SUNY Potsdam Alumna Molly Clough '92 Wins National TRiO Achievers Award

College Council Member and Accomplished SUNY Potsdam Alumna Honored with 2015 National TRiO Achievers Award

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SUNY Potsdam alumna and College Council member Molly Clough ’92 was recognized with the 2015 National TRiO Achievers Award.

POTSDAM, NY (10/08/2015)(readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam alumna and College Council member Molly Clough '92 was recently honored with the 2015 National TRiO Achievers Award at the Council for Opportunity in Education's Conference in Atlanta.

President Kristin G. Esterberg and Mark Millward '09, the director of TRiO Student Support Services at SUNY Potsdam, joined Clough as she accepted the award.

"This is an historic occasion for both SUNY Potsdam and TRiO, as Molly is the first TRiO participant to have won this award in the program's 34-year history," Millward said.

Clough is a law partner at Carrothers and Clough PLLC. As a freshman at SUNY Potsdam, she described herself as "a scared girl entering an unknown world." She credits Student Support Services with putting her on the right path and engaging her in "learning to learn."

"Sometimes the best lessons are the ones you learn from when you are in the darkest hour. For that I will be forever grateful," Clough said of her experience with SSS.

After earning her bachelor's degree in English literature, summa cum laude, from SUNY Potsdam, Clough went on to graduate from the Syracuse University College of Law with her Juris Doctorate.

An accomplished attorney, Clough is also a dedicated advocate for local charities, including United Helpers, the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Toys for Tots. Her law firm regularly offers consultations and carries out pro bono work for those who are unable to afford legal representation. She is an appointed member of the SUNY Potsdam College Council, and a dedicated supporter and volunteer for her alma mater.

"We are so proud of Molly Clough's incredible achievement. Molly's outstanding body of work at her legal firm, her service on the SUNY Potsdam College Council, her involvement in assisting with judicial nominations in Northern New York and her work in the local community are exemplary," Esterberg said.

The National TRiO Achievers award was created by the Council for Opportunities in Education, as a tribute to the success and outstanding endeavors of TRiO students and the programs that supported them in their journey to accomplished careers. To win the award, the candidate must be a person of high stature within his or her profession who has received recognition for outstanding academic achievement. Additionally, they must have made significant civic, community or professional contributions.

The other award recipients included business leader Brian Black of Wichita, Kansas; Chippewa Tribal Chairman Aaron Payment of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.; actor Rene Rosado of Los Angeles, and Sarah Silvafierro, executive director of the New Mexico Communities in Action in Faith.

TRiO Student Support Services has been offered at SUNY Potsdam since 1984, and it serves more than 200 participants each academic year. The program provides academic assistance, financial literacy and planning guidance, graduate school and career preparation assistance and personal development support.

The federal TRiO programs are national outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. TRiO includes eight programs, targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities with their progression through the academic pipeline, from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.

Students are selected to participate in the TRiO program based on a request for assistance and federal eligibility. Participants must be U.S. citizens accepted for enrollment, with a demonstrated need for academic support. In addition, they must meet one or more of the following criteria: be a first-generation college student, fall within federal income eligibility limits and having a documented physical and/or learning disability.

For more information about TRiO Student Support Services at SUNY Potsdam, please visit www.potsdam.edu/support/ssc/sss.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $32 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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