Other school leaders join Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis to recognize the accomplishments of the Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) Scholarship Fund program.

Fatoumata Doucoure took a decade-long break before deciding to go back to school. Already working in the healthcare field, she did not think it was necessary to pursue further training. But a close friend convinced her otherwise and talked wonders about Hostos Community College just as the pandemic started. By way of the Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD) division, Fatoumata became a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), and thanks to the MacKenzie Scott Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) Scholarship Fund, she transitioned into a degree program at Hostos in Spring 2023.
 
This week, other students who embarked on this journey with Fatoumata received recognition for their commitment to their studies, including Regina Galley (Nursing) and Alexandra Martínez (Liberal Arts). They all shared their stories and expressed their gratitude for the support they received from the ACE program’s coordinators: Provost and VP of Academic Affairs Shiang-Kwei Wang, CEWD VP Evelyn Fernández-Ketcham, Director of College Transition and Alternative Credit Programs Sam Byrd, and Research Programs Director Sofía Oviedo.
 
Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis expressed her joy and encouraged students to persevere against all challenges, always in the company of those who believe in them.
 
“Do not give up. If there is anything that you have at Hostos is the unconditional assistance of my colleagues. Also, make sure that you have supportive friends who are there for you to inspire you and lift you up,” she said.
 
In addition to the three recipients who participated in the reception, the program granted ACE scholarships to 11 more students: Darihana Amezquita, Tina Boodie, Heidy Díaz, Jennifer Feldmeth, Chevelle Gayle, Jeannette Pimentel, Oumou Djikine, Maryury Lainez, María Pera, Stephanie Oliveira de Araujo, and Kacey Witter.
 
Earlier in the week, 22 students were honored at the Families United in Education (FUiE) Luncheon Celebration. The program is designed to encourage academic progress among members of a family unit by way of facilitating access to higher education. FUiE scholarship recipients get aid for acquiring books and free tickets to culturally enriching activities, such as attending Broadway shows. These students would not be able to attend college without much-needed assistance such as MetroCards, which the program also offers.
 
In fact, according to The Hechinger Report, lack of accessibility to public transportation is a reason for students not to finish college, especially in the community college context. Moreover, a study by the University of North Carolina and UnidosUS found that transportation barriers disproportionately affect low-income and Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, and Asian students. Hispanic students were 19% more likely to report transportation problems, creating a barrier to college completion. At an institution where over 60% of students identify as Hispanic, this support is all the more necessary.
 
FUiE program participants pose with Cocco De Filippis, family members, classmates, and Hostos senior management during the FUiE Celebration Luncheon.
 
During her opening remarks, Cocco De Filippis reminded students of the importance of determination when facing challenges. She quoted a verse from Antonio Machado’s poem, “Traveler, There Is No Road,” which invokes the power of steadfastness for carving your own path every step of the way. “As Machado said, ‘the journey is yours for the making’,” she concluded.
 
Assistant Dean of Student Life Johanna Gomez was the keynote speaker and noted the value of generational transformation enabled by FUiE’s mission of providing families with the opportunity for high-quality education.
 
“The pathway starts with you and your loved ones present here today. Then, other family members will join you in continuing the education journey, and so on. That’s why what you’re doing is so pivotal,” she said.
 
Research Programs Director Sofia Oviedo moderated the program. Family Empowerment Program (FEP) Project Manager Christeen Francis and Health and Wellness Center Director Fabián Wander gave students recognition certificates and a gift bag.
 
The honorees were: Lian Ali, Rina Ali, Jennifer Ansong, Monica Antwi, Kimberly Bell, Aminata Bouare, Teyana Buckle, Crystal Bourne, Hamdiya Dixon, Afnan Farea, Alyass Farea, Mohammed Farea, Isatou Kujabi, Joan García Silverio, Hanan Ghabash, Ohood Ghabash, Malik Pellington, Basilia Silverio de Toribio, Daniel Tolbert, Michael Tolbert, Monique Vasquez, and Kacey Witter.
 
In closing, Oviedo announced scholarships awarded to FUiE students maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or above.
 
FUiE and ACE are not the only programs devoted to advancing students’ success at Hostos. Another initiative that is proving to be fruitful and that shows the College’s commitment to supporting students regardless of any circumstances is Mentor/Mentee Jobs on Campus, which provides participants with valuable work experience, on-the-job mentoring, and professional development to promote career readiness and future job retention.
 
Other successful initiatives are the 2+2+2 Mentoring Programs, designed to support students by means of mentoring and scholarship support in order to establish a pipeline of talented transfer students to competitive institutions. During the spring, three students graduated from the first cohort of NextGen Public Health Scholars 2+2+2 Program: Hawa Antonet Abraham and sisters María and Andrea Vasquez Guillen, who will continue their studies at Columbia University.
 
To learn more about other initiatives that continue to uplift Hostos students’ higher education experience, go to the Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives page.
 
 
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 one certificate program 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 is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 25 colleges.   
 
For inquiries, please email publicrelations@hostos.cuny.edu.
 
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