Antonio Bonilla ’87 (Spanish) ’05g (Humanistic-Multicultural Education) on the past, present and future of the Educational Opportunity Program

Across the nearly 200-year history of  SUNY New Paltz, few people hold a deeper bond to a single program than Antonio Bonilla ’87 (Spanish) ’05g (Humanistic-Multicultural Education) and his connection to EOP. 

Bonilla’s New Paltz journey began thanks to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), a state-supported program that serves students from a variety of circumstances that may present barriers to academic success. The program helped him succeed as a student and remained a home for him after graduation. 

Now, after more than 30 years as a member of the EOP team, including 16 years as the program’s director, Bonilla’s retirement is giving him a chance to reflect on how far EOP has come, how much it has grown, and how much more is still possible.

ONE OF THE FIRST, ONE OF THE BEST

Educational Opportunity Programs debuted at SUNY campuses in the late 1960s. State elected leaders had recognized that the public higher education mission in New York could not be completely fulfilled without serving and supporting students who lacked the financial and academic advantages enjoyed by some of their peers.  

Throughout its history, EOP’s mission has been built on a foundation of community, mentorship and an ethos of interpersonal connection across generations.  Bonilla’s early days in the program were rooted in strong relationships with mentors like Dr. Tomás D. Morales ’75 (Adolescence Education: Social Studies) ’12 HON, a legendary New Paltz Hawk who helped build our EOP network in the 1980s and 1990s, before advancing in a higher education career that culminated in his current role as president of California State University, San Bernardino.  

“EOP at New Paltz is really a leader and an exceptional model,” Dr. Morales said. “Many EOP graduates have contributed significantly as politicians, educators and leaders on the local, state and national level.” 

Bonilla’s connection with Dr. Morales – first as a student mentee, and later as a staff member – has kept him grounded in the history of the program even as he rose through its ranks.  

“When Tony was a student here, I saw him as someone who was incredibly focused and student-centered,” Dr. Morales said. “I’m not surprised he embarked on the path he is on today.”

Bonilla became director of EOP at SUNY New Paltz in 2008. In the years since, he has overseen its evolution into one of the largest and most effective student success programs in the SUNY system. 

There have been program expansions supported by New York State; fundraising efforts to cover expenses for students that can make the difference between persisting and dropping out; and festive celebrations that bring program alumni back to their alma mater, among many other advances. 

Today, EOP is supporting more students than ever before—an average of nearly 500 annually—and helping them achieve first-year retention rates and six-year graduation rates that significantly exceed the national average for all U.S. public college and university students.

Through the years, Bonilla and his EOP team have kept the focus on the core mission: helping students progress to degree-holding alumni, while providing them with a community that feels like a home away from home. He's passing that torch to new EOP Director Rita Celariste ’89 (Communication) ’97g (Humanistic-Multicultural Education), herself a program alumna with a reputation as a compassionate leader at her alma mater. 

Now more than ever, the EOP mission depends on support from a range of sources, from the State of New York to philanthropic programs like the EOP Scholarship and Program Funds.

“There's still a gap between financial aid and the cost of education, and we are always seeking new ways to increase scholarship offerings and offset the long-term liability of the student,” Bonilla said. “Together, I have no doubt that EOP will continue to make progress in advancing students’ careers."