SUNY WCC has been recognized as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. That makes us one of 471 colleges and universities recognized for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation in the 2024 election.

“SUNY WCC provides its students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in their academic and professional careers,” said Dr. Belinda Miles, President of SUNY Westchester Community College. “We are also dedicated to preparing our students to take their place in our community as responsible citizens who understand the importance of voting and participating in respectful discourse.”

“The research is clear: colleges and universities that make intentional efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement have higher campus voter registration and voter turnout rates. This year we saw more colleges than ever before step up their efforts to ensure that their students were registered and ready to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “These Most Engaged Campuses are setting the standard for nonpartisan civic engagement work for colleges and universities across the country.”

“Enabling and encouraging all eligible voters to participate in our democratic process is vital to achieving full equity and access across our society,” said Tiago Machado, Director of Student Involvement at SUNY WCC. “We are proud of the efforts of our staff who worked hard to help us achieve this notable designation.”

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items, with the support of ALL IN staff, to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning and voter participation on their campus. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge currently engages 10.8 million students from more than 1,075 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

State and Private Investment Enables SUNY to Expand Model to 25 Campuses Empowering Students with Financial, Academic and Personal Support to Boost Graduation Rates, Close Opportunity Gaps

State and local lawmakers, students and SUNY officials today joined SUNY Westchester Community College leaders in highlighting the benefits and growth of Viking ROADS, which is based on the transformative CUNY ASAP model that has been widely demonstrated to increase student completion rates and narrow opportunity gaps. Also announced was the expansion of ASAP (Advancing Success in Associate Pathways) and ACE (Advancing Completion through Engagement) to 25 SUNY campuses statewide that opted in to the ASAP/ACE program.

Viking ROADS (Resources for Obtaining Associate Degrees and Success) is an opportunity program that helps motivated students graduate with an Associate Degree in three years or less. It provides wraparound support to ensure student academic success, retention, and on-time graduation. An array of resources and services – including funding to help cover textbooks, transportation, and other costs of attendance, academic assistance, comprehensive personalized advisement, and career development activities – help eligible students overcome barriers that can prevent them from achieving their goals and obtaining a degree. The program has been proven to enable more students to persist and take more credits than they would have otherwise.

ASAP|ACE expanded to the SUNY system in Spring 2024, supported by an historic demonstration of state-level support championed by Governor Hochul in the $75 million SUNY Transformation Fund and supplemented by private grants. In Fall 2024, SUNY ASAP|ACE will enroll 4,200 students. At SUNY WCC, this state-level funding combined with grants from the Robin Hood Foundation and other private donors has enabled enrollment in Viking ROADS to expand to more than 550 this year, up from 101 students in its initial cohort in 2018.

“SUNY Westchester Community College is proud of the role it has played in piloting this program in the SUNY system, and we are excited to be a part of the expansion of the ASAP/ACE model across 25 SUNY campuses,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President of SUNY Westchester Community College. “Viking ROADS is a program that has been proven to increase student success, especially among those students who need that support. This is a truly transformative program, which will not only improve the futures of these students, but the families and communities that rely on their success.”

“Student success drives everything we do at SUNY, and we are committed to meeting students and their families where they are to ensure they thrive,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “SUNY takes pride in scaling ASAP and ACE as proven models for student success across our campuses and we look forward to continuing to invest in the next generation of SUNY graduates at SUNY Westchester Community College and across the system.”

Participating students represent a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and experience, but all share a recognition in the importance of higher education and achieving a degree to achieve their personal and professional goals. See here for more information: www.sunywcc.edu/viking-roads.

“As someone who deeply values education, I know how critical it is to ensure that every student has the resources and support they need to succeed,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “Last year the Senate secured an additional $75 million for the SUNY Transformation Fund to enhance innovative programs and better meet 21st century demands of students and the workforce. Today we are celebrating that, through this investment, the Viking ROADS program will expand to reach more students, ensuring they not only start their educational journey but finish it with the credentials they need for success.”

