Annual Alumni and Community Partner Awards

---

  Helen Hudson grew up on Beech Street. She attended Sumner Elementary School, Levy Middle School, and graduated from Nottingham High School in 1977.

She left college to travel across the country selling magazines with a group of fellow young people. After returning to Syracuse, she spent a decade working at New Process Gear. But her true calling was still ahead of her.

In 2003, after witnessing firsthand the devastating impact of street violence on young people she cared deeply about, Helen Hudson founded Mothers Against Gun Violence — transforming pain into purpose and advocacy.

In 2004, she was hired by the United Way as Labor Liaison for the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, where she became a powerful voice for working families. During that time, she also founded the Dr. King Day Coat Drive — a tradition that continues to serve our community to this day.

 Then, in 2017, with strong support from both the community and organized labor, Helen Hudson made history — becoming the first Black woman elected President of the Syracuse Common Council.

For her unwavering dedication to the people of this city…

And for her lifelong commitment to service —

The Syracuse City School District Educational Foundation was proud to present the 2026 Alumni Award to Helen Hudson.
 

 Calvin L. Corriders and his siblings were raised by their mother in Central Village, the Syracuse housing complex known as "The Bricks." As a kid, Calvin and his older brother Larry would often walk to a news stand called Walley’s, where they’d buy the papers.

On his 14th birthday, Calvin took a job at that same stand. His career - and his impact - would grow from there. After graduating from Henninger, Calvin went on to study business at SUNY Brockport, where he met his wife, Sandra.

Back in Syracuse, Calvin was hired at a local bank. In 1999, he was elected to the School Board. He worked his way up and served many years as Board President, before stepping away in 2015.

Ascension is a theme in the story of Calvin Corriders. Wherever he goes, he rises, with the community by his side.

On New Years Eve of 2023, Calvin Corriders, a kid from Central Village, retired from his position of Regional President at Pathfinder Bank.

Congratulations to Calvin Corriders, our 2025 Alumni Award winner and an inspiration to us all.
 

It took us over a year to hand off our 2024 Alumni Award trophy to its rightful owner. On the day of our 2024 recognition breakfast, the awardee was to launch on a Space-X-Crew-8 Mission to the International Space Station, where she lived for six months and served as a Mission Specialist, making the logistics of said hand off slightly trickier than usual.

Long before space, and before receiving her PhD from the University of Maryland, Dr. Jeanette Epps, PhD was a Syracuse kid. She graduated from Corcoran high school and went on to receive her bachelor's degree from Le Moyne college.

Dr. Epps’ story serves as a reminder that there is nothing our students cannot aspire to be, and nothing that they cannot do.

For that reason, the Syracuse City School District Educational Foundation was proud to *officially* award Dr. Jeanette Epps with the 2024 Alumni Recognition Award!  

Since 2013, the Red House has been a dedicated educational partner to our district, bringing high-quality, inclusive arts programming directly into our schools. Through its Education Department, the organization works closely with five SCSD schools — using theater and arts-based instruction to spark creativity, build critical thinking skills, and foster social-emotional growth.

These partnerships do more than introduce students to the arts. They provide meaningful outlets for self-expression. They build confidence. They strengthen collaboration. And they support academic success — while inspiring a lifelong love of learning in students of all abilities.

Beyond the classroom, the Red House has also enriched our entire community. Its beautiful downtown theater and event space has become a cultural anchor — drawing audiences, showcasing talent, and contributing to the vibrancy of Syracuse’s arts scene.

The Allyn Family Foundation provides leadership and support for diverse community coalitions who are focused on designing community-wide approaches to improving early childhood systems and supports for vulnerable families. As an example, Allyn’s critical investment and support in the Early Childhood Alliance of Onondaga County has allowed for advancements in comprehensive developmental screenings, support for pregnant and parenting families, and parent engagement. The foundation supports work opportunities for many of our students through its participation in the Bea Gonzales Summer Fellows Program.