Hostos student Orlando Roche is a hard worker; that is impossible to deny. But it has been his work helping others that has made him stand out.

Roche was one of four Hostos students to receive the 2014 CUNY Vice Chancellor’s Excellence in Leadership Award. Roche, who turns 21 in October, has served as a Senator in the Hostos Student Government Association for 2014 and is currently a member of the Hostos Student Leadership Academy’s Ambassador Program.

The leadership awards are presented to students who are selected by the chief student affairs officer on each CUNY campus. Students who are selected to receive a Vice Chancellor’s Excellence in Leadership Award have earned a grade point average of 3.0 or better and have demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities in both academic and co-curricular activities.

Roche’s Hostos journey began in 2012 when he entered the CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP). His family is from the Dominican Republic, and Roche moved to the United States in 2011. Roche learned about Hostos from his sister, who attended Hostos before graduating and transferring to Lehman College. She was also involved in the Hostos Leadership Academy (SLA), and following his sister’s lead, Roche also joined the SLA.

And he ran with the opportunity.

Since Fall 2013, Roche, who is a also member of the Malavé Leadership Academy, has been involved with close to 30 volunteer events, including building a house in Syracuse with Habitat for Humanity; working to improve local south Bronx parks (including Mullaly Park, Franz Siegel Park and the Gully Park); serving as a packer a the world renowned New York Common Pantry; and serving food to the hungry at Part of the Solution (POTS) Soup Kitchen. And just last semester, he earned 182 credits in community services hours. Community service hours are what members of the five divisions of the Hostos Student Leadership Academy earn for giving time to service activities, both on and off campus.

Orlando also was one of four recipients of the Bronx Dominican Day Parade Scholarship for 2014.

An aspiring electrical engineering with a passion for computers, Orlando has thrived working in the Academic Computing Center. Since August 2013, he has assisted students in the C-595 open lab, handled equipment, and has been responsible for handling the front desk. 
His supervisors at the College, Kirnold Mena and Marisa Rodríguez, said Roche truly surpassed their expectations in terms of performance and dedication.

“Orlando displays great leadership qualities, as he assigns different personnel to deliver and pickup equipment, aside from his work in the lab.  We are also very proud of Orlando’s academic achievements. Orlando has earned several rewards, and he is constantly involved with extracurricular activities which help the community,” said Mena.
 
Roche credits Jason Libfeld, Student Leadership Coordinator, and services like a weekly, Friday workshop series that helps students with everything from making connections to proper etiquette. Orlando served as one of three chairs for the 2013-2014 workshops, which meant that he and his two cohorts were responsible for devising a plan in line with the CUNY Star Model. He helped to invite g guest speakers from all over the country who addressed Academy members and gave lessons in one or more of the “Leadership Competencies” established by the program.

Jason Libfeld said Roche is selfless when it comes to giving back. “Orlando is one of those incredibly gifted members of our society, who works diligently to make a difference in the world that he lives in without expecting anything in return. He is passionate about efforts to improve the environment, the lives of people in need, and the communities that we live in. He is a pleasure to know, to work with and to call a friend,” Libfeld said.