Scholarship recipient Sivan Adler, left, with Dr. Jeanette McVicker.

Since 1999, a scholarship affiliated with what began as a minor in Women’s Studies honored scholarly and activist interests at SUNY Fredonia.

As that SUNY Fredonia program evolved to become a B.A. major in Ethnic and Gender Studies (EGS) last year, faculty have been working with the Fredonia College Foundation to revamp the scholarship to be more reflective of the new program, which also hosts minors in Native American Studies, African American Studies, Latinx Studies, Multi-Ethnic Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies.

That work bore fruit this fall with the awarding of the first-ever “Ethnic and Gender Studies Scholar-Activist Award.” The $1,000 scholarship was presented to Sivan Adler from Albany, NY, a double major in Acting and Ethnic and Gender Studies. Adler, a transfer student from Hudson Valley Community College and an Honors student, boasts a 3.87 GPA and is president of S.T.E.P.S. She also served that student group as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) chair, in addition to her work with other campus organizations. She is planning a May 2026 graduation.

“I am so honored to receive this award, and especially to be the first student to receive it!” Adler shared in an email with program coordinator Dr. Jeanette McVicker when she heard the news before Thanksgiving break. “I love this program and everything it teaches and encourages me to do – I could not be more grateful.”

Adler was recognized as the scholarship recipient at a ceremony on Dec. 11. At that time, additional scholarships open to EGS majors and minors were announced for the spring semester.

Dr. McVicker, in whose honor the scholarship was named after she stepped down as initial director of the program 1996-2000, is the current coordinator of the new Ethnic and Gender Studies program. EGS advisory board members will help determine the next round of awardees and include Travis Gratteau-Zinnel, Dr. Lee Golembiewski, Dr. Juan de Urda, Dr. Saundra Liggins, Hannah Gordon, Daniel Lendzian and Dr. Michael Clarkson-Hendrix.