SARATOGA SPRINGS – Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar (SSAS) inducted twelve sophomores to its program and celebrated its graduating high school seniors with approximately 160 people at its annual picnic on Sunday June 7.
“This is our fifth class to graduate from the three-year high school portion of the program and all 45 of our graduating seniors have been accepted into colleges,” said Jim LaVigne, volunteer Executive Director of SSAS. “These are great young adults who are academically successful, participate in extracurricular school activities and volunteer for community service. They have all the skills required to succeed but not the same opportunities as other students from more affluent families. We could not be prouder of them.”
New this year is the addition of a Perry Scholars program. Saratoga residents David and Kathy Perry generously offered to sponsor two additional students through a $20,000 pledge over five years. These two students have been designated the “Perry Scholars” within the program.
“Over the next few years, they will follow the progress of these bright young students,” said LaVigne. “Congratulations to our Perry Scholars and a great big thank-you to the Perrys for making their participation in the program possible.”
SSAS is a nonprofit formed by local residents, the Saratoga Springs City School District, Skidmore College and the Saratoga Mentoring Program. Its purpose is to assist financially disadvantaged students with academic promise to attend college. SSAS selects ten students at the end of each freshman year and pledges up to $10,000 to each for college preparation and a cash stipend of $1,500 per year during college as long as academic requirements are met. For more information about Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar, contact Jim LaVigne at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
