Monday, November 4, 2013 (Bronx, NY) - When Esteban Advincola walks through the halls of Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, some people mistake him for his brother Elias … or his brother Josué … or his brother Carlos Ramón, Jr.
That’s because Esteban is one of four brothers who are currently making Hostos their academic home.
And if you think they might get tired of being together, or doing classwork, you don’t really know the Advincolas. Their love for Hostos and the opportunities it provides is exceeded only by their love for their family.
Ranging in age from 20 to 24, the Advincola brothers learned about Hostos from their parents and other family members. After additional research, they concluded that this was the place for them … all of them. Now living in the Bronx, the brothers are following somewhat different educational paths, but they are definitely on this journey together.
Carlos Ramón, Jr., 24, and Josué, 22, began their Hostos journeys in the Fall of 2012. Esteban, 21, and Elias, 20, enrolled here in the Fall of 2013.
Esteban sees himself designing “role playing” video games with “great stories and excellent character development.” Already possessing an excellent knowledge of the gaming industry, he says he is most interested in “massively multiplayer online game” (MMORPG), which can support large numbers of players simultaneously.
Josué would like to prepare for a career in animation at Hostos and ultimately help to put New York City “on the map” as an “animation industry leader.”
Instead of butting heads, as some siblings do, the Advincolas genuinely enjoy putting their heads together.
“Some people might think it would be hard to go to school with their brothers or sisters, but we love it,” Esteban said. “Josué and I are in the same field, so we collaborate a lot. And we have been going to school together since kindergarten, so we are used to it.”
Carlos Ramón, Jr. said that since they were born in four consecutive years and have studied together all their lives, it feels natural to be at Hostos together. Already an accomplished author, he has written a fantasy novel scheduled for publication in February 2014.
Elias is the math enthusiast of the family who is working toward a career in accounting. “I love numbers. I love playing with them. No calculators, either; it’s all up here,” said Elias, jokingly pointing to his head.
And while the members of this college quartet are taking a wide variety of courses, the common denominator is that they all have strong GPAs of 3.2 or better.
They also have learned a lot about giving back, as all four can often be found mentoring other students in the College Discovery Office (Savoy Building 104). College Discovery is a program that provides one-on-one support services to students who have high potential for success but lack the academic preparation they need to pursue college-level work.
In addition to College Discovery, the four brothers are also active members of the Hostos Leadership Academy and participate in other extracurricular activities.
Jason Libfeld, Student Leadership Coordinator, said the Advincolas are the Academy’s first set of four siblings and added they have represented Hostos very well.
“Carlos Ramón, Josué, Esteban and Elias are all motivated, courteous and talented students who live their lives with a positive outlook,” Libfeld said. “Through their participation in the Hostos Student Leadership Academy, they are making the world they live in a better place. Each brother has his own unique leadership style and set of qualities that makes them all outstanding members of the Hostos family.”
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 since 1968. It serves as 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. The College’s unique "Student Success Coaching Unit" provides students with individualized guidance and exemplifies its emphasis on student support services.
Hostos offers 29 associate degree programs and five certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to CUNY’s 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 The City University of New York (CUNY), the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 480,000 students at 24 colleges.