Yissely Ortiz
Liberal Arts and Science
Hostos Student Ambassador
Yissely was born in the beautiful tropics of the Dominican Republic in 1987. She came to the United States to be reunited with her father in 1992 and since then she has fallen in love with New York City and all of its unique qualities. She was raised in Manhattan and has a strong connection to the heart of the City that stems from her youthful experiences there, but since she has moved into the Bronx, she has uncovered a rare and gentle beauty to the borough and she feels that the Bronx is as beautiful as anywhere else in the world.
Yissely is a June 2009 graduate from Hostos Community College and she has been one of the most outstanding students that our college has ever produced. Yissely has been a vital member of the Hostos Leadership Academy’s Student Ambassador Program and she has benefitted from workshops and trainings so much that she has begun to represent to college not only in the local community and on campus, but also in the city and the state.
Yissely was a two time New York State Model Senate Session participant (2008 and 2009) and debated the hot-button issues of Congestion Pricing and Fair Share Tax Reform on the State Senate floor in Albany. (She also gave a brilliant performance of the Dominican National Anthem at the SOMOS El Futuro Gala.)
Yissely was also cast in the college productions of In the Bloodby Suzan-Lori Parks and No Child by Nilaja Sun. For her performance in In the Blood, Yissely along with some of her cast mates were recognized by the prestigious Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and competed against New York University, Adelphi University, Rutgers University and others at the Region 2 Competition (which was held in Philadelphia last January.)
Yissely knows that she has big dreams, but her life experiences have taught her that if you work hard and believe in yourself you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
Yissely plans to attend Hunter College in the fall of 2009 and is also being considered for participation in the CUNY Leadership Academy Fellows Program.
For More info on the ACTF Competition visit:http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/news/pdf/theaterfestival010609.pdf
http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/actf
For more info on the New York State Model Senate Session Project:http://www.etrinternship.org/html/modelsen.htm
Yissely Ortiz represented the Dominican Republic at the 2011 National Model United Nations-New York as a part of a team from Hunter College.