Amy Tran | Say Yes Student Scholar Spotlight

Amy Tran, a young veteran and graduate of Henninger High School, exemplifies the transformative and profound impact that Say Yes Syracuse can have on a student’s personal, educational and career journey.

Amy, an active member of her community, graduated from Henninger in 2023. Throughout high school she was diligent in her studies, taking multiple AP and SUPA courses and earning induction into the National Student Honor Society during her senior year. She dedicated the limited free time she had outside of academics to focusing on her fitness and overall well-being.

As a young child, Amy always envisioned herself going to college but wasn’t sure how she would afford the cost. When college application season rolled around during her senior year, she decided to explore other options. She utilized Henninger’s Resource Center to conduct research and stumbled upon a U.S. Army presentation that intrigued her. It wasn’t long before she connected with a Marine Corps representative and enlisted in the reserves.

During her last few months of high school, she focused on preparing herself physically and mentally before shipping out to recruit training after graduation. After many months of training, the idea of college circled back around.

“It wasn’t until one of my instructors at my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) training suggested it that I started thinking about the idea of going to college after returning home,” said Amy. “During our conversation, he emphasized how different college is from high school, and that made me seriously consider the idea of applying.”

Once Amy decided to pursue college, she turned to her friends for support. She knew she wanted to attend Syracuse University but knew the high cost of attendance would be a challenge. She reached out to the admissions office and connected with staff experienced in supporting veteran students. That’s when she completed her military education benefits application, along with the Say Yes scholarship application form.

“I knew I wanted to stay close to home and commute to campus so Syracuse University was the perfect choice for me,” said Amy. “Many of my friends were already going to school there.”

As Amy began working towards her bachelor of science degree in communications and rhetorical studies, it didn’t take long for her to realize she had made the right choice. She explained that she’s currently leaning toward working in social media or helping students obtain American citizenship when she graduates. Her biggest goal is to make an impact through public media and to uplift the voices of underserved and underrepresented communities worldwide.

“Say Yes is really what made it possible for me to attend college, and I am thankful and fortunate to even have had that opportunity,” said Amy. “Say Yes is more than just a scholarship that fully covers the cost of college. It’s a helping hand for students who didn’t realize college was within their reach.”

Amy encourages anyone thinking of pursuing a degree to take advantage of Say Yes and the opportunities it provides for students in the Syracuse City School District to achieve their goals and dreams.

“Even if you have doubts, take advantage of the opportunity because you can always take college slow and go at your own pace,” she said. “Having the option to consider going to college is more than a privilege and it can open the door to so many new paths!”

Amy plans to graduate a year early with the class of 2027 and remains committed to achieving her future goals by giving back to the community that helped shaped her, which she attributes to her Say Yes Syracuse scholarship.