NEWS

From the Desk of the Executive Director Dolores Swirin-Yao

In the News

A press release from Governor Hochul on the expansion of the ASAP program—the program we call “Viking ROADS” at SUNY WCC—calls out the success of the program at SUNY WCC.

Our own Carol Capobianco of the Native Plant Center was quoted in this article on native seeds published by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Sharing this LinkedIn post from the College on the Money Smart program as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The Westchester Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Council Lifesaving Award ceremony was held on May 20 on our Valhalla campus.

On the WNYC radio show The Capitol Pressroom, which I heard on Sunday morning, May 18, SUNY Chancellor John King called out WCC’s success with Viking ROADS, WCC’s name for the ASAP program to enable students to graduate from community colleges within two to three years. Chancellor King mentioned that SUNY WCC started earlier than other campuses and is already seeing significant completion gains.

NY State Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky mentions SUNY WCC as one of the SUNY community colleges ready to launch Governor Hochul’s program to offer free tuition to students ages 25-55 who do not already have a college degree and are pursuing an associate degree in a field that is considered to be in high demand.

This article features an interview with Dr. Belinda Miles on our Viking ROADS program in the national educational news outlet Inside Higher Ed Westchester CC Sees 12-Point Growth in Graduation Rate

We received very nice coverage of our Transforming Futures Together Gala in Scarsdale 10583 featuring our Scarsdale friends and another in My Hometown Bronxville featuring honoree Ellie Urstadt.

The River Journal picked up our release on the April 30 Transforming Futures Together Gala

SUNY WCC Adjunct Professor Natalie Patasaw received the Rockland County Climate Champion award: https://rocklandtimes.com/2025/04/24/first-ever-harriet-cornell-climate-champion-award-presented/

The River Journal published a letter to the editor from the president of the Westchester County Federation of Women’s Clubs about the Federation’s longtime partnership with SUNY WCC including their selection as the Community Leadership honoree at this year’s Gala.

An award in memory of SUNY WCC’S late coach Walter Hauck was presented by the NJCAA, the governing body for two-year college athletics in the US.

The recent presentation regarding WCC’s role in the Viking ROADS/ASAP model expansion was covered in the River Journal Online and Patch.

An article in Funds Society notes WCC’s role in developing the JPMorgan Chase Money Smart Financial Coaching Program.

This article mentions WCC’s role in developing the JPMorgan Chase Money Smart Financial Coaching Program, which is now being expanded nationally.

Elyse Wild, senior editor for Native News Online and a Pulitzer Center grantee, visited WCC on March 25-26 to speak with students about journalism and her reporting project, Addiction Care in Native American Communities.

A national PBS story on students opting for training in skilled trades featured our workforce development program at SUNY WCC.

Congratulations to Viviana Rodas on being named a 2025 Vanguard Award winner! This prestigious award honors exceptional post-secondary students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that are nontraditional for their gender. As a Cybersecurity student and Vice President of the WCC Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) club, Viviana’s dedication and achievements serve as an inspiration to others in the field.

WCC student Michelle Ramirez was selected to receive a competitive national Focus Forward Fellowship from The Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University, a professional development and mentoring program to help women student veterans and active-duty service members excel on their home campus and in their civilian careers.

Two SUNY WCC alumni, Rilind Rugova and Emily Arriaga Sandoval, who are now undergraduate students at Binghamton University participated in a fully funded research trip in Europe.

WCC faculty author Judy Marano had a signing for her book, So I’ve Been Thinking.

This social media post features the moving remarks by Annie Pingry, the student speaker at our pre-Gala reception.

SUNY WCC is seeing an increase in veteran enrollment.

Two new programs have been introduced at SUNY WCC to prepare for the NY State Civil Service Exam.

Governor Hochul announced a program to support adult learners at 22 community colleges.

The opening of our Honors Classroom was announced in the Peekskill Herald.

Our Peekskill Extension Center’s Design & Digital Arts Programs was featured in a recent article.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King shared this message about supporting our students through recent federal actions.

A few notices in the press from our Continuing Education Department: Our Project Transition program for those returning to the workforce, and available training for those interested in HVAC certification.

In her State of the State address, Governor Kathy Hochul announced her plan for free tuition at SUNY community colleges for students between the ages of 25 and 55 who wish to work in a range of in-demand fields. This aligns with a recruitment focus on adult students at SUNY WCC. The College is looking forward to hearing more details of the plan.

Governor Kathy Hochul proposed new investments in education and youth mental health at her State of the State for Future Leaders with high school and college students.

SUNY WCC Associate Professor of Art and Design Nicole Tschampel was named one of the inaugural SUNY Accessibility Advocates and Allies Faculty Fellows.

Sharing an informative story from National Public Radio on the enrollment challenges of U.S. colleges due to the shrinking population of high school seniors; some of the identified gaps, such as training students seeking middle skills jobs and reaching older students, are strengths of community colleges.

SUNY WCC’s P-TECH program is being promoted in the Brewster schools. P-TECH is a public education model focused on college attainment and career readiness. P-TECH programs are for students in grades 9-14; these programs enable students to earn both a high school diploma and a no-cost, two-year postsecondary degree in a STEM field.

Sharing this very interesting story from Marketplace, College graduation rates are up. We can thank community colleges.

Sharing a lovely message of unity from Chancellor John B. King after the election, mentioning his Election Day visit to SUNY WCC.

