A community college sponsored by Niagara County
Sanborn, N.Y. – SUNY Niagara has received $50,000 from Lumina Foundation as the result of a grant program called the “Instagram Challenge.” The program was competitive, inviting community colleges across the country to submit 90-second Instagram Reels. Lumina judged each Reel based on how well it highlighted what is excellent about the institution. SUNY Niagara is one of seven grant recipients nationwide and the only one from New York state.
SUNY Niagara’s social media team, led by Public Relations Assistants Marlee McCabe and Zach Rohde, aimed to showcase #WhatsExcellent about SUNY Niagara and demonstrate the experiences and opportunities available to students. They created a Reel showcasing the college’s academic excellence, vibrant campus and community engagement.
“The grant funding from Lumina will provide opportunities to grow SUNY Niagara’s reimagined brand through creative and innovative marketing strategies,” said Zach Rohde, public relations assistant at SUNY Niagara. “We look forward to continually amplifying what makes SUNY Niagara such a special part of this community.”
“For the past two years, Lumina has engaged in a national conversation about understanding and strengthening community college brands,” said Mary Laphen Pope, Lumina’s strategy officer for participation. “While discussions often focus on challenges such as enrollment declines, success stories about community colleges and their students are rarely highlighted. We aim to change that.”
About SUNY Niagara
SUNY Niagara is one of 30 community colleges in the SUNY system, the largest public university system in the country. The college provides more than 50 certificate and degree programs to over 3,000 students and is funded by the Niagara County Legislature, SUNY and student tuition.
About the Lumina Foundation
The Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. The foundation envisions higher learning that is easy to navigate, addresses racial injustice, and meets the nation’s talent needs through a broad range of credentials. It is working toward a system that prepares people for informed citizenship and success in a global economy.
Media Contact Information
Zachary Rohde
Public Relations Assistant
Phone: 716-614-6794
Email: zrohde@niagaracc.suny.edu