OPENING DOORS. TRANSFORMING LIVES. 2024 ANNUAL REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
of WCC students are the first in their families to aspire to a college degree 60% 65 degree & certificate programs 9 academic programs accredited by their respective professional boards & associations 19:1 Student/faculty ratio 22,778 credit & non-credit students* Lowest college tuition in Westchester Full tuition covered by federal & state aid for students from households with income less than $125K. SUNY WCC AT-A-GLANCE Mission: Westchester Community College provides accessible, high quality and affordable education to meet the needs of our diverse community. We are committed to student success, academic excellence, workforce development, economic development and lifelong learning. *Please note students who were enrolled in both credit and non-credit courses are only counted once. 1,285 credentials (degrees & certificates) awarded $2.8million awarded in scholarships 1,500+ receive scholarships & other critical resources $585 million added annually to Westchester County’s economy through college operations & alumni 79% are employed in companies in New York state one year after graduation. 5,837 jobs are supported by SUNY WCC are students of color; SUNY WCC was the first SUNY campus to be designated a Minority and Hispanic Serving Institution. 69% 5 convenient locations 98%+ of faculty & staff hold masters or doctorate degrees in their field Most SUNY Chancellors Awards for Excellence for faculty & professional staff among SUNY community colleges Many of our students are parents. Of 526 survey respondents: 11% reported having children who live with and depend on them for care Most of our students are working. Of 564 survey respondents: Only 29.3% reported working no hours for pay in a typical week while 20.9% reported working over 30 hours per week From the Spring 2024 Community College Survey of Student Engage (CCSSE) 21% from the bottom fifth of income as students, move to the top fifth as adults, ranking 21st on this measure nationwide of two-year colleges.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends, I am inspired every day by the students who arrive at SUNY WCC determined to pursue and achieve goals that once seemed unattainable. These goals—their dreams—are within reach thanks to the remarkable fortitude, resilience, courage, openness, and lived experiences of the students themselves. Their success is due in large part to the dedication and expertise of the extraordinary members of our faculty, staff and administration who provide students with all the supports they need to reach their full potential. Students leave the college with a sense of belonging, an expanded network, and a skill-set that leads to greater upward socioeconomic mobility. SUNY WCC students are hard workers with complex lives that often place daunting demands on them. They are serious students with a great deal riding on their decision to pursue higher education. They are aspirational and inspirational. We respect them deeply and take our commitment to them seriously. Their excellence makes us feel confident as we invite the Westchester community to partner with us on behalf of our students. Our most recent strategic plan was laser-focused on increasing student enrollment and graduation rates. I am happy to report that over the last decade our graduation rate doubled, and post-pandemic, enrollment has grown each semester against a backdrop of decreased enrollment nationally. We have entered a new strategic planning cycle building on this positive trajectory with anticipation for even more targeted programming. This focus includes career readiness for all of our students. Many local industries have looked to us to meet their workforce needs. Our planning will include expanding handson training and real-world applications that have become critical complements to the classroom experiences of a traditional college education. At SUNY WCC we continue to be recognized for our ground-breaking programs. One of only a handful of schools to be designated a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber-Defense Education by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency, our graduates have already launched spectacular careers in cybersecurity. A $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation will help us prioritize STEM-learning to address inequities in the representation of students of color in these high-growth and in-demand fields where career opportunities are varied and abundant. As we celebrate the culmination of WCC Foundation’s Pathways Campaign, we reflect on the remarkable number of truly transformational innovations and expansions it funded, and dramatic results it produced for our students as they prepare to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year institution. The Campaign’s influence can be seen throughout this report. Lastly, as an All In Campus Democracy Challenge school, we work to establish within each student the importance of civic engagement and recognition that their voice is important, necessary, and valued in our society. We encourage our students to engage in respectful civil discourse; to view it as their civic duty to exercise their right to vote; and to contribute to the greater good by volunteering. At a time when the world seems irreparably divided it is imperative that we endeavor to develop our students as engaged, contributing members of society with all the privileges and responsibilities that confers. We acknowledge with gratitude the many supporters of the WCC Foundation who provide scholarships and emergency aid to our students without which college attendance would remain for many, only a dream. We are excited about the numerous opportunities awaiting our students just outside our doors in the Westchester community and beyond and thank our loyal partners who share and help bring our vision for SUNY WCC to life. Regards, Dr. Belinda S. Miles SUNY Westchester President “Our door is open wide for all our students— English language learners; students headed for a four-year college and beyond; those seeking credentials to launch careers in new and growing fields or to take their skills to the next level; college students picking up extra credits over the summer; students who have taken a class or two and are now intent on completing a certificate or degree program, and retirees pursuing lifelong learning alongside their peers. SUNY WCC has a place for all learners.” 1
