Hostos Community College proudly announces Tiffany Wilson and Reylin Elier Rivera Paulino as the Class of 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively. These remarkable individuals exemplify the talent and resilience within our graduating student body. Wilson, originally from Guyana, overcame numerous challenges, including a major life transition and a global pandemic, to achieve academic excellence in business management. Rivera Paulino, hailing from the Dominican Republic, pursued his passion for technology and adapted to a new cultural environment with unwavering dedication. Their achievements stand as a testament to the supportive and nurturing environment at Hostos, where students are empowered to realize their full potential and strive for success.
“We are incredibly proud of our students, and especially of Tiffany and Reylin, who demonstrated the resilience and determination to succeed no matter how hard the headwinds blow,” said Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis. “Their strength and intelligence, and their unwillingness to be deterred in their pursuit of a life-changing education, is what inspires those of us who teach and work here every day to bring our best, so we can continue to help the students reach for their dreams. Bravi!”
2024 VALEDICTORIAN: Tiffany Wilson
Tiffany Wilson's journey to becoming the Valedictorian of the Class of 2024 at Hostos is marked by determination. Originally from Guyana, she completed her secondary education and worked in management support before moving to the Bronx in 2018. Although she initially considered cybersecurity, Wilson opted for a degree in business management, drawing on her administration experience in her homeland. Her academic experience at Hostos began at the onset of the global pandemic in 2020, which introduced her to a mix of cultural and educational adjustments.
In 2021, Wilson faced another major life event—pregnancy. However, this did not deter her from her studies. She took two classes and even participated in class during labor contractions. Throughout her journey, Wilson received considerable support from the Hostos community, including the Honors Program.
Wilson also received the NextGen Building Transfer Pathways and Pipeline Initiative scholarship, which assists high-achieving Hostos students in transferring to senior colleges. Now majoring in Arts Administration, she is determined to serve as an inspiring role model for her daughter and family, demonstrating that perseverance and dedication can indeed pave the way to remarkable success. In 2023, her resilience, a quality that has defined her journey, was also commended by President Daisy Cocco De Filippis at a recognition event honoring students who have overcome significant challenges.
Reflecting on her experience, she concluded, “Everybody here saw a potential in me that I hadn't yet recognized in myself. Becoming the Valedictorian gave me back the confidence I lacked for a few years. That's what makes Hostos special—it’s a place where people help you see your own potential. I will always be proud to be a Hostos alumna and give back to this community that has given me so much. This award gave me the motivation I needed to continue pushing forward.”
2024 Salutatorian: Reylin Elier Rivera Paulino
Two years ago, Reylin Elier Rivera Paulino came to the US from the Dominican Republic with his family in search of a better life. He had been studying medicine at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, and wasn’t sure what to do when they settled in the Bronx. Urged by his sister to continue his studies, he got his GED and enrolled at Hostos, where his love of technology led him to pursue a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, focusing on computer science. His parents had always stressed the importance of an education, so Reylin really applied himself to his studies. “For me, being an educated person is very important, not just to be able to integrate into society, but also to be able to adapt into whatever ecosystem you find yourself in here.”
At Hostos, he said he found the support he needed to pursue his dreams. “I feel that Hostos helped me see my path more clearly and where I want to go. However, Hostos not only helped me academically but also helped me understand the culture here.” Reylin will transfer to John Jay College in the fall to pursue a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and hopes to get a Master’s in Cybersecurity from Columbia.
He advises new students to set and pursue goals for themselves. “Also, that they put some love into what they are doing,” he said. “That they shouldn’t come to study just to get a bachelor’s degree but that they acquire knowledge that they can use later.” And he shared some words of inspiration from author Toni Morrison: “We are already born, and are going to die, so make sure to do something interesting that you respect in between.”
About Eugenio María de Hostos Community College
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 over half a 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 28 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate secure transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. A two-time Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence finalist, the College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos also boasts both men's and women's basketball teams, which have won multiple CUNY Athletic Conference and National Junior College Athletic Association championships, with the women's team making history in 2024 as the only team ever to secure seven consecutive titles in CUNY’s history. The College is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 25 colleges.
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