BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg Free Academy graduates, who live in the city limits, will have the opportunity to attend college or pursue career training tuition free under a new scholarship program called the Ogdensburg Promise.

The Ogdensburg Promise, announced at OFA Friday, will cover the remaining cost of tuition and mandatory fees after federal, state and institutional financial aid is applied.

The program begins with the OFA Class of 2027 and initially includes current students in grades 9 through 12. The amount of support available will depend on the number of qualifying years each student attended OFA.

Students can pursue a two-year degree at SUNY Canton, a four-year degree at SUNY Canton, SUNY Potsdam, Clarkson University or St. Lawrence University, or trade and technical certification at an approved school.

The program also includes two dedicated coaches who will help students navigate their options, stay on track through college or training and move toward employment.

The initiative is the result of a fundraising effort led by Lonny Carpenter, founder and chairman of The Ogdensburg Promise. Carpenter said the program is intended to benefit not only students but the wider community.

“Today is about far more than paying tuition. It is about telling every young person in the City of Ogdensburg: we believe in you, we will stand beside you, and your future matters,” Carpenter said. “TOP is an investment in our students, our workforce and the future of the city we love.”

Kevin Kendall, superintendent of the Ogdensburg City School District, said the program will give students both financial support and guidance as they plan their futures.

“Our students have talent, ambition and enormous potential. The Ogdensburg Promise gives them something equally important: a clear path and a community standing behind them,” Kendall said. “With financial support and dedicated coaching, more OFA graduates will be able to take the next step with confidence — and finish what they begin.”

The program also aims to address a workforce challenge facing the North Country by helping more local students earn degrees and technical credentials that can lead to jobs close to home.

Health care, manufacturing, skilled trades, education and small businesses are among the sectors organizers hope to support through partnerships with employers and training providers.

Mayor Michael Tooley said the program could help strengthen families and give local employers access to a new generation of skilled workers.

“By helping students build skills, earn credentials and pursue meaningful careers, TOP will strengthen families, support local employers and help our city grow for generations to come,” Tooley said.

Four colleges have signed on as founding partners: SUNY Canton, SUNY Potsdam, Clarkson University and St. Lawrence University.

The partnerships give students access to a range of academic and technical programs while connecting the scholarship initiative with institutions that serve the region.

SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran said the program will make college more affordable for local students and help develop the workforce needed to support the regional economy.

SUNY Potsdam President Suzanne R. Smith said the initiative will give OFA students opportunities to pursue a range of interests, from education and science to music and business.

Clarkson University President Michelle B. Larson said the combination of financial assistance and coaching will help students turn their ambitions into action. St. Lawrence University President Kate Morris also praised the community investment behind the program.

Assemblyman Scott Gray, whose 116th District includes Ogdensburg, credited local donors and partners with helping make the initiative possible.

The Northern New York Community Foundation, which serves as the program's fiscal sponsor and charitable partner, is adding to the fundraising effort with a $100,000 matching challenge.

The foundation will match the next $100,000 raised for the program, potentially bringing an additional $200,000 into the initiative.

Foundation President and CEO Rande S. Richardson said the effort builds on a tradition of local philanthropy and could have a lasting effect on the region.

The nearly $4 million raised provides the foundation for the program's initial launch. Organizers say they will continue working with donors, employers, colleges, training providers and government leaders to expand opportunities for future graduating classes.

For families, the program offers a new option to consider when planning for life after high school. For Ogdensburg, its organizers hope it will mean more young people earning credentials, finding careers and building their lives in the community.

The public can learn more about The Ogdensburg Promise at TheOgdensburgPromise.com. A community town hall is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, in the OFA auditorium.