The Atrium was transformed into downtown Warsaw on November 11, when the Hostos family marked Polish Independence Day with a fun and educational celebration, which highlighted the diversity on campus.
The event was the brainchild of professors Bronislaw Czarnocha and Jarek Stelmark. Professor Czarnocha left Poland in 1969 and Professor Stelmark in 1988 before making Hostos their professional homes. Months earlier, Professor Czarnocha expressed his desire to have the Polish flag hung with the nearly 70 other international flags in the C-Building. After speaking with Vice President of the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Management (SDEM) Nathaniel Cruz and others, it was decided a ceremony and flag unveiling would be held on Polish Independence Day. Traditional Polish food was served, Professor Czarnocha led the singing of the Polish National Anthem, and the Polish flag was finally hung in the C-Building, as faculty staff and student donned their own personal Polish flags.
This event was a collaboration between the professors SDEM, the Office of Student Affairs, and the President’s Office.
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 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.