GIFT OF EDUCATION CHANGES A LIFE

Joshua Hewlett '09

Joshua Hewlett graduated summa cum laude from the College at Oneonta, Class of 2009, with a dual major in mathematics and physics. Little did he know just a few years before, as he was working on his family farm by day and at Burger King by night, that people he never knew would help him achieve his dreams.

Here are Josh's own words to describe his story:
"As a farmer in Otego, New York, I didn't have a great deal of money. I worked at Burger King at night to help make ends meet. During this time, I realized that I could be doing something better with my life.

"From my first visit, I was impressed with what the College at Oneonta Foundation had to offer. I saw a beautiful, welcoming campus with friendly faces. I met faculty members who are good, caring, personable people who wanted to get to know me, help me explore my interests, and utilize those interests to build my future.

“Even with my financial situation, Oneonta was there to help me. I was admitted to the College through the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which is designed to meet the needs of students from migrant and seasonal farm working families in pursuing higher education. In addition to the financial assistance from CAMP, I received the Frances. E. Rowe, the Morgan/McReynolds, the Charles T.P. Wang, and the Alumni Association Scholarships, all of which made my education affordable. I am indebted to the donors who made these scholarships possible. Without their generosity, I could not have attended college.

"During my time here, I have seen faculty, staff, and alumni help influence our students in a positive way. I am so moved by this that I want to follow in their example. Since graduation, I have been teaching physics labs at the College at Oneonta Foundation while continuing to work on the family farm. I am preparing to go to graduate school, earn my Ph.D., and then return to higher education as a professor of physics and mathematics.

"I would like to thank everyone who made my the College at Oneonta Foundation experience possible. The gift of education, through the generosity of people I never knew, has changed my life."