EDBLog March 2026 – Westchester Community College Foundation

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

March 2026

Our Pre-Gala Wine and Cheese Reception on March 18 in our campus art gallery was an opportunity for the honorees who will be recognized at our upcoming April 29 Transforming Futures Together Gala to meet WCC Foundation board members, past honorees, and other friends of SUNY WCC. Attendees heard greetings from Special Events Chair Melissa Maurer and the compelling personal story of Honors Program student Rafaela Vidal Gudino Lopez. click here to see the video. Students from our Culinary Arts Program volunteered for the event—during their spring break! Special thanks to DeCicco and Sons, New York Hospitality Group and Wine Enthusiast for contributing a delicious spread for our guests!

Students from our Culinary Arts Program volunteered for the event—during their spring break! Special thanks to DeCicco and Sons, New York Hospitality Group and Wine Enthusiast for contributing a delicious spread for our guests!

Here is a sampling of the many events and activities on campus in March:

A legislative briefing was held for our New York State elected officials

SUNY WCC hosted a workshop for our higher education colleagues on the implementation of the new Workforce Pell grants

The Native Plant Center held its 2026 Landscape Conference on the theme of Native Garden Design: Now Trending

At Staff Development Day, WCC Foundation President Susan Wollin presented Staff Excellence Awards to two outstanding employees selected by their peers, Franky DeJesus and Belinda Haughton.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. took part in a signing ceremony with Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President of SUNY WCC, and Dr. Michael Steiper, President of SUNY Purchase, to celebrate the new transfer agreement between SUNY WCC and SUNY Purchase, ensuring a seamless transition from associate degree to bachelor’s degree attainment.

SUNY WCC hosted the New York Hispanic Serving Institutions STEM Hub Summit

Four-year institutions visited SUNY WCC for our Spring College Fair, presenting on transfer options for our soon-to-be-graduates.

The WCC Foundation sponsored SUNY WCC student Alfredo Contreras’s transportation to Albany, where he received the Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Educational Opportunity Program Student Excellence.

WCC Foundation Board Members took a tour of WCC’s state-of-the-art Multi-Media Center, which includes a podcasting studio and a TV studio.

There were many Women’s History Month activities in March. Here are just a few:

Carol Capobianco, Director of our Native Plant Center, was honored by the Women’s History Month Committee at SUNY WCC with the “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future” Award.

Carol Capobianco and Patty Butter of the Native Plant Center presented to students and faculty on “Native Plants for a Sustainable Future”

Professors Elizabeth Miller and Heidi Baez presented a session entitled “To Be Invisible,” on supporting parenting for mothers who have been separated from their children.

At the International Food Festival hosted by the Volunteer Services, over the course of two days, more than 250 students participated, representing 15 countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, China, Japan, Peru, India, and many others. The festival featured a wide array of cultural dishes—from appetizers to desserts—creating an engaging and immersive experience for all attendees.