Milestone Achieved
Year 1 Cost of Attendance: Fully Funded ✅
$82,350 in confirmed aid covers the revised $78,523 COA — with a $3,827 buffer for unexpected costs.
$78,523
Off-Campus COA
$82,350
Confirmed Aid
+$3,827
Safety Buffer
Connor Lloyd: Securing the Final Step to an Electrical Engineering Degree.
Connor is a high-achieving math student accepted into the Kate Gleason College of Engineering at RIT. As a fully independent student with dual disabilities, he has navigated every official funding channel — and his tuition and apartment costs are now fully covered.
The campaign has pivoted: help Connor arrive on campus ready to thrive — with reliable transportation, proper footwear for his mobility condition, and the gear to fit into campus life.
Quality-of-Life Goal: ${{ secondaryGoal.toLocaleString() }} — ${{ gapAmount.toLocaleString() }} Remaining
🎉 Primary Tuition + Living Goal: FULLY FUNDED ($78,523)
I am so incredibly grateful for every person who believed in me and helped make this possible. I cannot wait to walk onto that campus, sit down in my first engineering class, and earn every single A. More than the grades, I am excited to finally be surrounded by people who love building things as much as I do — to make lifelong friends, to grow, and to prove that where you start does not determine where you finish. RIT is just the beginning.
— Connor Lloyd, Electrical Engineering '30
Connor's Official Acceptance
"Dear Connor:
Congratulations! I am pleased to inform you that your application to the Electrical Engineering program at Rochester Institute of Technology has been approved by our Admissions Committee for Fall 2026 entry. We believe that you possess the academic potential and motivation to benefit from the rich academic resources available to you at RIT.
In deciding to attend RIT, you will be joining the student body of an internationally recognized university. Enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are undeniable characteristics of RIT's distinguished faculty."
Connor's Program Curriculum
A rigorous, math-intensive trajectory designing the circuits, control systems, and embedded firmware that power next-generation assistive devices — directly leading to high-impact careers in biomedical electronics and accessible technology.
Connor's Proven Academic Excellence
Connor is not starting from zero. He is entering RIT already holding an Associate's Degree in Mathematics — a proven mastery of advanced collegiate mathematics that sets him apart and prepares him for the intense analytical demands of Electrical Engineering.
Advanced Mathematics
- Multivariable Calculus (Completed)
- Differential Equations (Completed)
- Linear Algebra
- Engineering Statistics
Engineering Core
- Circuit Analysis & Electronics
- Signals & Systems
- Embedded Systems & Firmware
- Control Systems
Connor's Personal Mission
Connor's Mission: Regaining Freedom.
Revolutionizing Access.
The Exoboot Prototype
Before Connor walks across the graduation stage, his goal is to design, build, and test a fully functional exoboot prototype. This is not just an academic exercise — it is a personal roadmap to overcoming the physical limitations of fallen arches and reclaiming freedom of movement.
Global Impact
A donation to Connor empowers one student today, but the impact doesn't stop there. By proving these accessible, low-cost electrical engineering concepts, every design, firmware file, and schematic Connor develops will be open-sourced — freely available to help millions worldwide who face similar mobility challenges.
The RIT Advantage
RIT is the engine that makes Connor's vision possible. With immediate access to state-of-the-art electronics prototyping labs, advanced embedded systems research, and world-class faculty mentorship, RIT provides the exact environment needed to turn an ambitious concept into a life-changing reality.
Connor's Plan: Living Independently at RIT
Connor's Years of Lessons Learned.
Now Deployed at Scale.
Rather than relying on a campus dorm with a pre-packaged meal plan, Connor is applying everything he has learned from years of managing his own life — independently, resourcefully, and without a safety net — to build a leaner, more self-sufficient college experience.
Connor's Off-Campus Apartment
Connor is renting his own apartment near RIT at ~$900/month — well below on-campus dorm costs. County Temporary Assistance covers $380/month, leaving a manageable net rent of ~$520/month that his aid package handles.
Connor Cooks Every Meal
Connor is eliminating the campus meal plan entirely. Instead, he will plan, prep, and cook all of his own meals — a skill he has already built from necessity. $275/month in SNAP/EBT benefits provides the grocery foundation, supplemented by local food banks and community food drives.
Connor Manages 10+ Funding Sources
Connor will proactively manage every stream of aid across the full 4-year program — tracking deadlines, recertifications, income thresholds, and county transfers with the same precision he applies to his engineering coursework.
Connor's Total Transparency: The Funding Breakdown
Every dollar has been accounted for. By moving off-campus and eliminating the meal plan, the revised Cost of Attendance drops to $78,523 — fully covered by $82,350 in confirmed aid. The campaign now focuses on quality-of-life essentials — including a mobility scooter, cooking appliances, and campus gear. Cash or items both welcome.
Connor's First Attempt — and Why He Didn't Stop
In 2025, Connor made his first serious attempt to fund his path to RIT. Brandon stepped up with a $500 deposit to hold the commitment. But despite everyone's best efforts, the full funding could not be secured in time — and the dream had to be deferred for a year.
Most people would have walked away. Connor didn't. He spent that year continuing to build his skills, maintain his case with ACCES-VR, manage his benefits independently, and wait for another chance — knowing it would come if he kept pushing. That 2025 deposit was kept alive and carried forward into this campaign as a symbol of that commitment. In 2026, the funding finally came together. The full two-year commitment — including both deposits from Brandon — is now reflected in the COA funding below.
Connor's Year 1 Costs — Off-Campus
Connor's Primary Aid — COA Fully Covered
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Connor's COA Fully Funded — $3,827 Safety Buffer
$82,350 confirmed aid − $78,523 revised COA = +$3,827. This buffer covers unexpected expenses, co-op transition gaps, or benefit timing delays without derailing the academic plan.
Explore the Future Campus
A look inside the state-of-the-art facilities, engineering labs, and accessible community where Connor will be spending the next four years pushing the boundaries of accessible technology.
Phase 2 — Quality of Life
Connor's Tuition is Covered — Help Him Thrive.
With the COA fully funded, this phase focuses on the things that make the difference between surviving and thriving — getting around campus, eating well, and fitting in.
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Can't donate cash? Donate the item itself.
Every item below includes a direct purchase link on Amazon. Buying and shipping a mobility scooter, an air fryer, or a pair of shoes is just as valuable as a cash donation — and just as welcome. Please make sure to purchase the offered warranty for each item that covers as close to 4 years as possible.
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GoFundMe Donors
Brandon Starkweather
$25
Opening donation to launch the campaign and establish social proof for other donors.
Your name here
Donate cash or ship an item directly.
Connor's Tuition is Covered — Now Help Him Thrive.
The big goal is done. Connor's apartment, tuition, and food are all covered through a combination of grants, scholarships, aid programs, and county assistance. The campaign now focuses on the things that make the difference between surviving and thriving — helping Connor get around campus safely, eat well, and feel at home from day one.
Mobility Scooter
$2,000
Cooking Appliances
$500
Supportive Footwear
$250
RIT Branded Gear
$200
Campus Life Buffer
$300
Quality-of-Life Goal
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remaining of ${{ secondaryGoal.toLocaleString() }}
{{ Math.round((donationsTotal / secondaryGoal) * 100) }}% funded
Primary COA goal:
✅ $78,523 — FULLY FUNDED