Yaxeny Hernandez-Ravelo is a Computer Science major and dreams of a more diverse tech industry.
 
Hostos Community College proudly announced that first-generation student Yaxeny Hernandez-Ravelo, majoring in Computer Science, has been chosen as a 2023-2024 Kaplan Leadership Program (KLP) scholar. This accomplishment not only highlights Yaxeny's individual excellence but also underscores the consistently high caliber of Hostos students, many of whom have been KLP scholars over the years.
 
Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis commended Yaxeny's ambitions, expressing pride in her commitment to diversifying the tech industry. “I admire her passion and cannot wait to see her grow even more as years pass.”
 
Yaxeny, driven by imagining a more just, equitable, and diverse tech/UX field, envisions earning a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Of Ecuadorian descent, she plans to leverage her artistic and creative passions to contribute to designing engaging user experiences.
 
She acknowledges Hostos as a crucial contributor to her success. “The College has provided me with many resources. The dedicated faculty and staff have played a pivotal role in my journey to become a Kaplan scholar, as they empowered me to reach my fullest potential.”
 
Also central to her accomplishments have been the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), the Mathematics and Computer Science Scholars program (MACCS), as well as the Student Government Association (SGA) and Student Leadership Academy (SLA).
 
The KLP is designed to assist high-potential and historically underrepresented community college students in completing their associate degrees, transferring to four-year universities, and earning baccalaureates at highly selective institutions. The program offers stipends, tutoring, academic advisement services, leadership and career training, and various resources to help students achieve their goals.
 
Looking ahead, Yaxeny, who was born in Harlem and grew up in the Bronx, is committed to capitalizing on every available opportunity to further her academic and professional goals.
 
“I plan to leverage the opportunities provided by the KLP to transfer to a four-year university in pursuit of an education in technology. Actively engaging with previous Kaplan scholars and industry professionals will be a priority, allowing me to expand my network and gain insights that are valuable for my academic and professional growth. I also aspire to seek internships and opportunities that offer real-world experience in the technology field,” she concluded.
 
In the 2022-2023 cohort, four accomplished scholars from Hostos have achieved successful transfers to renowned institutions spanning the Ivy League and beyond. These individuals include José González, who now attends Rice University, Yassine Gaye at Princeton University, Fatima Bah pursuing her studies at Cornell University, and Andre Watson, who enrolled at Yale University.
 
 
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 is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 25 colleges.
 
For inquiries, email publicrelations@hostos.cuny.edu.
 
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