Spring 2010 - Rockland Community College

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Students of Note Four Students Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award Four SUNY Rockland students were recognized by the highest honor bestowed upon a student in the State University of New York for their integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, including leadership, career achievement, community service, creative and performing arts and/or personal achievement. The students received the awards from Chancellor Nancy Zimpher on April 6 at the Empire State Convention Center in Albany. Each received a framed certificate and medallion, which is traditionally worn at Commencement. Paola García Cárdenas; Santa Ana High School, Costa Rica; A.S.: Computer Information Systems; GPA 3.8 An international student from Costa Rica, Paola Garcia Cardenas of Suffern, an athlete, is a former member of the Professional Soccer League in Costa Rica, where she represented her town, Nicoya, at the National Games in 2006. At RCC, she played for the women’s tennis and basketball teams. García Cárdenas received the College’s 2009 Hispanic Heritage Achievement Award in Leadership Activities and is a member of the Alpha Beta Gamma, Phi Sigma Omicron and Phi Theta Kappa honor societies and a member of the 2010 All-New York Academic Team. She is employed by the College Library and Computer Lab, and plans to transfer to St. Thomas Aquinas College and major in Computer Science. Honey Katzman’09; A.S.: Liberal Arts and Science; GPA 4.0 Honey Katzman of Monsey, a returning adult student, realized she wanted to earn a college degree after taking a course to become a Skywarn Spotter for the National Weather Service. Formerly office manager for a group optometry practice, she earned her associate’s degree in just three semesters. Currently working on a second associate’s degree in Business, she was one of 250 students in the country selected by NASA to be a National Community College Aerospace Scholar, and one of 60 students chosen to work with NASA scientists and engineers for three days at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. She is a member of the honor societies Phi Sigma Omicron, Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha Beta Gamma, and works as a tutor at the RCC Tutoring Center. She received the RCC Foundation’s Mayer Family Scholarship. maegan nevins, Tappan Zee High School; A.A.: Liberal Arts and Science; GPA 3.9 A member of RCC’s Sam Draper Mentor/Talented Student (M/TS) Honors program, Maegan Nevins of Blauvelt received a scholarship to study at Cambridge University in the summer of 2009. Her thesis on landscapes was ranked in the top three out of more than 100 submissions in the Arts category for Beacon Scholars ‘09. She is President of the Student Activities Board, a member of the Student Government Association Executive Board and of Sigma Chi Eta and Phi Theta Kappa. As a Student Ambassador, she serves as a representative at campus and community events. She works part-time in the office of O’Sullivan Tree Care in West Nyack. Andrew C. newmark, Suffern High School; A.A.: Liberal Arts and Science; GPA 3.9 Honors student Andrew Newmark of Airmont is the Student Representative to the College’s Board of Trustees. Newmark, who was a Freshman Senator on the Student Government Association in 2008-2009, is currently chair of the Campus Improvements and Student Government Cafeteria Improvement Committees. He is active in fundraising for several causes including RCC’s Campus Fun & Learn Center and the RCC Food Cupboard. Newmark is in the Sam Draper Mentor/Talented Student Honors Program and is a member of the honor societies Phi Theta Kappa and Phi Sigma Omicron. He received an RCC Outstanding Student Service Award for 2008-2009, and in May, plans to go to New Orleans with the RCC Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. He received a Student Government Association Scholarship and the Eugene Cameron Memorial Scholarship from the RCC Foundation. 8
High school drop-out uses Honors Program as stepping stone to Columbia Quit high school at 16 when he became a father A high school dropout is heading to Columbia University after completing RCC’s Honors Program. Enior J. Jimenez of Spring Valley will attend the School of General Studies of Columbia University this fall, where he will pursue a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Behavior with a concentration in Middle East Studies. Ultimately, he hopes to enroll in Columbia’s dual MD/PhD program. Eight years ago, this educational path seemed unlikely for Jimenez. In 2002, he dropped out of high school at the age of 16, upon learning that his girlfriend (now his wife) became pregnant with his child. “I left school at the beginning of my junior year and prematurely began fulfilling my responsibilities as a husband and father,” he said. “I worked two full-time jobs at local gas stations trying the best I could to provide for my wife and daughter. However, as time progressed, the inescapable feeling of failure and inadequacy overcame me with fear.” He found solace in his Christian faith and volunteered at a local church, where he was hired as a staff member responsible for the church’s Hispanic ministry. He is now Senior Pastor and President of a non-denominational Spanish-speaking church in Spring Valley. Despite this success, Jimenez still faced a major hurdle-he was not a legal U.S. resident. Originally from Costa Rica, he was smuggled over the border at the age of four. “Experiences like having my high Art student Lara Visconti exhibits her portrait at the Student Digital Art Gallery Spring Show in the Technology Center. Enior J. Jimenez with his daughter, Judith, at a scientific poster symposium at Binghamton University where he presented his neuroscience research findings through the RCC Bridges to Baccalaureate program. [photo by Ruth Jimenez] 9 school science class go to Niagara Falls while I had to stay home for fear that immigration officers would deport me had disparaged me throughout my childhood.” Finally, at the age of 21, Jimenez acquired Permanent Residence status and was able to resume his formal education. He enrolled at RCC, hoping his placement exam, interview and strong desire for intellectual growth would be enough to gain acceptance into the nationally acclaimed Sam Draper Mentor/Talented Student Honors Program. “Academically, I had nothing to show for myself except my GED. Incredibly, Dr. Cliff Garner [Coordinator of the Honors Program] saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.” Garner said, “Enior told me that he had a dream, and that he had heard RCC’s Honors Program was the place where dreams could begin. I saw a young man who was obviously bright, but also had drive and clarity about what he wanted for himself and his family. I knew that if we gave him the chance, he would succeed-and he did.” “ Enior told me that he had a dream, and that he had heard RCC’s Honors Program was the place where dreams could begin... Armed with trash bags, cartons and gloves, Josephine Coleman, Instructor of Business, and CASS student Liliana Alcola, prepare to pick up debris from College Road during the Great American Cleanup in April. ”
Page 1 and 2: For Friends and Alumni of Rockland
Page 3 and 4: Annual Campaign Report Professor Sa
Page 5 and 6: Learning Opportunities College Comm
Page 7: Alumni notes nelli biktacheva voorh
Page 11 and 12: Reamy Jansen, Professor of English

Spring 2010 - Rockland Community College

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