills within a community of support where it is safe to learn from each other.