As he completes his term, we would like to recognize Thomas Lee, MD, for his leadership as Chair of the Westchester Community College Foundation for the past three years. His commitment to WCCF is especially remarkable given his active professional practice as a neurosurgeon and, more recently, his new role as Executive Vice President of the New York State Medical Association. President Cornelia Spring says, “Tom has provided wise counsel, represented the Foundation at internal and external events, presided over numerous meetings and gatherings, and left the already strong Foundation even stronger and better prepared for the years ahead. Many thanks, Tom, for being a critical moving force for the Foundation!” MESSAGE FROM WCC FOUNDATION Dear Friends, Thanks to you, we are in a strong position to continue to provide essential, holistic support of our students and the college in 2024 and well into the future. This year we provided more than $2.8 million in life-changing scholarships and nearly $1.1 million in forward-thinking programmatic support to the college. With the leadership of our Strategic Planning Committee chairs, Meryl Allison and Wendy Nadel, the Committee developed a strategic framework for the Foundation focused on providing resources for the college to prepare all SUNY WCC students for their future careers, whether they are on campus to earn a short-term credential, to complete a two-year degree that will lead them directly into the workforce, or to pursue a SUNY WCC degree that will allow them to transfer to a four-year college. The Committee’s work led to the adoption of the Foundation’s new mission statement, demonstrating our broader vision of the Foundation’s work: “The Westchester Community College Foundation, in partnership with SUNY Westchester Community College, provides scholarship, financial and programmatic support to promote student success in college and beyond.” We are very grateful for the support of our many friends in the community. We would like to highlight some special gifts to the Foundation. Gerstner Philanthropies has again increased its support of the Emergency Aid Fund, which provides immediate assistance to students facing one-time emergencies, to $150,000 this year. JPMorganChase has approved another significant grant of $315,000 to promote workforce development and partnerships in healthcare and construction focused on our Mount Vernon Extension Center. Our relationship with the rock band Metallica continues through a special $50,000 grant from its foundation, All Within My Hands, in partnership with Carhartt clothing brand, to promote women in construction and advanced manufacturing. New significant Scholarship Endowments have been established by the Kaufman family in memory of former Board member Ann Kaufman and her husband, and by the family of Walter Hauck, in memory of this beloved former SUNY WCC coach. We have seen significant growth in our Hartford Hall Society, which recognizes loyal friends of the College who have established a legacy gift or a permanent endowment to ensure that we will be here to help future generations of students. In a world full of endless possibilities and significant challenges for students, we are committed to being a partner of the College in welcoming students, providing resources such as emergency grants so that they can continue their studies, and helping to prepare students for their future careers. We look forward to your continued involvement and are sincerely thankful for your support of SUNY WCC students. Sincerely, Thomas Lee, M.D. Cornelia Spring Dolores Swirin-Yao Chair President Executive Director For our full 2024 annual report with more student stories, visit www.sunywcc.edu/annual-report-2024
STUDENTS PAMELA MORALES PEPSICO S.M.I.L.E. TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIP “Having the opportunity to connect with senior execs from different departments, learning they came from backgrounds like mine and are leading a world-renowned company like PepsiCo, is amazing. PepsiCo S.M.I.LE. changed my life.” Pamela Morales PepsiCo Foundation Scholarships The PepsiCo Foundation Uplift Scholarship program provides financial and mentoring support for current students from underserved communities pursuing degrees or professional certifications in select majors leading to employment in IT, finance, and business fields. A grant of $240,250 will support more than 100 students in the coming academic year. PepsiCo Foundation’s S.M.I.L.E. (Success Matters in Life and Education) program, for the fourth year, has provided two-year scholarships of up to $25,000 per year ($50,000 total per student) for ten SUNY WCC graduates from underserved communities pursuing bachelor’s degrees in business related fields at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. Back-To-Back Dreams Coming True As a student at SUNY WCC pursuing her A.A. in Marketing, Pamela immersed herself in the full college experience. She was a top-performing student, volunteer, and employee. She was Founding President of SUNY Westchester’s American Marketing Association collegiate chapter, Vice President of Marketing for the Westchester Events Board, and worked as the student marketing assistant for the Department of Student Involvement. These pursuits helped earn Pamela a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. Pamela was part of the inaugural cohort of PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Transfer Scholarship winners, enabling her to earn a bachelor’s degree in digital marketing at Baruch College and graduate with minimal debt. The scholarship came with many valuable benefits in addition to the money. Born and raised in the Bronx by Dominican immigrant parents, Pamela was the first in her family to attend college. She describes the challenge of navigating systems with which no one in her family had experience. Everything was stressful, from applying to college and approaching people she did not know to ask for guidance, to purchasing books online. But the support she received at SUNY WCC as a Viking ROADS student, and the mentorship component of the Pepsico S.M.I.L.E. scholarship, gave her confidence and taught her essential life skills, skills she could share with her family. Pamela graduated from Baruch this year and was as industrious there as she was at SUNY WCC. She served as Vice President of the Transfer Student Organization, a Transfer Peer Mentor, and Digital Director for the Initiative for the Study of Latin America in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences. Upon graduation from Baruch, Pamela told her Pepsico S.M.I.L.E. liaison, Tracy Rue Wright, that she was eager to move to Florida, and Tracy connected her with an internship in Pompano Beach. As Pamela says, “That was more proof that Pepsi works for your dreams. I dreamed of going to a four-year college, I dreamed of moving to Florida and establishing a professional career, and now, I am proud to announce that I will be joining PepsiCo as a fulltime associate. It’s just been back-to-back dreams coming true and I’m so grateful to SUNY WCC and PepsiCo.” From left: Ilene Lieberman, Senior Director of Develpment WCCF, Pamela Morales, and Dr Carmen Martinez-Lopez, Dean, School of Business and Professional Careers 3
