10/09/2026
Maryann Durham of Hermon came to SUNY Canton because she could earn her degree close to home. “I also liked the smaller campus because it felt more personal and gave me the chance to actually get to know my professors and other people on campus,” she said.
The Sports Management major and recipient of the Leon and Rachel Bagley Endowed Scholarship spoke at the Canton College Foundation’s annual Scholarship Luncheon held on Thursday, Oct. 8. She said balancing schoolwork, work, paying her own expenses, and dealing with challenges has not always been easy, but she has learned to keep going even when things get difficult. At points, she’s held down two jobs in addition to being a full-time student.
“Receiving a scholarship helped take some of that financial pressure off me and reminded me that there are people who want to see students like me succeed,” she said. “When I graduate, I will also be the first person in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree, which makes the whole experience mean even more to me.”
Maryann’s favorite class is Marketing and Business, and she plans to pursue those interests after graduation in May 2027.
“Throughout my time at SUNY Canton, I have had different professors and staff members help me in different ways,” she said. “Whether it was helping me with classes, figuring out graduation requirements, or just being understanding when I had a lot going on, there have been many people who have helped me get to where I am now.”
