Over 20 years, nearly 900 local students have been supported
WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 class of Jefferson-Can Community Scholars.
The new class of 23 scholars was recently honored during a fall reception at Jefferson Community College. The Community Foundation administers the Jefferson-Can Community Scholars program in collaboration with Mr. Stephen H. Can and the Jefferson Community College Foundation.
The Jefferson-Can Community Scholars Program awards Jefferson and Lewis County high school seniors who are in the top 15 percent of their graduating class a merit-based scholarship of at least $1,500 for the first year of study at Jefferson Community College.
Since its inception in 2007, the program has provided scholarships totaling approximately $1.93 million to support 879 students. Program support to this year’s class totals $33,464.
“As we approach two decades of impact through this unique partnership, we are grateful to administer this important investment in local students and our community college,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation President and CEO. “It has been a meaningful way to recognize academic achievement while also helping lessen the financial constraints for nearly a thousand area college freshman.”
Mr. Can, New Hope, Pa., is a former executive chairman and founder of Strategic Partners, Blackstone Group’s $31 billion private equity business, Manhattan. He earned an Associate of Science in business administration from Jefferson Community College in 1980; a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in accounting from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1982; and a Master of Science in finance from the Krannert Business School at Purdue University in 1984. He lives in Pennsylvania and Florida with his wife, Pamela A. Can.
Contact the Community Foundation’s scholarship team, scholarships@nnycf.org, to learn more about the Jefferson-Can Community Scholars Program and how to apply.
The following Jefferson and Lewis County students are 2026-2026 Jefferson-Can Community Scholars:
- Belleville Henderson Central: Courtney Hanson, Grace Peters, and McClayne Reardon
- Carthage Central: Emma Makuch
- Faith Fellowship Christian School: William Main
- General Brown Central: Kody Cheung, Natalie Dana, Abigail Fields, and Ava Parody
- Indian River Central: Irelynne Davis, Shane Motes, Taylor Pharoah, Ella Priestley, and Reese Widrick
- South Jefferson Central: Samuel Newton and Patrick Tousley Jr.
- Thousand Islands Central: Porter Lonsbery
- Watertown High School: Rylee Combs, Alyssa Harrienger, Helen Ho, Rozely Kindberg, Irisa Ratnaransy, and Olivia Walker
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.
