Joy Radiates from Hostos’ 55th Commencement Ceremonies as Graduates Shine in the South Bronx The Main Theater at Hostos Community College overflowed with pride and possibility as the College hosted its 55th Commencement Ceremonies across two days of powerful celebration, honoring the achievements of the Class of 2025. Eight hundred and thirty-seven degrees are expected to be awarded. At just 15 years old, the youngest graduate walked alongside the eldest at 73, proof that education truly is for everyone and it’s never too early or too late to chase your dreams. Hostos’ 2025 Scholarship Benefit Raises More Than $350,000 for Scholarships The Hostos Community College Foundation’s 2025 Scholarship Benefit took place on Thursday, May 1. The spirit of perseverance, community, and joy was as strong and vibrant as it was 57 years ago when the College opened its doors. Two-hundred fifty friends of the College reveled in the pleasant spring evening at the stunning Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, and the event raised a staggering $355,000 in support of scholarships. Over 120 Young Researchers Present Findings at Hostos’ Third Annual Student Symposium Hostos held its third Annual Student Symposium in April 2025, showcasing the work of students and highlighting the impact of mentorship on academic and professional growth. The symposium has expanded from showcasing the work of 40-50 students in its inaugural year to featuring approximately 130 student presenters in 2025. The event offers students a chance to present their research and creative projects in a professional conference-style setting, providing valuable early-career experience. Words of Peace, Voices of Many: Hostos Launches Poetry Anthology on 57th Anniversary On April 22, as Hostos Community College celebrated its 57th anniversary, the campus honored both its rich history and its dynamic present with the launch of “Peace & Poetry: An Anthology,” a collection that reflects the College’s founding values of access, equity, and community. Hostos Celebrates $200,000 Grant from Ichigo Foundation to Expand First Year Experience Mentoring Program The Ichigo Foundation awarded Hostos a generous $200,000 grant to pilot the Gateway to Year 2 First Year Experience (FYE) expansion. This exciting two-year initiative will support up to 60 students, empowering them to take or retake foundational English or math courses required to advance academically. The Hostos Caimans Make History on the Basketball Court, Earning Major Honors in NYC and Nationally Across CUNY and NJCAA Hostos’ men’s and women’s basketball teams earned major honors locally and nationally across CUNY and NJCAA. Our Lady Caimans are the only team ever to secure eight consecutive CUNY-wide championships, and the men’s team claimed their third title in four years and second straight CUNY Conference Championship. Hostos Professor Sarah Hoiland’s New Book Takes Readers on a Ride Into the Little-Known World of an All-Women’s Motorcycle Club Hostos Community College proudly announces the release of “Righteous Sisterhood: The Politics and Power of an All-Women's Motorcycle Club” (Temple University Press, 2025), an insightful ethnography about an all-women motorcycle club (MC) written by Sarah Hoiland, Hostos Associate Professor of Sociology. The riveting work, hitting shelves Friday, January 24, provides a fascinating look into a womanist space within a male-dominated subculture and delves into their complex gender, political and power dynamics. Shared through the unique perspective of a women’s MC, Hoiland’s investigation sheds light onto the women’s quests for sisterhood, community and immortality through the club, and looks at why some ultimately leave or, in some cases, are exiled. Hostos Wins U.S. Dept of Education’s First-Ever Postsecondary Success Recognition Program Award In January 2025, Hostos was awarded the U.S. Dept of Education’s First-Ever Postsecondary Success Recognition Program Award. The College was one of only six colleges in the nation recognized for promoting equitable access, success and post-college outcomes. Hostos Proudly Unveiled New Women's Center This welcoming space provides resources such as counseling, crisis intervention and specialized programming designed to increase awareness of gender-based issues and women’s rights, and access to peer support groups — all in support of women’s advocacy, engagement, and degree completion. Located in D-102, the Women’s Center is the eleventh women’s center within CUNY and open to everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, Speaks to His People at Hostos Community College New York City’s Dominican diaspora thronged to Hostos Community College on Tuesday, September 24th to hear the President of the Dominican Republic speak about the accomplishments of his first term and his plans to press forward with the sweeping reforms he has initiated across the DR. Hostos Celebrates Two Decades of Publishing Literary Excellence from the Americas through “Hostos Review / Revista Hostosiana” Hostos Community College marked on November 7, the 20th anniversary of the “Hostos Review / Revista Hostosiana,” an annual journal showcasing exceptional literary works by authors from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Ibero-America, as well as Latina/o/x writers. Hostos Launches $1 Million STEM Scholarship to Empower Future Leaders in the Bronx In October 2024, Hostos announced the creation of the $1 million Aspira Capital Management and Wright Foundation Endowed Scholarship for Students Pursuing Degrees in STEM. Benny Lorenzo, managing partner of Aspira Capital Management, and Peter A. Wright, Lorenzo’s longtime friend, business partner and hedge fund founder, launched the Wright Foundation and collaborated to make the million-dollar endowment possible. Their donation will fund countless scholarships of $1,500 to $7,000 each for qualified students in their penultimate semester of Hostos’ Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program — year after year — in perpetuity. This scholarship replaces the Randi Potack, Dorothy Hausberg and Judith Z. Potack Memorial Endowed Scholarship as the largest endowed scholarship gift and pledge in the College’s 56-year history. Hostos Secures $2 Million NSF Grant for Innovative STEM Program, Marking Seventh Concurrent NSF-Funded Project at the College In September 2024, Hostos announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded the College a $2 million grant for Hostos Engineering Academic Talent-2 (HEAT2), an innovative STEM program, marking the seventh concurrent NSF-funded project at the College. This program will provide financial and academic support to 30 students pursuing associate and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, and environmental engineering. Hostos Community College Receives Largest Endowed Scholarship in College History In Spring 2024, Hostos received the Randi Potack, Dorothy Hausberg and Judith Z. Potack Memorial Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship will ultimately total nearly half a million dollars and fund countless scholarships for students in Hostos’ registered nurse (RN) program — year after year — in perpetuity. The Potacks’ gift and pledge will also earn a 25% match provided by City University of New York (CUNY) and made possible by a New York State earmark. 