The work of SUNY WCC Adjunct Professor and horticulturist Michael Hagen is profiled in the Southampton Press/27east.com.

An article in lohud.com mentions a grant by the Children’s Dream Foundation to WCCF for a newborn simulation mannequin to educate and train healthcare providers, students and emergency responders.

Westchester Community College Foundation’s Lester M. Crystal President’s Forum

Westchester Community College to Host Free Future of Work Forum

The 2024 Lester M. Crystal President’s Forum will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 9, at 6:00 PM ET. This year’s panel discussion, “The Future of Work — The Path Forward,” will be moderated by PBS News Senior Correspondent Judy Woodruff. Click here for the press release.

The Pulitzer Center posted about SUNY WCC student Josiah Farrell as a 2024 Reporting Fellow.

An art historian, Marcy B. Freeman, who took a class at SUNY WCC’s Peekskill Extension Center in the 1990s, has an exhibit entitled “Art or Merch?” at the SUNY Westchester Peekskill Art Gallery through November 24.

Brewster High School students visited WCC’s cybersecurity and mechanical engineering programs as part of their summer bridge program.

WCC’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Program publicized its work to provide alternative pathways into the labor market.

SUNY WCC participated in the national nonpartisan ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which provides free resources and strategies to colleges and universities to increase student voting and civic engagement.

Harry Phillips, Emeritus WCCF Board Member and past SUNY WCC Board Chair, passed away in August 2024.

This Westchester Magazine article mentions WCC’s veterinary technician program.

An article was published on Patch regarding a financial literacy program at WCC for small business owners.

The Chancellor of SUNY, John B. King, Jr., laid out NYS-funded initiatives for the coming year in the SUNY-State-of-the-University-Policy-Book-2024.pdf.

SUNY WCC’s P-Tech programs were highlighted in this year’s SKILLS magazine, which focuses on workforce development initiatives and career pathway opportunities throughout the region. Click here and see pages 8-9 for the P-TECH article.

An article was published on our four recipients of the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

Our own John Priesing got additional well-deserved recognition as Grand Marshal of Bronxville’s 2024 Memorial Day Parade.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr., made his second state of the university address with Governor Hochul in attendance.

SUNY Chancellor King as keynote speaker at SUNY WCC’s 2024 Commencement.

WCC Student Government Association President (and ex-officio WCCF Board Member) Lotus Taylor was featured in an excellent segment on NBC News Now with JED Foundation CEO John McPhee on WCC’s student mental health activities.

Grammy Award winner Mary J. Blige paid a surprise visit to our Yonkers Extension Center in conjunction with PepsiCo’s “Strength of a Woman” partnership for Yonkers women.

SUNY WCC is mentioned in an article about paid internships for veterans.

River Journal about the Collegium for Lifelong Learning at SUNY WCC, a continuing education program at the College that provides stimulating intellectual courses for retirees and other lifelong learners. Collegium, founded by WCCF board member Edith Landau Litt, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year.

WCCF Board Member Helen Williams was recognized by the Ossining Union Free School District with the Hester Bateman Spencer Hines Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award on February 28. Helen said that the award was especially meaningful because Hester Spencer was her mentor when she started teaching in Ossining in 1961, at which time Ms. Spencer was the only faculty member and administrator of color in the district.

Dr. Miles is quoted in SUNY Chancellor’s release about community colleges helping to address food insecurity.

SUNY WCC participating at Valhalla and Yonkers sites in free Westchester Putnam Workforce Development Board program to help low-income taxpayers with tax preparation.

SUNY WCC student Monike Souza Costs of Harrison, NY, has been honored with a Hudson Valley Direct Marketing Association Scholarship Award.

Governor Hochul announced that SUNY WCC would receive $11.5 million for capital projects from NYS.

WCCF Board Member Sharon Cooper has been appointed as the Chair of the Trusts, Estates & Elder Law Practice Group at her firm, Cuddy & Feder.

Our Peekskill Extension Center is partnering with the Peekskill Facilities Development Corporation (Mid-Hudson) on a $995,000 culinary incubator program.

SUNY WCC is highlighted in an article on SUNY’s diversity initiatives. The article quotes Dr. Miles and mentions our $2.9 million Title V award as SUNY’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Our own Foundation board member Wilson Kimball has been named as head of the New York State Public Housing Authority Directors Association—in addition to her role as President and CEO of the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers.

There was a very nice segment on News 12 about WCC’s gallery exhibit in conjunction with Black History Month.

An article in Women in Higher Education featuring an interview with our provost, Dr. Vanessa Morest, about our $3 million National Science Foundation grant to increase the recruitment, retention and graduation rates of students pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) at Hispanic-serving institutions.

A Star Brings Star Power to College Event. Westfair Communications article on Vanessa Williams hosting our November gala.

Patch article about our $2.9 million Department of Education grant to expand our Viking ROADS program and increase retention, completion and transfer of Hispanic and low-income students.

An announcement of a new transfer agreement with Sarah Lawrence College for WCC graduates in early childhood education.

An article on career and technical education programs in Mount Vernon that result in college credits at SUNY WCC.

Westchester Community College Foundation Gala Raises Nearly Half-Million Dollars in Sold-Out November Gala, River Journal, 12/12/23

SUNY WCC Peekskill’s Center Faculty & Staff Art Exhibition 2023

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