Founded by EOP alumnus Staton Winston, the EOP Legacy Foundation launched in January 2022 with a clear mission: create a scholarship endowment at the University at Albany, expanding real, lasting support for EOP students.
Under Staton’s leadership and personal commitment, the EOP Legacy Foundation Scholarship Endowment reached its initial “full funding” target in May 2024 and continues to grow through additional gifts and investment performance. Today, the fund’s impact is expanding for the students who need it most—and the alumni community is rallying behind the vision Staton set in motion.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the scholarship endowment demonstrated remarkable growth and stability.
More Than Numbers: Real Student Impact
While the financial metrics tell an important story, the true measure of success lies in the students whose educational dreams become reality through this support. The EOP Legacy Foundation Scholarship Endowment provides crucial assistance to students who demonstrate academic promise but face financial barriers to completing their degrees.
These students represent the heart of the EOP mission: individuals from historically underserved communities who bring diverse perspectives, determination, and potential to the University at Albany campus. Their success stories multiply the endowment’s impact far beyond the classroom, as graduates often become community leaders, educators, and advocates for the next generation.
A Community United in Purpose
As founder of both the EOP Legacy Foundation and EOP4LIFE, Staton Winston has led by example—making personal gifts, mobilizing peers, and championing a culture of “giving back” that turns alumni pride into student opportunity. His early investments catalyzed the endowment’s launch and “full funding” milestone in April 2024, and his continued advocacy keeps momentum strong.
At the same time, the endowment’s growth demonstrates the power of collective action. While Staton’s gifts provided essential leadership, contributions of all sizes have built this resource over time. From modest annual gifts to planned commitments, every donation strengthens the foundation for future student success.
Ongoing Leadership Through EOP4LIFE
As founder of EOP4LIFE, Staton continues to serve the community by:
- Sharing news and timely updates about the endowment and the EOP program
- Highlighting alumni accomplishments and ways to reconnect
- Creating clear opportunities to volunteer, mentor, and give back
If you’re looking for the latest on the endowment, alumni spotlights, or ways to help current students, EOP4LIFE is your go-to hub.
Join the Legacy
The success of the EOP Legacy Foundation Scholarship Endowment creates an opportunity for others to make a lasting impact. As the fund continues to grow, additional supporters can help expand its reach and ensure that financial barriers never prevent deserving students from pursuing their educational goals.
Alumni, friends, and community members can contribute to this endowment through various giving options, from one-time gifts to recurring monthly donations. Planned giving opportunities, including bequests and charitable remainder trusts, offer ways to create lasting legacies that honor the transformative power of education.
The endowment also welcomes corporate partnerships and foundation grants that align with its mission of expanding educational access and opportunity.
Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
As we celebrate the endowment’s continued growth, the focus remains firmly on the future. Each student supported through this fund represents an investment in tomorrow’s teachers, healthcare professionals, business leaders, and community advocates.
The EOP Legacy Foundation Scholarship Endowment stands as proof that when communities unite around shared values of education, equity, and opportunity, remarkable things become possible. The fund’s strong performance and growing support base position it to make an even greater impact in the years ahead.
For those inspired to join this legacy of giving back, opportunities await to make a difference in students’ lives. Together, we can ensure that the transformative power of education remains accessible to all who seek it.
To get updates, connect with alumni, or make a contribution today, visit EOP4LIFE—your hub for news, ways to give back, and ongoing opportunities to support EOP students.
