EDBLog – Westchester Community College Foundation

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

JULY-AUGUST 2026

Students embarking on the Cambridge Summer Honors Study Abroad Programme attended a Bon Voyage Information Session and Reception. The program allows selected SUNY WCC students, accompanied by SUNY WCC faculty members, to participate in the International Summer Program at Cambridge University for a two-week period in late July, while earning three SUNY WCC college credits. More than 200 students have attended since the program began in 2003, an experience that students have described as life changing.

Thanks to New York Power Authority and Whymaker, a STEM and workforce training firm, engineering students received a free, three-week Drone Pilot Certification Training over the summer. The students received hands-on flight training with real equipment, preparation for and completion of the FAA Part 107 pilot certification exam, an OSHA 10 Safety Certification, a take-home drone upon completion of the program. The result was practical, industry-relevant skills while inspiring students to explore emerging technologies and career opportunities in the rapidly growing field of drone applications.

SUNY Westchester Community College partnered with the nonprofit organization Grad Bag, Inc., to provide dorm room essentials to more than 200 area students—including students graduating from SUNY WCC who are heading to a residential college to complete their undergraduate studies. Grad Bag collects gently used dorm essentials from partner campuses. The items are professionally cleaned, refreshed and repackaged before being redistributed to students preparing to live on a college campus. Students attended through community organizations including YPIE, Phipps Neighborhood, Destination College, Forrestdale, Inc., Carver Center, New Settlement and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westchester. Since 2012, Grad Bag has supported more than 5,500 students and diverted nearly 170,000 tons of materials from the waste stream.

The Mercy University STEM Ready Summer Research Institute allows SUNY WCC and Mercy University students—some of whom are SUNY WCC alumni—to conduct robust undergraduate science research projects with the guidance of faculty members and peer mentors. Topics included chemistry, psychology, biology, computer science, mathematics, and cybersecurity. This program has been in existence for more than a decade. Past student participants have gone on to pursue research in their transfer schools after participating in the program. Below, members of this year’s cohort presented the results of their research.

L-R County Intern Maria Chinchilla, Native Plant Center Garden Manager Patty Butter, Native Plant Center Director Carol Capobianco, Legislative Aide Jennifer Rosado, County Legislator Colin Smith

County Legislator Colin Smith visited SUNY WCC campus for a tour of our Native Plant Center.