News
ELI Newsletter Volume 1
A few short weeks ago, the English Language Institute kicked off the fall 2024 semester. There are nearly 1600 adult English language learners and 100 teachers. Here are some ELI Saturday students excited to join in with a new initiative this fall: ELI clubs. Andrea Dos Santos, an ELI coordinator, has arranged the clubs, which include a drama club, a writing club, a reading club,a grammar club and a vocabulary club. In the photo, Ines Maria Abeijon, an ELI staff member, can be seen helping students decide which club would best suit their needs.
The clubs are part of an overarching initiative to help students stay motivated, keep learning, and reach for the next level of learning proficiency. Learning any language is not easy; it takes time and determination. It requires daily practice and a lot of resilience. The clubs foster all those things and ensure that the students find a way to help and enjoy themselves when learning. The Assistant Dean of the ELI is no stranger to language learning challenges. Originally from Argentina, Claudia Carco had learned English in her home country. She came here at the age of 18.
“When I first came to this country, I knew that I knew English, but I felt intimidated when speaking English with fluent speakers in social settings. I hit what is called the silent period. I knew English, but I was able to produce it. I eventually overcame this struggle, but now I am very empathetic towards the challenges that the students at the ELI face. Our new initiative is to provide as much support for our students as possible. We are offering clubs this semester and have created a new program called ESL +. A program run by volunteers to help students at the lower levels who are struggling to get to the next level of proficiency. Both ELI teachers and high-level language learners will help with this endeavor. Our aim is to ensure that everyone succeeds.”
We wish our students the best of luck and a lot of success this fall!
WCC Foundation’s Lester M. Crystal President’s Forum Free, Virtual Event Discussing the Future of Work
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.
Athletics to Offer Social Media And Photography Internships For Class Credit in Fall 2024 Semester
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.
SUNY WCC Celebrates Nurse Pinning Ceremony
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.”
4 SUNY Westchester Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
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.
SUNY WCC Celebrates Commencement Ceremonies
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.”
SUNY WCC Student Named Jack Kent Cooke Scholar
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.
International Voices is back!
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
International Voices
About International Voices
International Voices is an award winning annual publication of Westchester Community College students. The creative works showcased here represent some of the diverse experiences and perspectives of the Westchester Community College community. This diversity and inclusive spirit are at the core of the College mission, stemming from the belief that education should be accessible to all and that improving education levels brings benefits, both tangible and intangible, to the community at large.
Contact Information
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
Westchester Community College Foundation Gala Raises Nearly Half-Million Dollars in Sold-Out November Gala
Vanessa Williams Brings Star Power to Event
At the sold-out Westchester Community College Foundation “Transforming Futures Together” Gala on November 8, 325 guests packed Tappan Hill in Tarrytown. More than $480,000 was raised to support student scholarships, emergency aid and other critical programs at SUNY Westchester Community College.
The event marked the start of the 10th anniversary year of DR. BELINDA S. MILES as President of SUNY Westchester Community College.
Longtime Westchester Community College Champion VANESSA WILLIAMS emceed the event. Ms. Williams is one of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in the entertainment industry today, selling millions of records worldwide. Her work in music, film, television, and the Broadway stage has been recognized with 4 Emmy nominations, 11 Grammy nominations, a Tony nomination, 3 SAG award nominations and 7 NAACP Image Awards.
Students told their compelling personal stories and introduced the five stellar leaders in Westchester County who were honored:
County Executive GEORGE LATIMER received the Public Service Award in recognition of his 36 years of service to the people of Westchester County and New York State. Latimer became the ninth Westchester County Executive in 2018, and was elected to a second term in 2021, never losing an election during his three decades in public office.
DORRY SWOPE received Westchester Community College Foundation’s Philanthropy Award. Over the years, Dorry and her family have made significant contributions to SUNY Westchester Community College as well as to conservation, arts, and health care organizations.
SINFOROSA “ROSE” TAN & WILLIAM H.P. KAUNG received Westchester Community College Foundation’s Community Leadership Award. Rose and Bill are recognized for their decades of volunteer service to SUNY Westchester Community College and the community. Rose is Professor Emerita of Mathematics at SUNY WCC.
DAVID BERRY, a SUNY Westchester Community College alum, received the Westchester Community College Foundation Viking Voyager Alumni Award. David is the founder of NomadCIO LLC, which provides interim Chief Information/Technology Officer and M&A leadership globally.