Linda M. Cohen La Spina '73 Scholarship Fund

Established in 2026 by the La Spina family, the Linda M. Cohen La Spina Memorial Scholarship supports undergraduate and graduate students pursuing photography. Linda La Spina (1950-2000), a Moroccan immigrant and passionate French educator, earned her B.A. from SUNY New Paltz in 1973. Throughout her life she shared her love of fine art, French language and Francophone history, inspiring her two sons, Philip and David as well as generations of students and colleagues.

This scholarship will support students pursuing their BFA or MFA in Photography with non-tuition-based educational expenses. To be eligible:

• Students must be either full-time undergraduates or be graduate students taking at least 6 credits per semester
• Preference will be given to students with financial need, as expressed in a written statement highlighting the benefit the scholarship will have on their experience at SUNY New Paltz