Group gathered together. smiling
 
On Aug. 9, Hostos saluted several student-parents who made the commitment to higher education, for themselves and their families, as part of the College’s “Two Generation Student Retention and Degree Acceleration Program.”

Born in 2014, the unique “two-generation” approach allowed 27 Hostos student-parents to accelerate their postsecondary degrees over the summer, while simultaneously, 37 of their children were enrolled in Hostos' College for Kids Summer Academy—a high-quality intensive educational summer camp—all free of charge. The program is funded through a generous grant from The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation.

The 2016 cohort was coordinated by Hostos’ Student Success Coaching Unit and the Health & Wellness Program, and the results were again remarkable. Out of the 27 participants, more than half earned A-grades, and two students finished their degrees after completing their summer coursework.

The event was co-hosted by a student and single-mother from the program, Stacy Almanzar, who talked about the transformative power of “Two-Gen.” Almanzar is studying Aging and Health, and was nearly forced to drop out of college due to various obstacles.

Stacy Almanzar

“Thanks to this program, I was able to fight through for me and my daughter,” Almanzar said. “I loved walking home with her from classes this summer and sharing what we both learned. Now, I know I will make it.”

Two more students, Novis Jimenez and Haide Manile, also talked about how the program helped change their lives for the better and gave them the motivation to continue their studies.

Hostos President Dr. David Gómez; Fabian Wander, Director of the Wellness Center; Jason Pelosi Director of the Student Success Coaching Unit; Joshua Goldblatt, Assistant Director of the Student Success Coaching Unit; and Tilsa Pattee, from the Hostos Children’s Center, also were on hand to laud both the students and the staff who all contributed to the success of the program.

The students also received a visit and a rousing pep-talk from District 16 Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, as well as citations from Melissa Mark-Viverito, Speaker of the New York City Council, and 11 other members of City Council whose districts Two-Gen students resided.

The 2016 Two-Gen cohort included: Albertina Acevedo, Sumaia Akther, Stacy Almanzar, Maria Arias, Charlene Berry, Keshana Brown, Monica Buestan, Danielle Butler, Evelin Escalante, July Fuentes, Marlin Hernandez, Melissa Jimenez, Novis Jimenez, Dienebou Keita, Sade Lauriano, Haide Manila, Noelia Montanez, Fatima Moro, Ruth Ramon, Stephanie Rivera, Brenda Romero, Arelis Solano, Mst Sultana, Adaluz Tavarez, Texy Texeira, Roslen Valerio, and Tiffany Withers.

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.

Named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Hostos offers 28 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.