With the national championship trophy in hand, the Hostos women’s basketball team was presented with a proclamation at City Hall on June 28.
Speaker of the New York City Council Corey Johnson and members of the Bronx Delegation joined District 7 Councilmember Raphael Salamanca to salute the Caimans’ National Junior College Athletic Association victory on March 17, after the team beat top-seeded Rock Valley, 58-52, in Rockford, Illinois. The historic win was the first for the women’s program. Also celebrated was Hostos’ history of supporting athletics and the community.
Council member Salamanca congratulated Hostos on its 50
th Anniversary and commended the team. “We are incredibly proud of you,” he said of their accomplishment. “It is just incredible.”
Joining the team was Coach DeVernie Winston, Athletic Director Krishna Dass, Hostos coaches and Dean Johanna Gómez. Coach Winston said it was an honor for the team to be recognized by the city, and he praised the players, coaching staff and College administration for all their hard work and support. Team MVP Kayla Wilson echoed Winston’s appreciation for the proclamation and reflected on its potential impact on the title-winning Caimans. “It is an important recognition for the team,” Wilson said. “It will help us be more recognized, and hopefully more people will want to see us play.”
The momentous victory ended a tremendous season for the Caimans, who finished 28-2 after winning 23 straight. Their two losses came against D-I and D-II schools, but they never lost a game after November 18. The Caimans also repeated as Region XV champs and won the CUNYAC title earlier in the season. Making the victory extra special was the fact it occurred during the year of Hostos’ 50
th Anniversary.
About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities for a half-century. Since 1968, Hostos has been a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs.
Hostos offers 27 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 24 colleges.