The Presidential Medal, the highest
honor awarded by SUNY Empire State College,
was presented to Susan Law Dake,
president of Stewart’s Foundation at the
college’s Northeast Center 2013 graduation
on June 8.
“For her passion for community betterment
through Stewart’s Shops’corporate
philanthropy, for generous support of
Empire State College and the graduates
of SUNY community colleges and for her
volunteerism and exceptional success in
business, the college is pleased to commend
Susan Law Dake to the State University of
New York to receive Empire State College’s
highest honor, the Presidential Medal,” said
Acting President Meg Benke.
“Empire State College has broken down so many barriers to higher education by creating access to busy students no matter their age or life circumstances,” said Dake. “We are happy to be a small part of their mission.”
The Stewart’s Shops Community College Scholarship program was created to support students who have graduated from one of the 14 SUNY community colleges located in the Stewart’s Shops’ service area. The $1,000 scholarship is for one academic year and half the total amount is awarded each semester.
Last year, Stewart’s Foundation renewed its multi-year commitment to the college and pledged $60,000 for scholarships to be distributed during the subsequent three years. The Empire State College Foundation matches this gift, which provides $40,000 annually to SUNY community college graduates in Stewart’s Shops service area.
When the current pledge is completed in 2015, the program will have provided almost a quarter of a million dollars in scholarship funding.
As president of the Stewart’s Foundation, Dake oversees the allocation of funds to hundreds of nonprofi t organizations in communities in which Stewart’s Shops are located.
The medal is an occasional award. Nominations are made by the college community at any time. The award is given on appropriate occasions in the life of the college. It recognizes outstanding career achievement, scholarly excellence, leadership in the professions, noteworthy public service or humanitarian endeavors, innovation, courage, character and ability to inspire students.