STUDENTS JOHANNA MOROCHO LOZANO SUNY BINGHAMTON SENIOR & FORMER VIKING ROADS SCHOLAR To help out, Johanna worked, first alongside her mother as a housekeeper, and later when she realized there was a need for bi-lingual professionals, part-time for a building contractor. Meanwhile, even as she worked part-time, Johanna was excelling in high school. She was motivated by the knowledge that if she wanted to attend a four-year college, she would need a generous amount of financial aid, and for that, she would need an outstanding application. Like so many children of immigrants, she had to navigate the college application process largely by herself, and while she graduated with a 4.0 and glowing recommendations, her SAT score was not where she needed it to be. Johanna’s only option was to enroll in a community college. At first she was disappointed about starting at SUNY WCC. She’d internalized the stigma that community college wasn’t for “good” students. But by the end of her first semester, she had, in her own words, “matured,” and realized that “everyone has their own, unique path.” At SUNY WCC, Johanna felt supported and seen by the staff and teachers, from her Viking ROADS academic counselor, Michelle Valesquez, to Professor Han who encouraged her to enroll in the finance and accounting program. Johanna thrived. She became Treasurer of the Student Government Association and chair of the fundraising committee. She participated in meetings with Foundation leadership which she found intimidating, but ultimately, empowering. As an officer in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and student representative for the Faculty Student Association, she learned how to make arguments in a professional and convincing manner, just one of many valuable life skills she learned during this time. In 2023, Johanna graduated with her A.A.S. in Accounting and Finance, and moved on to SUNY Binghamton, where she is now a senior working toward a B.S. degree in Accounting. The transition was simplified thanks to a transfer agreement between the two schools. She hopes to pursue her master’s degree, take the CPA exam, and become a certified public accountant with her own small business serving the Hispanic immigrant community. Johanna credits her parents for this entrepreneurial spirit: today her mother’s housekeeping business has seven employees, and her dad, now a contractor, is his own boss. They have bought their first home. Johanna knows the path is not going to be easy moving forward. She is concerned about how she will finance a master’s degree as her immigration status renders her ineligible for most national scholarships. But she is also very thankful for the excellent education and generous support she received from SUNY WCC, and is equipped with the skills and determination to accomplish her goals. Tenacity, Hard Work and a Solid Foundation Johanna has always had an immense amount of focus and drive. As a child, she immigrated to the United States with her two siblings and parents whom she describes as “the most hardworking people you’ve ever known,” though as a housekeeper and handyman, they struggled to pay rent and put food on the table. Dr. Miles with Johanna 4
Before long, Stacy was approached by her supervisor who asked if she, along with some of her peers, would be interested in participating in an apprenticeship opportunity sponsored by the Council of Industry and Department of Labor. To fulfill requirements of the program she would enroll in advanced manufacturing courses at SUNY WCC that would prepare her to sit for the nationally recognized NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) certification. What’s more, All Within My Hands Metallica Scholars Initiative, supported through the American Association of Community Colleges, would provide a full scholarship. Stacy was in! “Stacy hit her cadence, realizing while at SUNY WCC, the importance of keeping current – especially in her field where technology is constantly changing and very quickly. Lifelong learning fits her personality.” Jim Irvine, Director, Corporate & Continuing Education, Professional Development Center The training lab at SUNY WCC was set up like a machine shop and outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment. It was here that Stacy “started to fall in love with manufacturing.” As she says, “There’s something oddly satisfying watching a block of metal turn into something else.” In CNC lathe and mill operator classes, Stacy was introduced to machines and techniques that normally take years for a machinist to come across. This hands-on training, along with classes on manufacturing theory, contributed to Stacy feeling extraordinarily well-positioned to advance in her career. In just three semesters, Stacy earned her four NIMS certifications and moved to Giuliante Machine Tool, Inc. (GMT) where she’s chosen to be an operator. Her long-term goal is to acquire enough experience to be able to build parts for her own custom cars but for now, Stacy is content to simply run a CNC mill rather than program it, while she takes in the new environment and absorbs everything she can. All Within My Hands, In More Ways Than One Stacy grew up tinkering with small appliances. In high school, she took welding and liked it, though not as much as her sister before her who is now a professional welder. She attended two semesters of college, but bored, dropped out and took a job at Bantam Tools on the assembly line. This physical work was much more to her liking, and when a job in the machine shop became available, she took it. STUDENTS STACY YONNONE METALLICA SCHOLAR “Metallica’s Scholarship has changed my life.” Stacy Yonnone For our full 2024 annual report with more student stories, visit www.sunywcc.edu/annual-report-2024 5
