Say Yes Student Spotlight
Meet Paige Esposito, Nottingham High School graduate, and Say Yes scholarship recipient
Paige Esposito, Nottingham High School graduate, demonstrates the profound impact that Say Yes Syracuse can have on a student’s professional and cultural journey.
Ever since she was young, Paige has been an engaged member of her community, prioritizing relationship building and academics every day. While at Nottingham, not only did she play varsity lacrosse and soccer, she was also a member of the National Honor Society, and involved with community based organizations like Girl Up and Seeds of Peace. In her free time, she practiced painting, a skill she would come to love and cultivate over time.
Paige explained that she remembered hearing about Say Yes Syracuse throughout her middle and high school years. She noted that she and her family saw it as an amazing opportunity to further her aspirations with the continuous financial and academic support that often stands as a barrier to higher education for many.
When it was time to apply to college, Paige began thinking about what career she wanted to pursue. After some research and reflection, she landed on a plan to major in social work, with a minor in studio arts and a concentration in painting. She knew that giving back to her community would remain a priority, and she wanted to find a way to combine her community engagement work with her love for art and painting.
With her mother’s support, it wasn’t long before Paige filled out the Say Yes Syracuse application, and was accepted to and enrolled at Syracuse University. She recalls being ready and excited to begin her new journey.
“It didn’t take long for me to realize I made the right decision by choosing to attend Syracuse University, and I am grateful Say Yes Syracuse has been there to support me along the way,” she said.
After taking a variety of classes in both social work and art, Paige had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy. During her time there, she honed her art skills through a heavy course load of painting classes.
“I decided to study abroad to enhance my experience and professionalism within the art world,” she said. “Getting to experience education in another country allowed me to open my perspective in many ways, not only with art, but with human interaction as well. I was able to experience and learn about Italian culture and art first-hand, and for that I am grateful”.
Since returning from studying abroad, Paige has developed many connections with her professors and community at Syracuse University. She hopes to further her art career by creating her own website to showcase her artwork with her network and beyond.
Grateful for the opportunities she has received, Paige remains committed to finishing her degree and achieving her future goals and aspirations in the art world. Whether it be creating her own art gallery or working in a museum, Paige is confident she will find a way to give back to her community through art. She credits Say Yes Syracuse with being a guiding force that will help make those dreams a reality.
“Without the support I received from Say Yes Syracuse, I don’t think I would have gotten the same opportunities,” she said. “I believe that Say Yes Syracuse has opened numerous doors for my personal and academic growth.”
About Say Yes Syracuse:
Say Yes Syracuse provides full-tuition scholarships to eligible students accepted to more than 100 colleges and universities across the country. This includes a range of State University of New York (SUNY), City University of New York (CUNY) and private institutions. The scholarships provide broad access for students who may otherwise have not been able to afford college due to significant economic and racial disparities.
Beyond the financial support, Say Yes Syracuse can help guide students and families to additional resources like academic support specialists, mental health clinics and legal services designed to help mitigate the systemic barriers to higher education.