Several “Hostos heroes” were honored at the 7
th Annual Veterans Day Celebration prior to the men’s basketball home opener on November 7.
A coordinated effort between the Hostos Athletics Department, the Office of Student Programming for Veterans and Reservists, and the Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development, 19 Hostos veterans and reservists received special certificates of appreciation from Hostos President David Gómez during a reception in front of family, friends and coworkers.
The Hostos heroes who were honored included: Juanita Headley, Shantel Acosta, David Babalola, Troy Harriott, Daniel Rojas, Matthew Molina, Adio Heyward, Stanley Scriven, Donita Session, Carina Ramírez, Henry Heras, Andrew Sinclair, Louis Moralw, Stacy Little, Charles Uwa, Jaime Ferañdez, D. Sabbs, César Acuria, Justin Ortiz, as well as community partner Stanley Scriven, who also helped with the event.
Headley, who served in the Navy, said she was proud to accept her Certificate of Appreciation for Service and happy that Hostos recognized others who served their country so proudly.
“It is nice that Hostos takes the time to salute us, and that the college has special services on campus for veterans,” Headley said.
After the reception, the veterans were part of a procession, complete with the CUNY Honor Guard. President Gómez told the crowd that he was proud to be part of an event that celebrated the sacrifices of all servicemen and servicewomen.
Quoting from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address as a special salute, President Gómez said: “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”
Carlos Molina, Vice President of Continuing Education & Workforce Development; Peter Mertens, Interim Assistant Dean for Continuing Education & Workforce Development; and Nathaniel Cruz, Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment Management (SDEM), and Dolly Martínez, Deputy to the President and Assistant Vice President for College Affairs, were also in attendance.
This event was also supported by Good Shepherd Services, Easter Seals, V.A. Representatives, and Single Stop, among others.
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.
Recently named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, 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.