And They’re Off! The Class of ’24 On May 9, SUNY Westchester held commencement exercises for its more than 1,300 graduates on its Valhalla campus. SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. spoke, recounting his own story of a bumpy start to his education. Now the chancellor of the largest system of public higher education in the country and formerly serving as U.S. Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama, Chancellor King’s story was undeniably inspiring for the new graduates. Winners of the SUNY Chancellors Award for Excellence and the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, and Valedictorian Elouise Correa Do Carmo, were some of the students featured. SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. and Dr. Miles SUNY Westchester Community College is dedicated to empowering every student to create a personal success story, one that supports a lifetime of learning, growth, and opportunities to contribute in meaningful ways to our communities and our ever-changing world. SUNY WESTCHESTER NEWS Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence Luis Granados Alicia Greco Jessica Sabau Lotus Taylor Inspiring the Next Generation At each ceremony families of the graduates celebrated, but unlike at more traditional college graduations, many of the families of SUNY WCC students included the students’ own spouses and children. As they heard their parent’s name called and watched them walk up to receive their diploma, the excitement and pride on the faces of the children was a powerful reminder that their parent had not only forged a new path for themselves, but also for this upcoming generation. COMMENCEMENT 2024 SUNY WCC V I S I O N STATEMENT Four students were named winners of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE). This 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.. 6
Honors College Graduate & Dual Transfer Scholarship Winner, Carolina Mendoza When Carolina was accepted into the WCC Honors College, with her education paid for, she felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She could now focus purely on her studies. As an Honors College student, Carolina had access to exciting opportunities like a two-week study abroad program at Cambridge. During her time at SUNY WCC Carolina excelled and this year, not only was she awarded a PepsiCo S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship of up to $50,000 over two years but she was also one of only 60 community college graduates across the nation to win the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship (JKCF). The highly selective JKCF scholarship is for the country’s top community college graduates and contributes as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years toward a bachelor’s degree at any accredited four-year undergraduate institution. The intention of both scholarship programs is for students to complete their undergraduate studies with as little debt as possible and both offer mentoring and other growth-promoting experiences, including access to large networks of past, welcoming scholarship winners. Carolina is currently studying architecture at Savannah College of Art & Design and hopes to attend graduate school to study sustainable architecture and eco-friendly practices for low-income neighborhoods. “We’ve all had exceptionally different journeys, yet we have all arrived here together. Be present in this moment and remember how you feel today.” Lotus Taylor Dr. Miles and Honors College Director Dr. Miroslawa Sakrejda gave Carolina the good news about her Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Award. “SUNY Westchester Community College provided opportunities and support that have transformed me into the person I am today. I will never forget this generosity.” Carolina Mendoza Lotus was accepted to several four-year colleges and attended one briefly. But she wasn’t quite ready, and overwhelmed by the experience, she left, returned home, and took a break to figure out what she wanted to do. Her mother was from Westchester and knew about SUNY WCC and she encouraged Lotus to consider SUNY WCC’s Honors College. Lotus applied, was accepted, and with her college expenses covered, she felt free to dedicate herself to the full college experience, and that she did! Lotus made the most of her time at SUNY WCC, including serving as Student Government Association President, leadership experience that will serve her well both personally and professionally. Lotus is off to study psychology at SUNY Binghamton. Honors College Graduate & Chancellor’s Student Excellence Winner Award, Lotus Taylor SUNY WESTCHESTER NEWS COMMENCEMENT 2024 For our full 2024 annual report with more student stories, visit www.sunywcc.edu/annual-report-2024 7
WCC FOUNDATION NEWS PATHWAYS CAMPAIGN From left: Debbie Raizes and Ruth Suzman, Pathways Campaign Co-chairs; Dr. Miles, SUNY WCC President; LeRoy Mitchell, Chair of the Board of Trustees for SUNY WCC; Dorry Swope; Joanne Landau, former Chair of the WCC Foundation Board; and George Latimer, County Executive WCC Foundation’s years-long and highly successful Pathways: The Campaign for Student Success came to an official close this year, marked by the renaming of the Student Center to honor a great friend to the college, former WCC Foundation Chair and WCC Board of Trustees Chair, David Swope. The Pathways Campaign Over the course of the campaign, co-chairs, Debbie Raizes and Ruth Suzman, along with founding member David Swope, and WCC Foundation’s staff and board, raised close to $60 million dollars. As a result, the Foundation more than doubled its annual scholarship awards, paved the way for the college to introduce extraordinarily effective programs including the Honors College and Viking ROADS; established the award-winning Center for Excellence in Cybersecurity; and created a Health and Wellness Suite, Emergency Aid Program, and the Veterans’ Resource Center. In addition, a cutting-edge Medical Simulation Lab will begin construction next year. These are just some of the innovations and enhancements enriching our students’ experience at SUNY WCC that the many supporters of the Pathways Campaign made possible. The Swope Family David’s service was built on a legacy of devotion to the school established by his mother, Sarah “Sally” Swope, an early and passionate champion of the college and the WCC Foundation. The David Swope Student Center will forever be a reminder of David and his family’s unwavering conviction in the fundamental power of education, and firm belief that a college education must be available and affordable for all. In bringing these ideals to life, the Swope family has removed barriers to higher education for countless students. The Campaign for Student Success & Its Visionary Champion 8
