Buffalo State senior Saša Vann could have let outside circumstances limit her. She grew up with her mother and sister in a Long Island, New York, neighborhood plagued by violence and drug use.
“It was always really difficult,” said Vann, who with her grandparents’ help, was able to attend a Catholic high school where she excelled both in the classroom and on the field.
During her childhood, both parents suffered major health traumas. Her mother battled breast cancer, while her father underwent multiple surgeries after inhaling debris during the 9/11 disaster cleanup.
Despite the fact that no one in her immediate family attended college and medical bills were mounting, Vann dreamed of a future as a college student. Paying for it was the obstacle.
When she was in high school, former Buffalo State track and field coach Dustin Dimit visited Vann and encouraged her to apply for various scholarships that reward bright and high-achieving students. She then came to campus and met assistant coach Markus Allen and head coach Eugene Lewis.
“I felt like they really wanted me at Buffalo State. They made the visit very personal,” Vann said. “Coaches from other schools couldn’t even remember my name.”
She applied for and received three prestigious scholarships: the Ross B. Kenzie Family Presidential Scholarship, the Anna P. Burrell Scholarship, and the Ronald E. McNair Scholarship, which together covered all of her tuition. Her senior year, she also was awarded the Zachary John Beveridge scholarship.
“Without the scholarships, I know I either wouldn’t have gone to college or would be graduating with loads of debt,” Vann said.
She not only attended college, but also carved out a college career full of accolades.
As a dual major in psychology and hospitality administration with a concentration in hotel management, Vann has made the dean’s list every semester. Meanwhile, she served as captain of the women’s track and field team, as co-coordinator of the Alternative Break Program, and as a member of the Psi Chi International Honor Society for Psychology and the Eta Sigma Delta International Honor Society for Students in Hospitality Management. She was recently named recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Scholar Athlete and Student Excellence awards.
In the fall, she will enroll in Ball State University’s sports and exercise psychology graduate program, where she was awarded a graduate assistantship and full funding.
One thing that inspired her to succeed during her four years at Buffalo State was the annual Kenzie Scholars luncheon.
“I loved having the opportunity to hear stories from students who have gone through the program and overcome their own obstacles,” she said. “There were seniors who talked about being on the dean’s list every semester, and I wanted to be there giving that speech, too.” Vann will have that opportunity at this year's scholars luncheon.
Throughout her studies, she has helped her older sister, Eryca Foskey, also a Buffalo State student, raise her three-year-old son. And she’s kept in close contact with her parents who have both regained their health, accomplished their own successes, and plan to see their daughters walk across the stage at the May 14 commencement ceremony.
“My parents are so excited and proud,” she said. “My father kids me that every time he calls, I have more good news to share—a new award, a new recognition.”
To help make college a reality for students like Vann, consider contributing to the Faculty and Staff Appeal with either a one-time donation or payroll deductions throughout the year. For more information, contact Mario Hicks at (716) 878-3467.
See the full list of funds and scholarships.
