Romina Mendoza demonstrates the profound impact Say Yes can have on one’s personal and educational journey.
Now a sophomore at Syracuse University, Romina graduated from Henninger High School in the spring of 2023. During those four years, she prioritized finding a balance between managing her schoolwork and participating in extracurricular activities that both enriched her life and benefited the community around her.
Throughout high school, Romina enrolled in a majority of Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) classes and, by her senior year, served as captain of the girls’ varsity volleyball team. She was also an active member of the National Art Honor Society, where she earned a small scholarship for her contributions to the organization. Her artistic talents were further recognized when she won first place in the Syracuse Community Folk Art Center’s 50th annual Teenage Competitive Art Exhibition.
Romina’s parents immigrated to the United States to provide her and her sisters with opportunities they didn’t have while growing up. Romina explained that because of this, attending college as a first-generation student was always one of her goals.
“Coming from a first-generation family, getting to college and understanding the college process was really difficult,” she said. “I was fortunate enough to have my older sisters, who were both Say Yes Syracuse scholars, guide me through the process.”
After exploring different schools with the help of her older sister, Roxana, Romina completed the Say Yes Syracuse application. Shortly after, she secured a Say Yes Syracuse scholarship to attend Syracuse University as a studio art major with a minor in museum studies. While her studio art major requires her to work on many different projects in her spare time, Romina has found balance between work, school and life.
“It didn’t take long for me to realize I made the right decision by choosing to attend Syracuse University,” she said. “While balancing everything has taken time to get used to, I have really enjoyed my experience so far. I am surrounded by an amazing community of artists and always feel inspired to think outside the box.”
As a rising junior, Romina hopes to secure an internship for next summer and dreams of working for community-based art programs, specifically museums. She is currently volunteering on a project with Hopeprint to install benches at the bus stops around the Northside Cultural Heritage District, where local students will have the opportunity to paint them like murals.
“We are still in the beginning stages of this project but we have a wonderful team that I’m really excited to be a part of,” she said. “I believe art is a great way to bring communities together to help them thrive.”
Romina also hopes to study abroad in Italy next spring to explore different cultures and enhance her professional experience in the art world. She credits her Say Yes scholarship for making these opportunities possible.
“Say Yes Syracuse means a lot to me,” she said. “It has helped myself and my family by giving me the chance to follow my passion for earning an art degree. I can’t imagine what my life would be like right now without Say Yes Syracuse by my side.”