WCC FOUNDATION NEWS PATHWAYS CAMPAIGN “Viking ROADS may be the most impactful student success program of the college, as evidenced by Chancellor John B. King, Jr. calling for the model to be replicated across the entire SUNY system.” Dr. Michele Campagna, AVP/Dean of Student Success A Student-Ready College VS College-Ready Students Students come to us from a range of backgrounds and experiences and with varying capabilities, but all are eager to embark on their academic journey as soon as they walk through our doors. For those identified as needing extra help, Viking ROADS provides an academic counselor who curates a system of personalized advising and financial, and academic support, allowing the student to begin taking credit-earning courses right away instead of first enrolling in remedial classes and delaying the start of their coursework. An Exemplar of the Campaign’s Impact: Viking ROADS SUNY WCC was one of only two institutions nationwide chosen to receive a $1 million grant from Arnold Ventures in 2018, to replicate CUNY’s ASAP program. This proven model promotes on-time graduation rates by eliminating all impediments to its achievement. Prior to introducing Viking ROADS, the on-time graduation rate for full-time, degree-seeking SUNY WCC students was 15%; our intention was to get that number to 30%. Today’s on-time graduation rate for Viking ROADS students is 43%. Initial results of Viking ROADS involvement also suggest that students are able to take a greater number of credits and make faster progress toward graduation. Dr. Michele Campagna For our full 2024 annual report with more student stories, visit www.sunywcc.edu/annual-report-2024 9
The WCC Foundation’s gala, held in November at Tappan Hill in Tarrytown, was emceed by longtime SUNY WCC supporter, Vanessa Williams, and chaired by Susan Yubas. Con Edison was the event’s Presenting Sponsor. Attended by 325 guests, the event raised important funds for the Foundation’s student scholarship, financial aid, and emergency aid programs. Videos featuring students were poignant and inspiring, conveying the varied challenges and successes each experienced during their academic journey at SUNY Westchester. The event honored five community leaders, all with close ties to the college and each introduced by a SUNY WCC student. As varied as the graduates’ stories were, so too were the evening’s honorees’ as they described their special connections to the school. “There are so many bright kids and we want to give them the same opportunity that we had.” Rose Tan Indira Nichols, ’24 Tan Kaung Endowed Scholarship Recipient First Generation College Graduate with Big Dreams Indira is the first person in her family to earn a college degree. She considers it a huge step that she happily admits, “I will never stop bragging about.” Now, at Lehman College pursuing a four-year degree in biology, Indira hopes to attend medical school, specializing in pathology. Community college originally held a negative connotation for Indira, but one month into SUNY WCC, the stigma lifted. She credits biology Professor Kim Walsh as the sole reason she is “obsessed with the human body.” She also recognizes that without the scholarships she received, her studies would never have been possible. She recalls receiving a check to cover the cost of her books, racing to the bank to cash it, and purchasing three textbooks which she used that night to complete her homework. At WCC Foundation’s Transforming Futures Together gala, Indira had the honor of thanking math Professor Sinforosa “Rose” Tan and her husband William “Bill” Kaung publicly, for providing the scholarship that changed her life. Both Rose and Bill received financial support for their own graduate school studies, he from the GI Bill and she from a National Science Foundation fellowship. From left: Vanessa Williams, Dr. Belinda Miles, and Event Chair, Susan Yubas From left: Indira Nichols, Rose Tan and William Kaung The Sold-out Transforming Futures Together Gala Raised Nearly $500,000 County Executive George Latimer Public Service Award Sinforosa “Rose” Tan & William H.P. Kaung Community Leadership Award Dorry Swope Philanthropy Award David Berry “Viking Voyager” Alumni Award Corporate Sponsor WCC FOUNDATION NEWS 10
SUNY WESTCHESTER NEWS Shortly after the program was designated a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security – one of the first community colleges to win this recognition – Wiener Philanthropies announced a transformative gift of $1 million to expand the program, ensure its classrooms remain technologically cutting-edge, and establish the Robert R. Wiener Cyber Scholars, a scholarship for top-performing cybersecurity students at the college. This year, the Robert R. Wiener Center for Excellence in Cybersecurity opened, dedicated to Westchester native and forward-thinking philanthropist, Bob Wiener. A national model for cybersecurity curriculum and academic rigor, many of the program’s graduates— 554 since the program’s inception— have entered high-paying jobs and won awards, while others have transferred to four-year colleges to secure their bachelor’s, and in some cases, graduate degrees. From left: Dr. Vanessa Morest, VP and Dean of Academic Affairs; Dr. Carmen Martinez-Lopez, Dean of School of Business & Professional Careers; Dr. Belinda S. Miles, SUNY WCC President; Robert Wiener, Sherry Wiener, and John Watkins ’01, Associate Professor, Computer Information Technologies and Curriculum Chair for the Cybersecurity program “I feel that this is the best investment that I’ve ever made. My grandfather came to this country in 1906, created a business and a rewarding life for himself and his family. Westchester Community College provides today’s students with the same foundation that I hope will lead to hundreds, even thousands, of similar stories.” Bob Wiener Looking to the Future: Opening Another Door Responding to the meteoric rise in cybercrime and urgent need for trained professionals in the field of cybersecurity, SUNY WCC added cybersecurity to its associate degree and certificate programs. CYBERSECURITY CENTER For our full 2024 annual report with more student stories, visit www.sunywcc.edu/annual-report-2024 11
