Annual Alumni, Educator and Community Partner Awards
Awards
Each year, at our annual Recognition Breakfast, we recognize one Extraordinary Alumnus of the Syracuse City School District, who has gone on to make a difference in their profession, in their community, or in the lives of others. Additionally, a community partner and multiple educators are recognized at the breakfast.
2025 Alumni Award - Calvin Corriders
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 h
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.
2024 Alumni Award - Dr. Jeanette Epps
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 tri
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!
2025 Community Partner: The Allyn Foundation
2025 Community Partner: The Allyn Foundation
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 allowe
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.
2024 Community Partner: The Most
2025 Community Partner: The Allyn Foundation
2024 Community Partner: The Most
The MOST is a consistent and critical partner to our foundation and to our district. It is a staple in our community and its dedication to the growth and education of our young people is never ending. Hundreds of city schoolers attend field trips to the Museum of Science and Technology each year, and both students and educators are grant
The MOST is a consistent and critical partner to our foundation and to our district. It is a staple in our community and its dedication to the growth and education of our young people is never ending. Hundreds of city schoolers attend field trips to the Museum of Science and Technology each year, and both students and educators are granted receive discounts, allowing them to pursue their curiosity.