(SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Aug. 26, 2013) SUNY Empire State College has announced the 2013 Alfred Z. Solomon Scholarship recipients.

The scholarship recipients were announced in conjunction with the college’s official event celebrating the 150th anniversary of thoroughbred racing in Saratoga Springs, “150 Years of Educated Horse Sense.”

Solomon, who died in 2004 at the age of 104, was a great enthusiast of thoroughbred horse racing and attended the meet at the Saratoga Race Course each year, where he enjoyed world-class racing.

His legacy of philanthropy is continued by his charitable trust, which supports many nonprofit organizations in the greater Saratoga Springs area, including the scholarship with the college.

“The Saratoga 150 celebration provided Empire State College with both the opportunity to remember Alfred Solomon’s love of horse racing and the greater Saratoga community, and to thank the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust for its generous and ongoing support of the college’s students,” said Merodie A. Hancock, president of the college.

The 2013 Solomon scholarship recipients, like many of the college’s 20,000 students, are employed full time and have families. Two of this year’s recipients are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Scholarship recipients are:

• Manda Silva, a senior-level administrative assistant and married mother of three, who resides in Ballston Spa and is a graduate of Schenectady County Community College

• John Coltrain, a Saratoga County deputy sheriff, married father of two and SUNY Adirondack graduate

• Larry Kilburn, an IT specialist, Ballston Spa resident, Schenectady County Community College graduate and veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve

• Leah Trombley, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, a registered nurse living in Ballston Spa and a SUNY Adirondack graduate.

About the Alfred Z. Solomon Scholarships

Established by the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust in 2007 and endowed with $90,000, scholarships are awarded to SUNY Empire State College students who are residents of Saratoga County and graduates of SUNY Adirondack, Hudson Valley Community College or Schenectady County Community College. Recipients received more than $1,000 each, which is nearly 25 percent of one year’s resident, undergraduate SUNY tuition.

About Alfred Z. Solomon and the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust

Alfred Z. Solomon, who died in 2004 at the age of 104, made his fortune as the founder of Madcaps, a company located in Manhattan’s garment district, which sold high-end women’s hats in department stores.

A great enthusiast of thoroughbred horse racing, Solomon each year attended the meet at the Saratoga Race Course where he enjoyed not only world-class racing, but also the best women’s hats. In addition to a residence in New York City, he owned an estate in Saratoga County named Madcaps Farms, where he eventually retired.

About SUNY Empire State College

SUNY Empire State College was established in 1971 to offer adult learners the opportunity to earn associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the State University of New York.

In addition to awarding credit for prior college-level learning, the college pairs each student with a faculty mentor who supports that student throughout his or her college career. Students engage in guided independent study and course work onsite, online or a combination of both, which provides the flexibility for students to learn at the time, place and pace they choose.

The college serves more than 20,000 students worldwide at more than 35 locations in the state of New York and online. Its 70,000 alumni are active in their communities as entrepreneurs, politicians, business professionals, artists, nonprofit agency employees, teachers, veterans and active military, union members and more. More information about the college is available here.

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Media contact: David Henahan, director of communications

518-587-2100, ext. 2918

518-321-7038, cell

David.Henahan@esc.edu