June 14, 2022 – Marist College was well represented at the annual gala benefitting the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (GLI) in New York City last month. Marist announced its first GLI scholarship program last year, which awards students from the organization’s national network of affiliated schools that demonstrate exceptional achievement in the study of history. All prospective freshman accepted to the College are eligible to apply for the scholarships. 
 
Marist College President Dr. Kevin Weinman, along with members of the college’s administration, alumni, donors and student scholarship recipients, attended the event as guests of Marist trustee Genine McCormick and her husband Michael (a GLI board member), both graduates of the Class of 1988. Kim and Frank Viggiano, of the Class of 2000, were also in attendance. The Viggiano’s were among the first donors to join the McCormick’s in supporting the GLI Scholarship initiative at Marist.
 
The event, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, honored the contributions of attorney Kathryn Chenault, business executive Kenneth Chenault and filmmaker Ken Burns. President Weinman was acknowledged during GLI President James Basker’s opening remarks, recognizing the partnership with Marist. President Weinman says the pilot program is already taking shape.
 
“It is critical that talented students from all backgrounds have the necessary resources to pursue their education at Marist and take full advantage of the robust academic experiences we offer,” said President Weinman. “The GLI partnership underscores Marist’s commitment to the study of history and the humanities and to promoting access for all students,” he said.

“This amazing partnership allows for high-achieving students to seek a path towards making a difference with a history degree from Marist,” said Sean Kaylor, Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Communication at Marist. “We have selected four more incoming freshman for the program this year and look forward to receiving more great applicants from all over the US in the years to come.”

This collaboration between Marist College and GLI provides scholarships for a total of twelve selected students over four years. All selected students are awarded based on academic merit and are provided financial assistance. The two inaugural recipients, Elisabet Guerrero Hernandez and Harumi Kameda, both were in attendance.

“Living in New York City, I wanted to attend a college that was close to home and had my major,” said Hernandez ‘25. “Marist College filled those categories, so I applied in hopes of getting accepted. This scholarship has provided me with so much more than just financial help. Having more opportunities to interact with my sponsors was a great opportunity to build a bond and make the most out of my college experience.”

When announced last year, Basker said this scholarship provides students with access to superior historical resources, which is at the heart of GLI’s mission. “We're thrilled to partner with Marist College to help these outstanding students, each nominated by a teacher in our Affiliate School Network, to become the next generation of scholars,” he said.

GLI is widely recognized as one of the leading institutions in America dedicated to the promotion of knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources. Established in 1994 by philanthropists Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, GLI also has a network of more than 29,000 affiliated high schools around the country.

History Program at Marist

Marist’s partnership with GLI has fit within its mission on history education. Within the School of Liberal Arts, the History program at Marist promotes real-world knowledge and skills for students by teaching them to explore global history to gain a greater understanding of the world, through classroom learning, research, civic engagement, and internships.

Marist’s location within the historic Hudson River Valley along with courses and internships in connection with the Hudson River Valley Institute (HRVI), the Marist Poll, and its partnership with the FDR Library & Museum make its program unique. In fact, Marist is one of only six Colleges nationally with an established affiliation to a Presidential Library.

“The Gilder Lehrman Institute is one of the most respected academic institutions dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 history education in the nation,” said Marist History Professor Dr. David Woolner, who is a GLI advisory board member as well as Senior Fellow and Resident Historian of the Roosevelt Institute and author of The Last 100 Days: FDR at War and at Peace. “My colleagues in the Department of History at Marist are thrilled at the association with the GLI and look forward to the tremendous impact that the GLI scholarships will have on our student body and in the wider community both during their years at Marist and beyond,” said Dr. Woolner.

More information on the Marist’s GLI Scholarship can be found on the Undergraduate Admission section of our website.