Toni R. Schwartz

Toni R. Schwartz Scholarship

Toni Schwartz first learned of Empire State College quite by accident.

While working for the City of New York, an Empire State College student whom she knew approached her, asking if she might consider tutoring her in a course. That invitation led to a long career with the college, first as a tutor and later as a mentor. As Toni advanced through the ranks of teaching, she took great enjoyment and pride in instructing the college’s hard-working students.

After her retirement as a social work administrator and teacher with the City of New York, it seemed natural to her to take on a more prominent teaching role with the college. Now retired from the college as well, Toni worked with students at both the Metropolitan and Hudson Valley centers. With her strong background in social work, her academic focus was on child welfare in the area of human services, which also encompasses studies in social policy and aging in a changing society.

Growing up as the daughter of a hard-working man, Toni’s father instilled in her a deep sense of value for education. He was able to attend City College for free at the height of the Great Depression, which turned out to be a life-changing experience. Her father recognized the difference an education could make in one’s life if they had the opportunity to pursue it. Through her many rewarding years working with Empire State College students, Toni experienced firsthand the sacrifices students often have to make in order to pursue their educational dreams of earning a degree. They were committed and hard-working, but many struggled to make ends meet financially. Believing that no one should be held back from pursuing an education simply because of financial constraints, Toni opted to uplift dedicated students with financial support by establishing the Toni R. Schwartz Scholarship.

“Empire State College is giving people the opportunity to go to college that might never have had that opportunity in the past. Everyone should be allowed to pursue their educational goals. I’m pleased to be able to help students whose financial constraints might prevent them from doing so.”