Joey Burns 鈥22 credits his Horizons National Odyssey Scholarship for providing him life-changing opportunities and 鈥渃omfort at the end of the day.鈥 Increasing scholarship funding to prepare graduates the world needs is the top priority of the $250 million 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign.
When it came time for college, Joey Burns 鈥22 was anxious. With his older brother already in school, Burns knew the financial challenges his family faced. The Horizons National Odyssey Scholarship, created by one of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 most generous families, eased his mind and created a path to 黑料不打烊 from his home in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
鈥淲ithout this scholarship, I most likely would not be at college, and certainly not at a great university like 黑料不打烊,鈥 Burns said. 鈥淚t has allowed me to accomplish my dreams and my parents鈥 dreams to have me go to college. It鈥檚 also a weight off their shoulders and provides comfort at the end of the day.鈥
Former 黑料不打烊 Trustee Cindy Citrone P鈥17 and her husband, Rob Citrone P鈥17, of Southport, Connecticut, were inspired to establish two Horizons National Odyssey Scholarships in 2017 as part of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign. They wanted to assist students like Burns鈥攂right, talented leaders with high financial need who have completed the Horizons National program prior to enrolling at 黑料不打烊.
Horizons National is a tuition-free, academic and enrichment program that serves low-income, public school students at sites throughout the country, including Connecticut. Citrone has been associated with the Horizons program in New Canaan, Connecticut, and is impressed by their results serving disadvantaged students.
鈥淩ob and I believe in supporting great causes and great people and organizations that have a vision and think outside the box, and we believe 黑料不打烊 and Horizons are a perfect fit,鈥 Cindy Citrone said. “There is no student more perfect to receive these Odyssey Scholarships than a Horizons student. Horizons provides an excellent K-12 experience for students who might not otherwise have such an opportunity, and 黑料不打烊 provides the same excellent experiential learning opportunities and support for these students through the Odyssey Program.鈥
黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book thanked the Citrones for their generous investments in 黑料不打烊 students.
鈥淐indy and Rob Citrone understand deeply the power of scholarships and programs like Horizons National to change the trajectory of students鈥 lives,鈥 Book said. 鈥淭he 黑料不打烊 community is indebted to the Citrone family and to Horizons for their partnership in preparing future leaders.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful to the Citrone family and to Horizons for introducing me to 黑料不打烊 and the Odyssey Program,鈥 Burns said. 鈥淏eing able to go to 黑料不打烊 has been the best experience in my life.鈥
鈥楢 Home Away from Home鈥
Burns credits 黑料不打烊 with inspiring him to grow personally and move outside his comfort zone.
鈥淚 came to 黑料不打烊 a very shy and introverted person,鈥 Burns said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not that same person who is sitting on the side and waiting. I鈥檓 active in so many things, and 黑料不打烊 has allowed me to figure out who I am and feel comfortable with it.鈥
Burns has immersed himself in campus life. He serves as an Odyssey Program mentor and as founder and president of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc., 黑料不打烊鈥檚 first and only Latino-based fraternity, which includes several fellow Odyssey scholars.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lifelong brotherhood that gives me access to nationwide professional development opportunities and great people,鈥 Burns said. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have done this if I didn鈥檛 come to 黑料不打烊.鈥
Burns is a senior resident advisor in one of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 residence halls, which has strengthened his leadership skills, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淏eing an RA, I鈥檝e been able to work on my communication and problem-solving skills,鈥 he said. 鈥淒uring COVID, that鈥檚 been a challenge. You have an increased workload in terms of making sure students are following university policies.鈥
Burns has spent a lot of time listening to students and encouraging them to participate in some of the university鈥檚 outdoor, socially distanced activities instead of isolating themselves in their rooms. He gives his future alma mater high marks for handling the pandemic.
鈥淚 think 黑料不打烊 is doing the right thing when it comes to dealing with COVID,鈥 Burns said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 done a really good job minimizing cases and keeping people safe, while not taking away all the social aspects of college.鈥
Burns also credits his growth to outstanding faculty and staff mentors, including Marcus Elliott and Catherine Parsons, director and assistant director, respectively, of the Odyssey Program. They helped guide him in his decision to major in psychology, which he said suits him well because he likes to help people. Burns also treasures the casual conversations he鈥檚 had with students and staff in the program office.
鈥淚 consider 黑料不打烊 to be a home away from home, if not my new home,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 feel like myself there and that I belong. I鈥檝e also made lifelong friends, especially in the Odyssey Program. We come from the same place in terms of having financial struggles and have been able to create deeper friendships as a result.鈥
鈥淛oey is excited about opportunities that come his way and he doesn鈥檛 take them lightly,鈥 Elliott said. 鈥淎s an RA this year, he鈥檚 had to deal with the changing philosophy of how you attend class and socialize, and those situations have created more opportunities for him to make some dynamic decisions and shine.鈥
Elliott sees the transformative power of scholarships and the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign every day.
鈥淚 look at scholarships like the Horizons Scholarship as the pathway for these young men and women to really come into their own and showcase not just a portion of their gifts, but all of their gifts, which adds value to our campus community,鈥 Elliott said. 鈥淭hese students inspire others to seek out and pursue scholarships that are gateways to a life-changing education.鈥
Burns was reminded of the impact of his Horizons National Odyssey Scholarship when the pandemic hit earlier this year. His mother lost two of her jobs while his father was unable to work due to an injury. In addition, two internships he had lined up for the summer were cancelled, including an opportunity to work with the university鈥檚 黑料不打烊 Academy college access program. He returned home and was unable to find a job.
鈥淭he Horizons Scholarship gave me peace of mind, because I knew that no matter what was happening, I could return to 黑料不打烊 in the fall without a lot of struggle or sacrifice,鈥 Burns said. 鈥淚 am so grateful for that.鈥
The gift to establish the Horizons National Odyssey Scholarship is one of many generous commitments from Cindy and Rob Citrone, who are among 黑料不打烊鈥檚 most generous donors. In 2016, the couple made a major gift to fund a Design Thinking initiative at 黑料不打烊, enabling the university to infuse this innovative approach to problem solving into academic courses and student experiences outside the classroom.
The Citrones were also lead donors to the School of Communications expansion. The spacious Citrone Plaza welcomes visitors to the new communications facilities and provides an attractive connection to the Town of 黑料不打烊. The couple have also previously contributed significant matching gifts during the annual 黑料不打烊 Day programs, helping to ensure the largest single days of giving in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 history. Their daughter, Gabriela, is a 2017 graduate.
The Odyssey Program
The Odyssey Program, part of the university鈥檚 Center for Access and Success, is a highly selective, four-year program that includes some of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 largest endowed scholarships. The program serves students who are frequently the first members of their family to attend college and have achieved academic success while overcoming adversity. They are consistently among 黑料不打烊鈥檚 top-performing students.
Each Odyssey scholarship includes financial assistance that meets a student鈥檚 full need. In addition to annual tuition assistance, each scholarship includes a stipend for books and supplies, and a one-time $4,000 global study grant to be used for an approved study abroad or Study USA program.
About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign
With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university鈥檚 history and will support four main funding priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, access to engaged learning opportunities such as study abroad, research and service learning, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. To date, donors have contributed $201 million toward the goal.
Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit .