EDBLog – Westchester Community College Foundation

From the Desk of the Executive Director, Dolores Swirin-Yao

APRIL 2026

Westchester Community College Foundation’s 2026 Transforming Futures Together Gala, a sold-out event, brought together more than 320 supporters at Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown on April 29, raising over $550,000 and celebrating leadership that makes a difference in students’ lives. Below are the honoree presentation photos for Corporate Citizenship Awardee DeCicco & Sons, Community Leadership Awardee American Women of African Heritage, Inc., and Public Service Awardee the late Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

Follow this link to highlighted photographs from the event, a full photo gallery, videos of our featured students and honorees, and a bonus video of our culinary students preparing the special treats prepared for our Gala guests.

**DeCicco & Sons Accepts Corporate Citizenship Award**
SUNY WCC President Dr. Belinda S. Miles, John DeCicco Sr., WCC student Paola Guinansaca, Marie DeCicco, Emcee Chris Williams

**American Women of African Heritage, Inc., Accepts Community Leadership Award**
SUNY WCC President Dr. Belinda S. Miles, AWAH VP Francine Taplin Shorts, AWAH President Emerita Toni Cox-Burns, AWAH President Gloria Welcome, Emcee Chris Williams

**The Late Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey Recognized with Posthumous Public Service Award**
SUNY WCC President Dr. Belinda S. Miles, Jackie Lowey, Stephen Lowey, SUNY WCC student Sarah Makoni Soumahoro, Dana Lowey Luttway, Emcee Chris Williams

Photo credit: John Vecchiolla Photography

Students who have earned a GPA of 3.5 or better, as well as those who have gone “above and beyond” in their program of study, were acknowledged at this year’s Academic Recognition Ceremony. The Foundation presented nine students with the Greta Cohan Personal Development Awards, established over 35 years ago by the beloved late Professor Greta Cohan, to students who have overcome challenges and whose lives have been transformed by attendance at WCC, and presented the first annual Professor Barbara Connolly Endowed Graduating Scholarship to a graduating student who exemplifies the transformational power of education and who intends to transfer to complete their baccalaureate degree, in memory of Professor Connolly, who passed away earlier this year.

The Student Involvement Recognition Dinner celebrates students who have been involved in our Student Government Association and in leading student clubs. The WCC Foundation provided graduating scholarships toward their four-year institutions to all the students receiving awards. In total, WCCF provided $82,000 in graduating scholarships to our students this year, which is part of the $4 million+ in scholarships that the foundation expects to distribute this year.

The Native Plant Center held its annual sale. Thanks to more than 100 volunteers working on all aspects of the plant sale, over 11,000 native plants will contribute to the sustainability of our community.

Students who have received scholarships from the PepsiCo Foundation visiting Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of New York, Inc., to learn about possible future internship and career paths.

The Alumni Council held a successful Spring Fling event on a beautiful evening at Wood & Fire in Pleasantville. Dr. Christolyn Williams, an alumnus and a professor of history here at WCC, was recognized with the Voyager Award.

Alumni Council President Amy Kelley, Voyager Awardee Dr. Christolyn Williams, Alumni Engagement Director Michelle Schleibaum

Alumni Council President Amy Kelley, Alumni Favorite Professor Awardee Professor Ernest Joerg, Alumni Engagement Director Michelle Schleibaum.

Retired Engineering Professor Ernest Joerg, who taught at SUNY WCC for 53 years, was recognized with the 2026 Alumni Favorite Professor Award.

Follow this link for the full gallery of Spring Fling photos.

Photo credit: Justin Horacio, Eight Six Photography

Kate and Seymour Weingarten met the 2025-26 recipients of the Weingarten Family Scholarship and college leadership to present Scholarship medals.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognizes and encourages the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship. This year’s graduating PTK officers bid their farewells, new officers were inducted, and WCC Foundation Board Member Stephen Lowey who, with his late wife, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, established an endowment to subsidize students’ PTK membership dues, was recognized by the students.

Board members gather informally for a Board Luncheon at our Culinary Café each semester, enjoying the meals prepared and served by SUNY WCC culinary students.

The English Language Institute recognized English language learners for their accomplishments in the program, which helps students learn written and spoken fluency in English.

Alternate Spring Break (ASB) is an opportunity for selected SUNY WCC students to travel to perform impactful service projects. Students who participated in ASB presented on their work and what they learned from it.

A packed Open House was held for prospective students, with representatives of many departments and programs at SUNY WCC in attendance to answer questions and provide advice.