UpMobility Foundation's Partner On Point for College Featured in the New York Times

LupWay Doh has a passion for helping others. A refugee from Myanmar now living in Utica, New York, Mr. Doh works for On Point for College, an education nonprofit that has helped thousands of first generation  students get into and graduate from college. Mr. Doh and On Point for College were mentioned in a recent article in the New York Times which detailed the  role that refugees have played in revitalizing a once-declining Utica, including renovating run-down houses and starting businesses. UpMobility Foundation is proud to support On Point for College, an organization that empowers first-generation college students, ultimately helping them to give back to their own community.  

As a College Access/Success Advisor at On Point for College, Mr. Doh helps prospective college students, including refugees, navigate the admissions and financial aid processes. Additionally, Mr. Doh checks in regularly with the students once they have started college, helping them find part-time jobs and advising them with  financial aid issues. Although the challenges facing first-generation college students can be daunting, Mr. Doh says, “I love working with people and I love to see them succeeding.”

 When the COVID-19 pandemic made remote learning a necessity, funding from the UpMobility Foundation allowed On Point for College to provide underprivileged students with the technology needed to complete their classes. When Tat Aye, a student at SUNY Poly’s laptop broke the day she was supposed to take an exam, Ms. Aye contacted Mr. Doh, who was able to replace it. The laptop program has also been a lifeline for students who had previously relied on their school’s computer lab or shared a single device with their entire household.  

According to Mr. Doh, refugee students frequently remain in the Utica area  after graduating from college. Many give back to the community through their work as social workers, nurses and leaders in local organizations. UpMobility Foundation looks forward to continuing to see the cascading effects of refugees helping refugees–and the community at large– in Utica.