A community conversation was held at the Ossining Extension Center on May 15, 2018 to discuss the future of education and the workforce. Attendees from the community conversation at the Ossining Extension Center included Mayor Gearity and other officials of the Village of Ossining, community members with ties to the healthcare industry, and more.

See Photos from the gathering: www.sunywcc.edu/gallery/conversation-ossining/

WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENT BELINDA S. MILES NAMED TO BOARD OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES, THE NATION’S LEADING ADVOCACY GROUP FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Westchester Community College President Belinda S. Miles, Ed.D, has been named to the nation’s leading association for the advocacy of community colleges. Her participation on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) board provides an opportunity for her to join colleagues from across the country in addressing policy, legislative, and programmatic issues relating to community colleges.

“I am proud of this honor and am humbled by the opportunity to represent Westchester Community College and all of the other AACC-member institutions,” says Dr. Miles. “I have been involved in the important work of this organization for a number of years as a member of commissions, the President’s Academy, and affiliate organizations. I am excited to join AACC in providing a voice for the more than 12 million students attending the nation’s 1,100+ community colleges,” she adds. The election, certified this week at the 98th annual AACC Convention, is via a participatory process involving presidents from AACC member institutions.

As president of Westchester Community College (WCC), part of the State University of New York (SUNY), Dr. Miles brings to the AACC board leadership experience serving more than 26,000 students in one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. Since arriving at WCC in January 2015, she has worked with faculty, staff, and others to increase graduation rates; create new academic and workforce programs; expand resources for innovative student success efforts that help more students graduate and prepare to transfer to four-year colleges or enter the workforce.

AACC provides a variety of resources for member community colleges serving as a national information resource; leveraging funding opportunities for innovative programs; offering professional development and networking initiatives; and encouraging a shared commitment to the community college movement. AACC is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors, which acts on behalf of the institutional members in its national advocacy role.

Westchester Community College’s commencement ceremony took place on Thursday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the County Center Building in White Plains. Nearly 2,000 students were granted degrees. The commencement speech was given by Westchester resident Millie Hernandez-Becker of Pound Ridge. She is the President of Skyqueen Enterprises, a firm focused on aviation business development, strategic planning, airport infrastructure, and general aviation. She received a U.S. Presidential appointment to the National Women’s Business Council and earned the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Northeast Businessperson of the Year award.

Westchester Community College President Belinda S. Miles also addressed those gathered at commencement. Among the graduates at the May 17 ceremony were student leaders and winners of the SUNY Chancellors Award for Excellence.

The college’s picturesque 218-acre main campus in Valhalla is the former estate of John Hartford of A&P fame. Since opening in 1946, more than 250,000 students have enrolled in classes held at the largest college in the county. The college offers more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs.

Peekskill Extension Director and Arts Educator gets published

Dr. Sherry Mayo, Director of the Peekskill Extension Center, published a book chapter (A Collective Consciousness Model in a Post Media Society) in Dr. Mehdi Khosrow-Pour’s book, Enhancing Art, Culture, and Design with Technology Integration. To purchase the book, visit the following link:

Click here

Westchester Community College students recently focused on food insecurity and international travel during their “Alternative Spring Break” experiences. While Professor Anne D’Orazio brought a number of students to Rome, where they explored the cultural and political atmosphere of the Italian capital, twelve other students in the “Making a Difference” Club served food in local soup kitchens. We salute these students for expanding their minds and giving back to the community during their Spring Break!

The Viking News is proud to announce that they have won second place in the national competition for Best Newspaper at a two-year school at the Spring National College Media Convention in Manhattan. The judges evaluated student journalists from across the nation. “This is the first award of any kind for The Viking News since winning third place of best two-year college newspaper at the 2000 National College Publications Workshops in Chicago,” says Viking News Co-editor Amanda M. Gordon. “After eighteen years, filled with many sleepless nights of writing and editing, and lots of hours spent working and laughing with our team in our office, we are overjoyed to be able to call ourselves an award-winning newspaper once again. We want to share this victory with the campus because it is not just a win for the publication, but a reflection of the campus. Without this community our victory would not have been possible. We wish to thank everyone who plays a role in our paper. Our contributors and audience alike have given us the very best product we can produce and we hope to continue producing more quality work for the Westchester Community College community,” she says.

On Tuesday, April 10, 2018, State University of New York Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson presented 249 SUNY students from across the state with the 2018 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. SUNY students, their families, campus presidents, and faculty convened in the Albany Capital Center to congratulate this year’s awardees. Eight Westchester Community College students were awarded with the 2018 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence: Johnnie Asibuo, Daniel Barr, Jesus Blanco, Melany Davila, Christine Fils-Aime, Daniela Hirsch, Keenan Long, and Nicholas Singh.

A complete listing of student recipients is available online.

“I am immensely proud of these students, who have demonstrated academic excellence and dedication to enriching their campuses and communities,” said Chancellor Johnson. “From research publications in industry journals to volunteering in hospitals and local clinics to holding leadership roles at their institutions, I am inspired by each student we recognize today. Congratulations to all of the students receiving this year’s award.”

Chancellor Johnson was joined by special guest Erin Hamlin, a four-time Olympian, 2014 Bronze Medalist, and two-time Luge World Champion. Hamlin made history at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games as the first American (male or female) to win an Olympic medal in singles luge, and was the first U.S. woman to win a medal in any luge discipline at the Olympic Games. The Olympian and world champion earned her A.A. in interdisciplinary studies online from Empire State College.

“As a proud SUNY alum, it is my honor to stand here today as we celebrate a room full of SUNY students and their pursuit of excellence in academics, athletics, and community,” said Hamlin. “Your achievements as SUNY students is just the beginning, and I have no doubt that this determination and dedication you possess will drive you to excel in all of your future endeavors.”

The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was created in 1997 to recognize students who have best demonstrated, and have been recognized for, the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement, or career achievement.

Each year, SUNY campus presidents establish a selection committee, which reviews the accomplishments of exemplary students. Nominees are then forwarded to the Chancellor’s Office for a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the award.

View photos

Building Minds, Building Futures. Check out our 2018 State of the College & Foundation Annual Report. This publication contains highlights from the President’s annual State of the College Address—financial information, community influence & demographics. DOWNLOAD

A number of individuals from the college were part of the recent “We are all immigrants” Seder with attendees from Latin American, African, Muslim, Caribbean, Jewish and Asian backgrounds. The event was attended by 135 individuals including President Miles; County Executive George Latimer; Teresita Wisell, Vice President, Workforce Development and Community Education; Tiffany Hamilton, Associate Dean and Chief Diversity Officer; Dr. Carmen Martinez-Lopez, Dean, School of Business and Professional Careers; Professor Gifford Blagrove, Professor, Emergency Medical Services; Christine Fils-Aime, Katherine Davis Global Scholar; Lijing Xu, Katherine Davis Global Scholar; Angel Cabrera Pereira, Katherine Davis Global Scholar; and Annique McClune, student. The special Seder served as a reminder of our nation’s immigrant roots and how people from diverse faiths and backgrounds can join together and make for a perfect balance The photos were taken by Paula Wittlin.

See photos

Workforce Development and Community Education summer class registration is now open! Check out the many opportunities including kids learning camps, career training, and English as a Second Language classes: http://www.sunywcc.edu/wdce