Donor Scholarship Spotlight

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Foundation has had the distinct pleasure of establishing a number of new endowed scholarships this year which will continue to benefit future SUNY CCC students. Every scholarship has a story. Hear our newest stories below:

Anne D’Ulisse Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship was established by Larry D’Ulisse in memory of his wife, Anne. Anne was a Philadelphia Police Officer who returned to college as an adult, attending a community college in Philadelphia before completing her master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1987. In 1991, Anne found her way to SUNY CCC where she taught for 21 years as a professor of Human Services and received both the SUNY Chancellor's Excellence in Teaching Award and the CCC Board of Trustees’ Excellence in Teaching Award in 2003. After a dedicated career, she retired from the College in 2012 and was awarded emeritus status the following year.

This scholarship will benefit new students enrolled full-time who have a demonstrated financial need, with preference given to applicants enrolled in the Humanities or Social Sciences programs, specifically with an emphasis on psychology or early childhood.

Donald B. Creath Scholarship – Established by long-serving SUNY CCC Regional Board of Trustees member, Don Creath, as a companion scholarship to the Creath family’s memorial scholarship for Don's late wife Amelia G. Creath, established in 2013. Both Don and Amelia were assistant professors at SUNY CCC, with Don teaching Business Management courses, and Amelia teaching science courses. Amelia Pond at the Spencer Crest Nature and Research Center is named in memory of Amelia for her role as a member of the Bio-Chem Division in founding the Center. Both of these scholarships will benefit full-time enrolled students who intend to transfer to another higher education institution, with preference given to applicants who express a strong interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Humanities, or Mathematics (STEAHM). 

Don was a member of the Regional Board of Trustees of Corning Community College from 1998 to 2019. A successful businessman and community leader, he founded Equity Development Corporation and EDC Management, Inc. after spending his first five years in the community as an employee of Corning Incorporated. Don served 16 years in the Steuben County Legislature as a strong advocate for economic development and a supporter of the Arts of the Southern Finger Lakes, Wine Country, and the Steuben County Conference and Visitors Bureau.

Actively involved in community service, Don founded the Flower Planter Program to help beautify the Corning area for which he received the Corning Area Chamber of Commerce's Chairman's Award, Star Award, and was named the Small Businessperson of the Year in 1996. In 2003, the Chamber granted Don the John G. Eberenz Enterprise Award. This Award honors those who have, over the course of their lives, taken personal risks to improve the community through involvement in business and community service. He has received the prestigious Jefferson Award for public service, was named Legislator of the Year by Pro-Action of Steuben and Yates Counties, and the ARTS of the Southern Finger Lakes presented him with the S. Roberts Rose Art Advancement Award. He has also received the Conservator Award, the highest award from Spencer Crest Nature Center, which is given to a member of the community who has demonstrated a special interest in the Nature Center through extraordinary services. 

Don has served as a member of the Corning Rotary Club for many years, also acting as co-chair on the committee which led the charge in establishing the Tri-County First Responders Honor Park that was unveiled in Gang Mills, NY in 2015.

Dr. Neil Milliken ’75 Memorial Scholarship – Established by the SUNY Corning Community College Regional Board of Trustees (RBOT) in memory of former RBOT Chair, Dr. Neil Milliken, who passed away in March 2021. Many donors contributed to this fund to ensure that it reached endowment level, serving as a further testament for how truly revered Neil was. 

Born in Elmira, NY in 1954, Cornelius “Neil” James Milliken III attended Corning Community College and the University of Scranton. After graduating Georgetown University School of Dentistry in 1982, he returned to Elmira and opened his dental practice in 1985. In 2012, he was appointed to fulfill his father's term on the Chemung County Legislature and was subsequently elected as a legislator serving the 7th District. 

Neil was a Trustee from 1999 to 2019, alum, and community ambassador for SUNY CCC. Attending Corning was a “family thing" for Neil. Headed by the late Connie Milliken and his late wife Jean (Neil’s parents) the Milliken family has advocated for CCC for more than 40 years; work that has improved the local and regional community as a whole. The Milliken family legacy continues through Connie’s children and grandchildren. All eight of Connie and Jean’s children attended and graduated from SUNY CCC. Now into the third generation of CCC alumni, the Milliken family continues to contribute to the culture and community of SUNY Corning Community College, participating in theater and art, serving on community boards, and investing in the future of SUNY CCC. In recognition of their contributions, Three Generations of the Milliken Family were the recipients of the Founders Community Partner Award in 2016 at the College’s annual Reflections Gala.

At the time of his death, Neil had been elected to, and was serving as, the Town of Elmira Board Supervisor. He was an admired and well-respected member of our community.

The Dr. Neil Milliken ’75 Memorial Scholarship awards will benefit students enrolled full-time with preference given to students who balance their dedicated pursuit of higher education with other life factors such as employment, raising a family, social/economic challenges, or long-standing service to the community.

Hunter/Lanphear Scholarship - Established by Ann (Lanphear) Burns ‘68 to benefit two full-time enrolled students who will be selected based on proof of good academic standing and demonstrated financial need. Preference will be given to applicants who are enrolled in Mathematics or Science programs. 

Ann was a scholarship recipient back in the 1960s when she attended SUNY CCC, and had she not received that financial assistance, she would not have been able to go to college. Ann was one of eight children, and her father passed away when she was only ten years old. Her mother simply did not have the money to support her pursuit of higher education so her oldest sister, Marion Hunter, encouraged her to apply for scholarships. Once funding was secured, the counselor Ann worked with at SUNY CCC encouraged her to pursue the Math/Science field and after graduating from CCC, she was hired at Corning Incorporated. They also encouraged Ann to continue her education in math and sciences. During the duration of about eight years, Ann finished her education and was promoted several times to managerial positions within Corning Incorporated and was transferred to several states in operations and sales. 

Ann shared that she will always be grateful for that scholarship, noting that it changed her life.  Marion was an inspiration to Ann, and provided encouragement along the way, helping to develop Ann’s character and self-esteem. The two often talked about establishing a scholarship. After Marion’s death in November 2020, Ann decided to proceed with the scholarship in Marion’s name and considers it a privilege to honor her memory by helping other students who cannot afford their tuition to achieve their goals.

SUNY CCC students can apply to the Common Scholarship Application each year they plan to attend CCC, allowing them to apply for all of the 70+ named scholarships which they may qualify for. The Common Scholarship Application, found on the College’s website, is open from mid-January through April 1 every year for that year’s upcoming fall semester. Scholarship award notifications are sent out to recipients over the summer, prior to the start of the fall semester in mid-August. A Scholarship Recognition Ceremony is held in the fall to bring together the student award recipients, their families, and the donors. We have awarded approximately $178,000 in scholarship funding to 80 students for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Click here for a complete listing of our scholarships.

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To learn more about SUNY Corning Community College, visit corning-cc.edu or call 607-962-9151.