“As a WCC fan, I am especially pleased that SUNY Westchester Community College has successfully expanded its Viking ROADS program with help from the historic SUNY Transformation Fund,” said State Senator Shelley B. Mayer. “I was pleased to support this critical funding in the State Budget. Programs such as Viking ROADS do great work helping students stay on track and accomplish their goals. I thank President Miles and the faculty and staff of SUNY WCC for their commitment to every student’s future.”

Westchester Community College Foundation’s Lester M. Crystal President’s Forum Free, Virtual Event Features SUNY Chancellor, Chief Leadership and Human Resources Officer at Accenture, NPR Senior Correspondent and Moderator Judy Woodruff of PBS in Discussing the Future of Work

Valhalla, NY, September 30, 2024 – The Westchester Community College Foundation will present the Lester M. Crystal President’s Forum virtually on Wednesday, October 9th from 6:00 to 7:00PM ET. The Forum is an annual event featuring a distinguished panel of journalists, politicians, historians, executives and other prominent leaders who gather to engage in a balanced discussion on an important topic of the day.

The theme of this year’s program is The Future of Work – The Path Forward and includes a panel of leading experts in the fields of education, media, and industry, moderated by Judy Woodruff, Senior Correspondent for PBS News.

Panelists scheduled to appear include:

• John B. King, Jr. – Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) and former U.S. Secretary of Education
• Angela Beatty – Chief Leadership and Human Resources Officer, Accenture
• Cory Turner – Correspondent/Senior Editor, NPR Ed

Thanks to the event’s sponsors, this virtual panel discussion is free to participants. Donations are welcome; proceeds will help to support the mission of Westchester Community College Foundation of providing scholarship, financial and programmatic support to promote student success in college and beyond.

The event was named to honor the late Lester Crystal for his contributions on behalf of SUNY Westchester Community College students. Crystal was the Executive Producer of the PBS News Hour and former President of MacNeil Lehrer Productions. Past speakers have included President Clinton, Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker, journalists Paul Krugman and Paul Gigot, and many others. The event is co-chaired by Westchester Community College Foundation board members Betty Cotton and Evelyn Stock; Susan Yubas is the Foundation’s Special Events Chair.

“We are honored to host such an esteemed panel of speakers for this year’s President’s Forum” said Evelyn Stock. “The discussion promises to be enriching and thought-provoking for all attendees.”

“The biggest beneficiaries of the program are our students, who have the extraordinary opportunity to pose questions to the outstanding speakers,” said Betty Cotton. “Proceeds of the event also help students through scholarships and other programmatic support at the College.”

Corporate sponsors of the Westchester Community Foundation Lester M. Crystal President’s Forum include JPMorgan Chase and Con Edison. The event can be viewed online by registered viewers for 30 days after the panel discussion. To reserve tickets or to sponsor this event visit www.wccf.onlinegalas.org, or for more information, contact Chrissy Brennan, Special Events Manager, Westchester Community College Foundation, at 914-606-6509 or email christine.brennan@sunywcc.edu.

Valhalla, NY – The Athletic Department is pleased to announce the start of two three-credit media internships in the Fall 2024 Semester!

The first internship being offered is for Photography and Videography. This position will act as a three-credit course here at SUNY Westchester. It will have a focus on sports photography and videography including but not limited to, Media Days, Head shots, Action shots, Game Day Footage, and B-Roll. Any individual interested in this position should have a basic knowledge of sports media, access to camera equipment, and editing software. You will be responsible for attending majority of home games and occasional practices spending roughly eight (8) hours a week taking and editing photos and/or videos. You will also be working with other interns for media and graphics. Because this is a three-credit course, there are academic requirements. You will keep a basic work long/journal summarizing your shift. You will also check in periodically with the Internship Coordinator throughout the semester when requested. Finally, you will submit a one and a half (750 word) essay at the end of the Fall Semester detailing what you learned during this internship, being sure to address your most important work and how it intersects with COMM (Communication) Studies here at SUNY Westchester and/or elsewhere.