AL ROCCHI, with Ben Naylor, was recognized for ve years serving as a volunteer math tutor at the Academic Support Center since retiring from his career as a lawyer in 2019. LUCILLE WERLINICH, with SUNY WCC Chief of Staff Ben Naylor, celebrated 23 years of service on the WCC Foundation’s Board of Directors, and 22 years as a Native Plant Center volunteer. LANA HILLER, with SUNY WCC President Dr. Belinda Miles, joined the Conversation Partners Program in 2004 and for 20 years has built relationships with 38 international students, creating a welcoming environment that nurtures both language development and personal growth. The SUNY WCC Volunteer Program hosted two President’s Volunteer Appreciation Luncheons to recognize significant milestones reached by some of our most devoted volunteers. CCAMPIS (Childcare Access Means Parents in School) federal funding for $462,000 in the second year of a four-year grant benefits student-parents who are in financial need by subsidizing 90% of the fee to send their pre-school child to the Virginia Marx Children’s Center (VMCC). This aid, supplemented by a first-time grant of $20,000 from St. Faith’s House that pays the remaining 10% of tuition, removes a significant barrier for student-parents pursuing their education while raising children. Virginia Marx Children’s Center on SUNY WCC’S Valhalla Campus Volunteers Celebrated! On Commencement Day, members of the class of ’74, this year’s Golden Alumni, led the commencement procession, ushering in the newest SUNY WCC grads. This tradition was started by the Class of ’48 when it reached its 50th anniversary. John P. Caruso, Student Government Association President of the Class of ’74, traveled from Minnesota for the occasion and expressed deep gratitude for the memorable afternoon. SUNY WESTCHESTER NEWS The Native Plant Center Celebrates Turning 25 Golden Alumni Class of ’74 Celebrates with SUNY WCC’S New College Grads PARTNERS WITH VISION 12
WCC FOUNDATION FY 2024 TOTAL EXPENSES This chart illustrates how generous donations received by the Foundation were used to benefit our students. SUNY WCC BUDGET 2022-2023 Revenue State Aid Student Tuition and Fees Chargebacks County Contributions Other Income Total Revenue $30,701,371 $45,103,991 $4,367,000 $25,000,000 $16,645,000 $121,817,362 Expenditures Instructional Activities General Administration General Institutional Services Student Services Maintenance Library Academic Support Public Services Cash to Capital/Work Study Total Expenditures $60,109,680 $8,151,106 $7,232,010 $15,641,483 $16,838,702 $ 4,512,701 $9,181,720 $7,960 $142,000 $121,817,362 FINANCIALS For the most current financial reports for SUNY WCC visit www.sunywcc.edu/college-financials * Includes Academic Programs/Faculty Development, Student Support Services and Other Programs Source: FY 2024 preliminary unaudited Financial Statements, Consolidated Statement of Functional Expenses for Westchester Community College Foundation. For the most current financial reports of the Westchester Community College Foundation visit www.wccf-ny.org/about/financials/ 13
2023-2024 DONORS $150,000 + Gerstner Philanthropies Jennifer & Bud Gruenberg JPMorganChase Bank National Council for Workforce Education Estate of John E. O’Brien ’65 The Mary & James G. Wallach Foundation Robert Wiener Philanthropies $100,000 - $149,000 AACC/PepsiCo Foundation Joseph & Sophia Abeles Foundation, Inc. The Jandon Foundation The Kisco Foundation Abbott & Lila Stillman Family Foundation $50,000 - $99,999 Ms. Barbara A. Abeles Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation Kenneth ’23Hauck LISC NY The New York Community Trust - Westchester Yvonne & Leslie Pollack Family Foundation, Inc. Robin Hood Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Seymour Weingarten Ms. Lucille Werlinich Dr. Sara Zion & Dr. Tushar Shah $25,000 - $49,999 All Within My Hands (Metallica’s Foundation)/Carhartt Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Alter Mr. Mark Kaufman & Prof. Rachel Wineberg Mr. William H.P. Kaung & Dr. Sinforosa Tan Kaung New York State Office of Parks, Rec. & Historic Preservation Ms. Louise Riddell-Kaufman Mrs. Florence Sinsheimer Judy W. Soley Cornelia & Rob Spring Ruth & Andrew Suzman UnidosUS Yearley Family Foundation Yonkers Industrial Development Agency $10,000 - $24,999 Mr. & Mrs. David Brenner Mr. Jackson Byrnes The Children’s Dream Foundation Ms. Rita Glaser Ms. Dorian Goldman & Mr. Marvin Israelow Dr. Ruth Gottesman Mr. & Mrs. Stephen R. Howe, Jr. Ms. Joanne Landau & Rabbi Fred Schwalb Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Lowey Ms. Catherine Ludden & Mr. Eric Rothenberg The M&T Charitable Foundation Linda & Robert Moser Annette Mulee ’75 PepsiCo Foundation, Inc. Ms. Jacqueline Plumez Deborah & Gary Raizes Mrs. Rebecca Samberg Estate of Cynthia Sammis Anthony Scordino ’87 St. Faith’s House Foundation Mrs. Betsy Stern Mr. & Mrs. David M. C. Stern Dorothea H. Swope Greg & Kathiryn Werlinich $5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous AACC/All Within My Hands (Metallica’s Foundation) Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Allen Ms. Meryl Allison American Women of African Heritage Mr. & Mrs. Henry Asher Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation Brooke & Tyler Beebe Ms. Janet Benton David Berry ’74 Ms. Fritz Beshar & Mr. Peter Lehner Cambridge University Press & Assessment Connie Curran The Ellen and Thomas Eoyang Family Fund Fareri Assoicates, LP Alfred & Harriet Feinman Foundation Gaetano Castellano ’79 Hebron Evangelical Ministries Steve ’63 & Adrienne Hopkins India Center of Westchester Mr. & Mrs. Matthew W. Jacobs KCF Fund, Inc. Ms. Jenny Kho Mrs. Anne Klass Arlene & Jerome Levine Mr. George Lindsay Lower Hudson Valley Diamond Foundation Ms. Patricia Lunka & Mr. Gary Berkman Mr. & Mrs. Dinsa Mehta Mr. Richard Menaker Dr. Belinda S. Miles Ms. Wendy Nadel Mr. & Mrs. John Nonna Organization Of Chinese Americans - Westchester & Hudson Valley Chapter PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP Purchase Monthly Meeting Prof. Richard & Ms. Beth Rodriguez Rosedale Nurseries, Inc. Paul & Nancy Ross Rotary Club of Bronxville Mrs. Fauzia Sharaff Katherine & James Stipicevic Mrs. Evelyn Stock Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Sunshine Ms. Dolores Swirin-Yao Ms. Alice Tenney & Mr. Budd Wiesenberg The WCC Foundation thanks our generous donors for the following gifts received during the 2023-24 academic year. PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL The President’s Council recognizes individuals, businesses, and private foundations, united by a shared passion for Westchester Community College. Contributions of $5,000 or more provide critical support to the Fund for SUNY WCC, establish named scholarships, provide emergency aid, and support special initiatives that meet the college’s most pressing needs, making a significant impact on the college community. 14
