It was a very busy day on the Bridge on March 17, as Hostos encouraged healthy living during its annual Wellness Festival, alongside the first-ever “Thank You Thursday” event, a day which students had an opportunity to thank those who have supported their educational journeys.
The Wellness Festival was the largest to date, and it brought together a host of community partners, including CUNY Central nurses to take Blood Sugar and Cholesterol readings for 340 people, as well as students from the Hostos Nursing Program who performed more than 100 blood pressure checks. The New York Blood Center ran a blood drive, and close to 30 students were tested for HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infections, thanks to volunteers from Iris House.
Fabian Wander, the Director of Hostos’ Health and Wellness Center, said the event would not have been possible without the huge outpouring of support.
“The entire Hostos community was engaged, and the Wellness Center was thrilled about the turnout and participation,” Wander said. “We are always excited to partner with our constituents and supporters in the borough to encourage healthy living. It is a priority at Hostos to address these kinds of community needs, and I think this event proves how effective the College can be when it pulls its resources together.”
This event was also sponsored by Hostos’ Division for Student Development and Enrollment Management and the Office for Academic Affairs.
Also, in the A-Atrium, students signed personalized thank you cards to faculty and staff who are making a positive difference in their lives. The event was made possible by Idelsa Mendez and the team from the Division for Institutional Advancement to recognize and acknowledge the college’s strong community of donors.
Mendez said more than 300 cards were filled out, and the day offered the opportunity not only to say thank you, but it also cultivated a culture of philanthropy on campus. Teams were comprised of enthusiastic students, including SGA members and scholarship recipients, who happily joined the day of gratitutde.
“I was very touched to see such enthusiasm from students and their desire to express gratitude to members of the college community,” Mendez said. “At the beginning, the event was designed for students, but we also had the participation of faculty and staff writing cards to other colleagues, as well."
Click
here for photos from the Facebook album created for “Thank You Thursday.”
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 27 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.