The second internship being offered is for Social Media. This position will act as a three-credit course there at SUNY WCC and will focus primarily on Social Media posting (i.e. Instagram, Tik Tok, X/Twitter, Facebook, etc.). Individuals should have a basic knowledge of sports media. You should have knowledge of how to engage with followers as well as having the knowledge of editing and photoshop. You will be asked to help manage the SUNY Westchester Athletics social media accounts (Instagram, X/Twitter, Facebook, etc) as well as creating content for those platforms. You will be working with other interns for photos, videos, and graphics. Because this is a three-credit course, there are academic requirements. You will keep a basic work long/journal summarizing your shift. You will also check in periodically with the Internship Coordinator throughout the semester when requested. Finally, you will submit a one and a half (750 word) essay at the end of the Fall Semester detailing what you learned during this internship, being sure to address your most important work and how it intersects with COMM (Communication) Studies here at SUNY Westchester and/or elsewhere.

Those interested in applying, please send your resume to Director of Athletics Michael Belfiore at Michael.Belfiore@sunywcc.edu. If you have a portfolio of your work, please attached that into your email.

Valhalla, NY (May 21, 2024) – SUNY Westchester Community College celebrated its Nurse Pinning Ceremony in which 19 students completed their nursing studies and received their SUNY WCC nursing pins..

May has been designated National Nurses Month, and May 8 is National Student Nurse Day. This year’s nursing students completed the two-year Nursing A.A.S. Program, which is designed to prepare students for careers as Registered Nurses. Graduates of the program can transfer almost anywhere, in-state or out-of-state. New York State residents are also guaranteed admission to a SUNY four-year campus.

“We are proud to see our nursing students reach this day as they embark on a new chapter,” said George Contreras, Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Wellness. “Our nursing graduates will soon be serving our community in this noble profession. As was evident during the recent pandemic, the U.S. has a critical shortage of registered nurses, a shortage that might top 1 million by the end of this decade. In response to this shortage, SUNY WCC expanded its nursing program in January 2024 to provide more students with the training and education they need to help fill this need while providing for their families.”

Valhalla, NY (May 27, 2024) – Four students at SUNY Westchester Community College were honored with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE). This award recognizing distinguished achievement is the highest honor bestowed upon a student by the University. Awardees are those students who have best demonstrated the integration of SUNY excellence within many aspects of their lives, including academics, leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion & justice, campus involvement, community service, research & development, and the arts (creative or performing).

The SUNY WCC students to receive the award are: Luis Granados (Greenwich, CT), Alicia Greco (Mamaroneck, NY), Jessica Sabau (Ossining, NY), and Lotus Taylor (Pleasantville, NY). All four students are members of the SUNY WCC Honors College. The career plans for these students vary from biomedical engineering research, to diplomacy in international security, to law, and psychology.

“Once again, SUNY Westchester students have distinguished themselves,” said WCC President Dr. Belinda Miles. “The awards and recognitions our students received this year is another indication not just of the perseverance and accomplishments of our students, but also of the dedication and effectiveness of our award-winning faculty. Students in our Honors College enjoy a tuition-free, academically challenging environment as they are mentored to transfer to renowned universities for two additional years of Bachelor’s Degree studies.”

“There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker, and each year we come together to herald and celebrate the achievements of a diverse group of some of SUNY’s most accomplished students,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. “It is my honor to celebrate the achievements of the nearly 200 CASE awardees as they inspire others and illustrate what is possible with a SUNY education.” Information on SUNY WCC’s Honors College is available at www.sunywcc.edu/honorscollege.

Valhalla, NY (May 28, 2024) – SUNY Westchester Community College celebrated commencement on campus with three ceremonies that showcased the perseverance, achievements and collegiality of its students and employees.

