50 anniversary scarf

On April 19, the Hostos family came together to commemorate a major milestone for the College and raise money for students at its 50th Anniversary Scholarship Benefit. 
 
And, the College’s birthday wish came true in a big way as more than $408,000 was raised! The funds went to student scholarships and support, including helping to send members of the Hostos Repertory Company’s to Scotland to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. It is the second time Hostos will be the only community college in North America performing at the largest arts festival in the world. 
 
Members of the Repertory Company were in attendance and had the chance to express what the opportunity meant to them. “This trip will forever change my life for the better and I am very grateful for it,” shared student-actor Jairo Peña. “Performing in Scotland will allow me to better understand the world of theater and will no doubt enrich my future.” 
 
Held at Guastavinos in Manhattan, Hostos’ 50th Anniversary Scholarship Benefit celebrated the Hostos community’s resilience and steadfast commitment to transforming lives and forging futures in the South Bronx since 1968.
 
The Benefit’s Chair and Director of Public Relations for Goya Foods, Inc., Rafael Toro, kicked things off with a rousing speech lauding the “village” that made the evening possible, which included Hostos’ Scholarship Benefit Committee, faculty and staff; and of course, Hostos’ students and alumni. He also unveiled a special video produced by Hostos’ Division of Institutional Advancement highlighting the College’s role as a change agent in the Bronx. 
 
In light of the milestone anniversary Hostos President Dr. David Gómez reflected on the institution’s history and where it is going during his remarks, and acknowledged the role visionaries and dreamers have played in bringing the college’s vision to fruition. “It is all the Dreamers at Hostos that make this great institution ‘Visionary now,’” President Gómez said. “Their hopes and dreams will shape our future. I know we are in good hands. On this 50th Anniversary of Hostos Community College, for everything our students represent and inspire, I thank you. Together we are changing the world.”
 
The event was co-hosted by ABC news anchor Joe Torres and spoken word artist Caridad de la Luz, and featured a special performance from 10-time Grammy Award Winner Eddie Palmieri – who was also the recipient of the President’s Medal for his impact in the cultural arts. Other honorees included Philip Berry, CUNY’s Board Vice-Chair and current Chief Human Resources Officer at the Clinton Foundation, who received the Spirit Award; and Hostos alumna Dr. Mirkeya Capellán, who was the recipient of the Alumni Excellence Award.
 
Berry, whose educational foundation was laid at Manhattan Community College, shared how community college impacted his life. “This was the first rung on my ladder to success,” Mr. Berry shared. “This enabled me to dream and grow to where I am today. This provided me to tap into the depths of my capabilities.”
 
Dr. Capellán echoed her fellow honoree’s sentiments, expressing her gratitude to Hostos for the opportunities that the College afforded her, as well as thanking her longtime mentors for helping to guide her throughout her career. She also urged others to pay it forward by helping current and future Hostos students achieve their dreams.
 
The incredible evening was made possible thanks to Hostos’ Benefit Committee and event sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor, Goya Foods, Inc. and Philanthropic Sponsor, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation; Diamond Sponsors, CITGO and Montefiore Medical Center; Community Sponsors, Acacia Network, BronxCare Health System, Bronx Element Strategies, Popular Bank, Friends of the Chairman, the Calderon Family, and WellCare; and Ambassador Sponsors, 1199SEIU, Advertisement Carriers Enterprises, BronxNet, Bronx Community College, Bronx Terminal Market, DC37, Henry Schein, Inc. Kingsborough Community College, New York City College of Technology, New York State Dental Foundation and Association, NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Ponce Bank, Queens College, and Urban Health Plan.  
 
A 50th anniversary only comes around once in a lifetime, and the Hostos community celebrated in the best way it knew how: together and in support of one another. Here’s to another 50-plus years! 
 
Please enjoy this Facebook album full of photos from this historic evening. 
 
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.