Donor Support Helps Students Compete on the National Stage

The SUNY Poly Foundation welcomed new members to its Board of Directors during the 2025-26 academic year, bringing additional expertise in workforce development, technology commercialization, industry partnerships, and community engagement.

The students spent a month tackling complex engineering and ethical challenges while drawing upon the expertise of SUNY Poly faculty, alumni, and industry professionals. Competing against teams from universities across the country, one SUNY Poly team advanced through the preliminary rounds to earn a top-eight finish nationally.

Their experience illustrates the impact of philanthropic support in providing students with opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. Donor and partner support helps students participate in national competitions, travel, engage with industry professionals, and gain hands-on experiences that prepare them for their careers.

The students also benefited from resources made possible through philanthropic investment, including the NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence and its AI and fintech learning spaces. Together, these experiences demonstrate how donor support, alumni engagement, and experiential learning can help students build professional skills, expand their networks, and turn classroom knowledge into real-world experience.