When Ayaan Awais first arrived at SUNY Sullivan, it took him a while to learn his way around campus. Now, the criminal justice student helps others find theirs through a paid student ambassador position funded by the SUNY Sullivan Foundation.
Working in the college’s admissions office, Ayaan gives tours, answers questions, and helps prospective students take their first steps toward college. One of his favorite parts of the job is when someone he helped over the phone or guided on a campus tour recognizes him after enrolling.
“I enjoy connecting with prospective students,” he says. He also appreciates the people he works with, particularly the staff in the One Stop office, financial aid, student billing, and the registrar’s office.
What began as a way to get more involved on campus has become a meaningful part of his college experience, giving him new responsibilities, valuable connections, and the satisfaction of helping others.
A fresh start and a clear ambition
A 2025 graduate of Liberty High School, Ayaan explored criminal justice through the public safety program at Sullivan BOCES. The college credits he earned there transferred to SUNY Sullivan, allowing him to skip several introductory courses.
He chose SUNY Sullivan for several reasons. Affordability mattered, and so did staying close to his family. He also saw the college as a place to strengthen his academic record and prepare for what comes next.
The Sullivan Promise Scholarship, together with other financial aid, made college affordable for him. “I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket,” he says. He encourages other prospective students to explore the scholarship, too.
Ayaan also has the support of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which he calls “a very beneficial program.” EOP helps eligible first-time, full-time New York State students start strong and stay on track, with academic and career advising, tutoring, and personal counseling from enrollment through graduation, plus help with costs like textbooks and supplies. If he transfers to a four-year school, he may be able to continue receiving support through an EOP, HEOP, or SEEK program. Together with the Promise Scholarship and his Foundation-funded position, EOP is part of the full circle of support SUNY Sullivan offers its students.
Since enrolling, he says he has improved his grades substantially, expanding his options for continuing his education.
His long-term goal is law school and a legal career, possibly in corporate law. He sees criminal justice as a strong place to start. He plans to transfer to a four-year school but is still weighing which one best fits his goals.
For Ayaan, that next step is about more than academics. He wants to keep building the relationships and professional connections he has come to value at SUNY Sullivan.
Finding connections in unexpected places
Ask Ayaan what he appreciates most about SUNY Sullivan, and he doesn’t hesitate to talk about the people.
“I love the communication,” he says.
He speaks enthusiastically about his criminal justice professor, Jason Kaplan, whose approachable teaching style and encouragement have deepened his interest in the field. He also praises the staff he has gotten to know in admissions, financial aid, the registrar’s office, the One Stop office, and EOP.
These relationships matter because Ayaan doesn’t describe himself as naturally outgoing. He enjoys helping people but often prefers to keep to himself, and clubs were never really his thing.
Working in admissions changed that.
Before taking the position, Ayaan wanted to contribute more to the college community. “I felt that I could be doing more,” he recalls.
The ambassador role gave him that chance. Through tours, admissions events, phone calls, and everyday conversations, he has connected with students he might never have met otherwise. He has even helped fellow students find assistance when they encounter challenges with coursework or communicating with faculty.
Working alongside college employees has also given him a new appreciation for what happens behind the scenes. He sees firsthand the time and effort staff put into helping students navigate admissions, financial aid, registration, and other aspects of college life.
“I was never someone who was on top of everything,” he says. “So it kind of helped me get myself together.”
For Ayaan, the SUNY Sullivan Foundation’s support has meant more than a part-time campus job. It has given him a chance to contribute to the college community while building his own skills and sense of responsibility.
He values the way student ambassadors connect prospective students with those who already know what college life is like. A campus tour or a simple conversation can answer questions, ease uncertainty, and help a new student feel more comfortable about what lies ahead. And he understands that feeling personally.
His message to the Foundation board is direct: “I want to say thank you for the opportunity to actually have this position here at SUNY Sullivan.”
His experience shows how support for student employment can benefit more than the student holding the job. As Ayaan builds new skills and relationships, he is also helping other students begin their own SUNY Sullivan experience.
Looking toward the future
Ayaan is still deciding exactly where his education will take him. He knows he wants to continue studying, pursue law, and build on the connections he has made at SUNY Sullivan.
He also knows the college has shaped him in ways he didn’t anticipate. “I would not be this person if I hadn’t gone here,” he says.
For younger students unsure whether college is right for them, his advice is practical. Take a tour. Talk with an adviser. Explore a program you genuinely want to pursue.
And for anyone still on the fence, Ayaan has three words:
“Jump that fence.”