At SYA, we believe that excellence in education is achieved through the participation of talented, motivated students from all walks of life. A rich exchange of ideas and perspectives is the very essence of SYA. Yet only a relatively small percentage of families can afford full tuition at SYA, and robust financial aid has become an absolute enrollment necessity.

In recent years, nearly 50 percent of our families have received financial aid grants, and the average award is usually 50 percent of tuition costs. Going into The Campaign for SYA, we had one permanent endowed scholarship, The Halsey Fund, with all other financial aid funds coming from the SYA operating budget, which is dependent upon tuition revenue, SYA Fund gifts and member school contributions. Increasing the percentage of aid we are able to offer each family as well as the total number of students who receive aid was a top priority of The Campaign for SYA.

Gifts to financial aid create stability for SYA’s financial aid budget and make it possible for a young person to step into the adventure of a lifetime. In ways large and small, SYA students go on to influence countless professions, families, communities and nations. The ripple effect of financial aid gifts is therefore priceless and immeasurable.