2023-2024 DONORS WCC Student Government Association Webster Bank Charitable Foundation Westchester County Federation of Women’s Clubs, Inc. Westchester County Government Susan & Marc Wollin Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Yablon Susan Yubas & Michael Benenson M.B. & Edna Zale Foundation, Inc. SCHOLAR’S CIRCLE The Scholar’s Circle recognizes donors who have given $1,000-$4,999 for the benefit of our students. $1,000 - $4,999 Ms. Andrea Alban-Davies Mrs. Jeannine Alexandro Ms. Victoria Alzapiedi American Association of University Women Mr. & Mrs. David Arnow The George E. and Kathleen E. Austin Foundation Mr. Peter Bauer Nadia Bernstein, Esq. Mrs. Laura Blau & Mr. Michael Citro The Blum Family Foundation Mrs. Christine Bobkoff Ms. Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson Ms. Kathleen Brady & Mr. Eric Wheeler The Braewold Fund Ms. Carol Capobianco & Mr. Joseph Squillante Joseph P. Carlucci Mr. & Mrs. John Carroll John Caruso ’74 Leslie Cecil & Creighton Michael CEI Capital Management LLC Mr. Rajasekar Chakravarthi Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Chang Chapman Family Foundation Children’s Village Ms. Susan Cohen & Mr. Gary Biale Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation Ms. Cynthia Crossen Mrs. Toby Crystal Cuddy & Feder LLP DeCicco & Sons Deer Camp Foundation Charlie ’76 & Trisha ’70 Deierlein Estate of John P. Ibelli Faculty-Student Association of WCC Mr. & Ms. John Falk Mr. & Mrs. Robert H. Falk Feeding Westchester Mr. Robert Finkelstein Ms. Barbara Fischer Dr. Marta & Mr. Gary Flaum Ms. Deborah Flock Franky’s Field of Dreams Ms. Jennifer Geer Mr. Jeffrey Goldberg Ms. Kathleen Golden Ms. Amy Goldfinger Mrs. Emily Grant Mr. & Mrs. Doug Greene Ms. Susan D. Hacker Ms. Charlotte Harbs & Ms. Gisela Harbs Peter & Karen Herrero, Jr. Ms. Michele Hertz & Mr. Lawrence Friedman Mrs. Joyce Hirsch Mrs. Judith Howard Mr. Richard & The Honorable Anne Janiak Ms. Ellen Kaufman Ms. Jessica Keenan Johnson Ms. Kathryn Keohane Ms. Helen Kho Mr. Johnson Kho Ms. Wilson Kimball Elyse & Barry Klayman Mrs. Wendy Kreeger Mrs. Lois Kroll Dr. Josephine Kuhl Mr. & Mrs. Ken Lee Dr. & Mrs. Thomas T. Lee Mr. Neil Levenson Lucile & Maurice Pollak Fund Mr. & Mrs. Joe Majsak Mr. Richard Martinelli Dr. Carmen Martínez-López Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Marwell Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius H. Marx Mr. & Mrs. Matthew G. McCrosson Ms. Joan McDonald Ms. Elizabeth Metzger Mrs. Marjorie Miller Mr. & Mrs. William Miller Dr. LeRoy Mitchell & Dr. Janice Francis Theresa Mitchell McKeon ’69 Robert Monroe ’64 Mr. Andrew Morgan Ms. Angela Morris Ms. Jamie Moser Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers Netter Foundation Mrs. Anne & Mr. Thomas Niemann Michael Oles ’68 Mr. David Orentreich Park Avenue Charitable Fund Peekskill Elks Lodge BPOE 744 Ms. Theresa Perl Mark Pfaff ’78 Mr. & Mrs. Carl H. Pforzheimer III Mr. & Mrs. Mark Phelan Mrs. Marjorie Phillips Ms. Clare Pierson & Mr. Peter Humphrey Ms. Marguerite Pitts Mr. & Mrs. John Priesing Charles S. Raizen Foundation Inc. Ms. Robina Ramsay Mr. & Mrs. Michael Romita Scarsdale Woman’s Club Schwartz Family Foundation Mrs. Sarah Schwarzschild Ms. Joyce Seligman Mr. John Shapiro Mr. & Mrs. Richard Shearer Mr. Xing di Shi Shoprite Supermarkets Mr. & Mrs. Glen Silverstein Honorable Cecile Singer Mr. & Mrs. Alan J. Sinsheimer Mr. Gary & Prof. Linda Ching Sledge Ms. Chrystia Slywotzky Mr. Kevin Stamey Ms. Carolyn Summers & Mr. David Brittenham Teatown Lake Reservation Ms. Ellen C. Temple This listing reflects contributions made between September 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024. If your name is missing or incorrect, our apologies. Please contact Kathleen Ryan, Director of Development/Annual Giving, at 914-606-8571 or Kathleen.ryan@sunywcc.edu so that we may correct our records. Thank you for your understanding. Mrs. Karen Thomas Mario Valentini ’72 Ms. Mary Van Hoomissen Mrs. Marcia L. Warner Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Watts Westchester Parks Foundation Honorable Lyndon Williams Mrs. Joan Witkin The Woman’s Club of White Plains Harold L. Wyman Foundation, Inc. Mrs. Beth Zadek & Dr. Joph Steckel FRIENDS The WCC Foundation is grateful for the 1,292 supporters who contribute between $1 - $999 towards student success. MATCHING GIFT ORGANIZATIONS The WCC Foundation extends thanks to those corporations that generously match their employees’ contributions. Con Edison IBM JPMorganChase Foundation MasterCard International Novartis NY Life Insurance Office of Government Affairs PepsiCo Foundation United Health Group 15
SUNY WCC Board of Trustees FY 2024 Dr. LeRoy Mitchell, Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Norman J. Jacknis, Board of Trustees Vice-Chair Deborah S. Raizes, Board of Trustees Vice-Chair Honorable Lyndon Williams Honorable John Nonna Robin Bikkal, Esq. Susan Gerry Dr. Gregory Robeson Smith Sergio Serrato Clara Carnot, Student Trustee Cybersecurity student Westchester Community College Foundation Board of Directors Officers of the Board of Directors Thomas Lee, MD, Chair Cornelia Spring, President Jennifer Gruenberg, Vice President Elyse Klayman, Vice President Susan Elion Wollin, Vice President George Lindsay, Secretary Robert Cordero, Treasurer Barbara A. Abeles Meryl A. Allison Dr. Amy Ansehl George E. Austin David J. Berry Shirley Acevedo- Buontempo Sharon Farman Cooper, Esq Betty Cotton John A. DeCicco Lisa M. Denig, Esq. André G. Early Aleida M. Frederico Doug Greene Dr. Kamil G. Hamaoui Lorna Hawthorne Peter Herrero Joyce A. Hirsch Honorable Anne Janiak Amy Kelley Wilson Kimball, Esq. Joanne Landau Honorable George Latimer Willliam LeBlanc Stephen Lowey Patricia Lunka Richard Martinelli Matthew G. McCrosson Philip J. McGrath Robert K. McNamara Dr. Belinda Miles Dr. LeRoy W. Mitchell Linda Moser Wendy Nadel Shirley Phillips John W. Priesing Deborah Raizes Dr. Raymond Sanchez Directors Emeriti Frank S. McCullough, Jr. Theodore Peluso* Harry Phillips 3rd* Betsy Stern Honorary Directors Florence Sinsheimer Robert R. Wiener Executive Director Dolores Swirin-Yao *deceased Honorable Cecile D. Singer Katherine Stipicevic Evelyn Stock Jeremy Sunshine Ruth Suzman Alice Tenney Lucille S. Werlinich Helen T. Williams Sani Williams Susan Yubas Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management student SUNY WCC Board of Trustees & WCC Foundation Board of Directors For our full 2024 annual report with more student stories, visit www.sunywcc.edu/annual-report-2024 16
