Forever Orange: Aiden Kwen ’24

Syracuse University’s Forever Orange Scholarship provides half of the tuition for students who enroll full-time in a qualifying graduate degree or certificate program at Syracuse University. The scholarship is automatically available to all Class of 2025 graduating Syracuse University seniors who are eligible for admission—no separate scholarship application is needed. Graduating seniors who have already been admitted to a qualifying graduate program are also eligible.

Learn more about recent students like Aiden Kwen who have taken advantage of a Forever Orange Scholarship.

Aiden Kwen

Undergraduate Program: Public Relations, ‘24
Newhouse Master’s Program: Advanced Media Management, G‘25 

What drew you to Syracuse University for your undergraduate studies? 

I originally applied to Syracuse because of its dual major program in political science and public relations, knowing basically nothing about Newhouse at the time. Though I eventually dropped my political science major, I ended up loving Newhouse so much that I became a tour guide over the summer and stayed for my master’s degree. 

What made you want to pursue a master’s degree?  

During my junior year of undergrad, I read a report that compiled opinions from public relations practitioners across the corporate ladder predicting generative AI’s potential impact on the communications industry. My first exposure to technology came with a lot of different emotions: I felt excited, concerned and—more than anything—I felt underprepared. I was nearing the end of my four years at Newhouse, but every new headline and technological breakthrough reminded me that there was so much I didn’t know. That’s when I made the decision to continue my education.  

How did you first hear about the Forever Orange Scholarship and how did it play a role in your decision to attend graduate school?

Although I was already set on pursuing a master’s degree in the advanced media management program, the Forever Orange Scholarship played a pivotal role in making it possible for me to attend. Coming from a low-income background, I never imagined being able to go to grad school. Forever Orange made that possible. 

What unique features of your Newhouse graduate program made you want to apply? 

Advanced media management seeks to put students “at the intersection of media, technology, and business,” and supplementing my communications background with technical skills seemed like the ideal way to become a more well-rounded candidate. It offered pretty much everything I was looking for in a graduate program.  

The fact that something like this exists is still kind of mind-blowing to me—we get to take classes on generative AI and explore emerging technologies as they evolve in real time, all while most of us don’t have any background in STEM. It’s a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between communications and more technical industries in a way that feels both accessible and cutting-edge. 

What moments in graduate school have been the most exciting or defining thus far?  

Graduate school has exposed me to so much in so little time—just a year ago, I would never have guessed that I’d be pivoting to pursue a career in user interface design. This transition has only been possible with the support of my professors, who have consistently encouraged and recognized my efforts both in and out of the classroom. 

For example, I recently had the incredible privilege of joining my professor, renowned technology consultant and Advanced Media Professor in Residence Shelly Palmer, at CES 2025 alongside five of my peers. We had the opportunity to explore the show floor and assist in facilitating the bespoke tours he curates for clients such as Meta and Google and connect with Syracuse alumni across a wide range of industries. 

In short, what’s been most exciting is being challenged every day. There’s no handholding, but if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. 

What advice would you give to students that are in the initial stages of deciding to pursue graduate school? 

One concern I had during the application process was that pursuing a graduate education at Syracuse might limit other opportunities available to me, such as internships, due to location and timing constraints. After all, most master’s programs at Newhouse begin in-person in the summer after graduation. However, I’ve come to realize that doors will open for you if you choose to seek them, thanks in no small part to the efforts of faculty both within my program—such as Professor Adam Peruta, our program’s director—and outside of it. I wouldn’t trade the education and experiences I’ve received because of choosing to continue my Newhouse education for anything. 

For more information on Newhouse School graduate programs, please email nhmasters@syr.edu.