HEOP Celebrates 50th Anniversary

A home away from home for student members

Marist’s Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. 

“They’re helping the people who wouldn’t have normally had access to higher education. They have the grades just not the finances,” program member, Caroline Kristin ‘22, a biology major from the Bronx said.

Over the past 50 years, HEOP has created opportunities for many New York residents to obtain a higher education and to follow career paths that may not otherwise be obtainable. Kristin also noted that during their 50th anniversary dinner, she was amazed to see how alumni from the program had succeeded in their post-graduation endeavors.

Being a part of HEOP is about more than just grades, according to these two. “HEOP provides certain resources that I otherwise wouldn’t have had access to if I had been a general admit or if I hadn’t heard about the program,” Kristin said.

Marist HEOP had a total of 61 members in their program as of the 2019-2020 school year. The program has a 6-year graduation rate at 100 percent at Marist compared to the nation’s 56 percent, according to program director, Iris Ruiz-Grech.

“We see progress when we assist our students with their academic, personal, financial and career issues and they develop into leaders on campus and off-campus,” Ruiz-Grech said. 

“It’s done basically everything for me,” Franciluz Lizardo ‘22 a biology major from Sleepy Hollow, and another program member said. “You come into college with this mindset that it’s going to be hard, and it’s true. But HEOP has really provided me with tutoring and emotional support.”

“They really are a family and they bring a sense of home for this campus,” Kristin said. “Whenever I’m tired or stressed they’re always there and there’s always someone to talk to.” 

Lizardo agreed, “We know each other so well. I go to Sunday study sessions with the freshman members to do homework and say ‘hi.’ It’s like a way to motivate them and myself.”

Students can find the HEOP offices in the Center for Multicultural Affairs on the third floor of the library across from the Writing Center.