This year’s commencement was divided by school into three different ceremonies: the School of Math, Science and Engineering & the School of Health Careers, Technology and Applied Learning shared the 10AM ceremony, followed at 2PM by the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and at 6PM by the School of Business and Professional Careers. Family and friends of the graduates filled the venue for each of the three ceremonies in the Physical Education Building.

SUNY Westchester Community College President Belinda S. Miles and members of the Board of Trustees spoke at each of the three ceremonies. SUNY WCC was honored to host SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. as the featured speaker for the 10:00am ceremony. The featured speakers at the 2:00pm and 6:00pm ceremonies were Karen C. Erren, President & CEO of Feeding Westchester, and Michelle A. Nicholas, Founder & CEO of The NICO Consulting, Inc., respectively.

Winners of the SUNY Chancellors Award for Excellence, 2024 winner of the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, Carolina Mendoza, and other honorees were among the graduates at the ceremony. Of the more than 1,300 graduates, many will transfer to four-year institutions including Yale, Columbia, Georgetown, and UNC at Chapel Hill, as well as SUNY campuses and local colleges, while many others will enter the workforce in such fields as cybersecurity, nursing, fashion design, and digital filmmaking.

“This year’s commencement celebrated the tremendous achievements and perseverance of our graduates, as well as the dedicated efforts of our faculty and other employees to provide the support our students needed to reach this milestone,” said Dr. Miles. “Our graduates leave the college well-prepared whether they intend to further their academic career at a four-year institution or immediately enter the full-time workforce. During their time at SUNY WCC, our students were introduced to new ideas and perspectives, and the learned more about themselves while also having empathy and appreciation of others.”

Valhalla, NY (May 15, 2024) – Carolina Mendoza of New Rochelle, NY became the fourteenth student in SUNY Westchester Community College history to win the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This scholarship provides only 60 selected students nationally with up to $55,000 a year to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

Carolina came to SUNY WCC in large part due to its lowest-in-the-county tuition, but also for its Honors College, which provides guaranteed tuition coverage and substantial textbook stipends from the WCC Foundation. Honors College scholars have access to specialized co-curricular programming, including study abroad and internship opportunities. Carolina majored in Liberal Arts Honors Concentration with the intent to study architecture so she can produce sustainable homes in low-income areas.

“The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship is truly life changing,” said Carolina Mendoza. “This scholarship will help me achieve the dreams I thought were impossible: I can continue my education of becoming a sustainable architect which I’m incredibly grateful for. SUNY Westchester Community College has provided me opportunities and support that have transformed me into the person I am today. I will never forget this generosity.”

“The entire SUNY Westchester Community College community is very proud of Carolina’s accomplishments,” said WCC President Dr. Belinda Miles. “Carolina fully embraced the SUNY WCC experience, participating in extracurricular activities, taking advantage of all that our Honors College has to offer, and excelling in her studies. In her time at SUNY WCC, Carolina exhibited the dedication and perseverance that is the hallmark of so many of our students, and it is fitting that she has been rewarded with this esteemed honor. We are excited to see her join the distinguished list of WCC alums to achieve this highly competitive award. We look forward to the wonderful achievements she is sure to accomplish in the years ahead.”

In addition to financial support, new Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars will receive comprehensive educational advising to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year college and preparing for their careers. Scholars will additionally receive opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of Cooke Scholars and Alumni.

Today, nearly half of the students pursuing college choose to attend two-year institutions. Research commissioned by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation found that community college students who transfer to selective institutions have equal to or higher graduation rates as students who enrolled directly from high school or transferred from four-year institutions. Yet, at the nation’s top colleges, only five percent have transferred from a community college. The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship seeks to increase the number of community college students completing their education at top four-year institutions.

The 2024 edition is now available online. Congratulations to all of the talented students who contributed. Limited print versions will be delivered to campus in the coming weeks.

Enjoy!

Kent Trickel, Associate Professor
English, Reading and ESL Department
Academic ESL Coordinator | Abeles Endowed Chair for Distance Learning
Kent.Trickel@sunywcc.edu | GTW S233D | (914) 606-8509