Hartford Hall Society Anonymous (4)** Virginia Aaron Barbara A. Abeles Jean Alter Gary Anderson ’72 Mr. John Bartolini Brooke M. Beebe Douglas* & Marilyn Birdsall Jackson Byrnes Gaetano & Patti* Castellano Iris M. Cook Gary W. Cotter ’67 Ms. Margaret Deyongh* Cheryl Ehrlich ’08 Mr. James Folkerts Jennifer Gruenberg Eliot & Doris Minsker Annette Mulee ’75 Honorable & Mrs. John Nonna Mary B. Nugent* John E. O’Brien’65* Nelson & Claudia Peltz Harry* & Marjory Phillips 3rd Shirley A. Phillips Yvonne Pollack Professor Phyllis Primus Deborah & Gary Raizes Louise Riddell-Kaufman Rebecca & Arthur* Samberg Cynthia Sammis* Denise C. R. Santomero Carlo Charles & Emilia Sclafani* Anthony Scordino ’87 Flo & Warren* Sinsheimer Charles Hackett ’69 Kenneth Hauck ’23 Mr. Peter & Karen Herrero, Jr. Michele & Lawrence Hertz Betty Himmel Honorable Anne Janiak Mark Kaufman William H.P. Kaung Ms. Jenny Kho Mrs. Lois Kroll Joanne Landau Ms. Donna Lassiter Bonnie LeVar Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Lowey Reed Marmy-Cotton Nicholas Martinez ’03 Patricia Maye-Mitchell Connie Mayo Gifts That Ensure the Future The Hartford Hall Society honors individuals who believe SUNY WCC is so vital to the students it serves and integral to the Westchester community that they are moved to establish a legacy gift. Members consist of alumni, faculty, staff, and community members. Legacy gifts help make certain the college has the resources it needs to thrive far into the future. Philanthropically minded people choose to become Hartford Hall Society members for a variety of reasons, some practical, others aspirational, and some to honor the memory of a loved one. Dr. Carol & Mr. Lee Sommerfield Betsy & Wally* Stern Lila & Abbott Stillman Alan & Jacqueline Stuart Ms. Dolores Swirin-Yao Dorothea H. Swope Dr. Sinforosa Tan Kaung Joel Treisman Wendy A. Turner Elinor F. Urstadt Seymour & Kate Weingarten Greg & Kathiryn Werlinich Lucille S. Werlinich Dr. Sara Zion & Dr. Tushar Shah PARTNERS WITH VISIONINDIVIDUAL DONORS “My donation was made with the purpose of honoring the memory of my immigrant parents. They instilled in their four children the importance of education. Thanks to the encouragement of my mother and father, my siblings and I, recipients of full scholarships, were able to earn college degrees. If this donation changes one student’s life at WCC, then the return on investment will be a joy beyond measure.” Anonymous donor to a family scholarship fund “Having heard about the College for many years I too became involved in WCC because it’s very important for the county. Kids come here, they get an education, they get a degree, they can get a good job, they give back to the county. It enriches the community and it helps a lot of people, not just the individual student but their family. It has a real ripple effect.” Dorothea “Dorry” Hale Swope SUNY Westchester Community College and the WCC Foundation mourn the loss of the Honorable Harry Phillips 3rd, former three-term NYS Board of Regents representative and WCC College Trustee and Foundation Board member. Appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo to the College as a Member of the Board of Trustees and later Chair, he was also an active member of the Foundation board since 1994, elected to lifetime Emeritus status in 2021, and active in SUNY WCC’s Collegium for Lifelong Learning. As a Regent, he was a frequent, enthusiastic visitor to schools across the region. Harry’s kindness, curiosity, and incisiveness brought clarity and consensus to any conversation. He had a deep knowledge of and respect for the power of education, the College, its students, and the community. The breadth of his commitment to SUNY WCC, and his contributions to the institution, will Remembering the Honorable Harry Phillips 3rd resonate well into the future. Harry Phillips was a World War II veteran and a Harvard graduate. A celebration of Harry’s life was held in the Gateway Building on WCC’s Valhalla campus on September 7 and was attended by family members, friends, and representatives of the New York State Board of Regents, the SUNY WCC Board of Trustees, and the Westchester Community College Foundation. Lester Young Jr., Chancellor of the Board of Regents, called Phillips a “champion of equity and fairness, always driven by a deep commitment to what was best for the students and educators of New York State.” Harry will be missed. *deceased **one of the Anonymous donors is deceased as of 8/31/24
Diversity Statement Westchester Community College fosters an intentionally inclusive campus culture that celebrates and respects the diversity of the community while acknowledging the differences among the lived experiences of individuals. The college will promote equity, disseminate knowledge, and take visible actions to remove barriers to access and advancement that adversely affect individuals from marginalized communities. 75 Grasslands Rd. Valhalla, NY 10595-1698 SUNY WCC sunywcc.edu WCC Foundation wccf-ny.org wccfoundation@sunywcc.edu. Volunteer Office 914-606-6805 Alumni Office 914-606-6505 Native Plant Center 914-606-7870 Your donations to the Westchester Community College Foundation support critical needs and innovative programs at Westchester Community College, all of which directly benefit students. Visit us on-line to make your tax-deductible contribution: https://wccf-ny.org/support-our-students/ www.facebook.com/sunywcc • www.instagram.com/sunywcc1 • www.linkedin.com/school/suny-westchester-community-college For our full 2024 annual report with more student stories, visit www.sunywcc.edu/annual-report-2024
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