100% Passed: Hostos’ Dental Hygiene Program Boasts Superb Clinical Exam Pass Rate In April 2024, 100% of the Hostos 39 dental hygiene students who took the Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination (SPTCE) ADEX Licensure Exam passed. The SPTCE evaluates candidates on their clinical skills, including detection and removal of calculus, accurate periodontal pocket depth measurements and tissue management, and it is one component of the ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination. Candidates must also take a Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE) OSCE designed to assess diagnosis and treatment planning knowledge and skills. Senator Chuck Schumer Secures $1 Million Congressional Earmark to Expand On-campus Employment Programs at Hostos Community College In March 2024, Senator Chuck Schumer (D - NY) secured a $1 million congressional earmark for Hostos. The Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funds will be used to expand two existing on-campus employment programs at Hostos Community College (the Mentor/Mentee Jobs on Campus program and the Hostos Research Center's faculty-student mentorship program) that pay students and help them learn administrative, professional workplace and research skills. Hostos Community College Officially Inaugurates New Advisement Center, Pioneering Student Success in the South Bronx Hostos officially unveiled the brand-new facilities of the Hostos Advisement Center in February 2024. Situated at 429 Grand Concourse, the space is tailored to meet the diverse needs of students by accommodating key advising units, including the Student Success Coaching Unit (SSCU), ASAP, and soon the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC). Hostos Ranked 7th Among Top New York Community Colleges, Highest Among CUNY Schools Hostos Community College achieved the 7th position on the EDSmart list of the 2024 Best Community Colleges in New York. This ranking highlighted Hostos as the highest-ranked CUNY community college on the list, underscoring its dedication to delivering high-quality education and support services to a diverse student body. Congressman Ritchie Torres Allocates $1 Million in Community Project Funding to Hostos for Groundbreaking Transfer Pathways Program In November 2023, Congressman Ritchie Torres presented $1 million in Community Project Funding to Hostos for the “Building Transfer Pathways and Pipeline Initiative,” which has gone toward enabling 16 exceptional students to transfer to high-quality baccalaureate and postgraduate programs in Public Health at Columbia University, Engineering at City College's Grove School, and Arts Administration at Queens College. Hostos Earns Three Prestigious Accolades Recognizing our Commitment to High-Quality Education for all Students Hostos Community College has been ranked #7 in Intelligent.com’s "Best Community Colleges in New York" list and #5 among the top Practical Nursing programs in New York roster by PracticalNursing.org. For a third time, Hostos also secured a place among the Aspen Prize Top 150 U.S. Community Colleges. Hostos Offers Fully Online Asynchronous Degrees Hostos pioneered our first fully asynchronous online degrees in Fall 2023 under the Hostos Online initiative, thus expanding our capacity to serve our students! Asynchronous Degree and Certificate Programs include: A.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences, A.A. in Criminal Justice, A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education, A.A.S. in Public Administration, A.S. in Computer Science, and Community Health Worker Certificate. Hostos Community College Awarded $1.5 Million Grant by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson Hostos was awarded a $1.5 million grant to renovate the cafeteria, part of a series of capital improvements at the school. Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, who has long been a supporter and staunch ally of the College, reaffirmed her office’s partnership with Hostos by allocating the funds in the budget for the 2024 Fiscal Year. Hostos Launches Visionary Industry Summit Series in Spring 2023 Spearheaded by President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Hostos’ Industry Summit series brings together academic and industry partners to establish a forum for the development of relevant curriculum that serves the needs of the employers in our service area and prepares our students to become successful professionals with rewarding careers. Industries covered include: Business Management, Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Cybersecurity, Education, and Community Health. Hostos Research Center Opens Its Doors The Hostos Research Center (HRC) opened its doors in March 2023 and has since hosted dozens of impactful presentations, conferences, workshops, and showcases for and in collaboration with our faculty, students and staff. The HRC serves to advance the development of new faculty and staff-led research projects, faculty-student mentorship, creation of student research internships, and capacity-building to help faculty secure external funding. Hostos Named as One of 25 Semifinalists for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence Eugenio María de Hostos Community College has been named as one of 25 semifinalists for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Hostos alumna Folusho Adeoti and Student Reola Alexander Honored at the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society All-New York Academic Awards Team Ceremony Hostos alumna Folusho Adeoti and student Reola Alexander were among those honored at the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society All-New York Academic Awards Team Ceremony held April 13, 2022. Jason Libfeld, Student Leadership Coordinator at Hostos Community College, attended the ceremony in support of both students. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul Presented a Proclamation to Eugenio María de Hostos Community College in Commemoration of Dominican Heritage Month to President Daisy Cocco De Filippis New York State Governor Kathy Hochul Presented a proclamation to Eugenio María de Hostos Community College in commemoration of Dominican Heritage Month to President Daisy Cocco De Filippis. EdTech’s Carlos Guevara Contributes Expertise to 2022 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report Carlos Guevara, Director of Educational Technology (EdTech) and Co-Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, contributed his expertise to the recently released 2022 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report. Announcing the Educating for Diversity Initiative Grant Awards for Spring 2022 The Office of the President announced the Educating for Diversity Initiative Grant Awards for Spring 2022. The Educating for Diversity Initiative is generously supported by the Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives for Student Success, College Growth and Stakeholders’ Engagement. The grants represent Hostos’ continued commitment to fostering student and community engagement in scholarly discussions and creative activities that will spark dialogue and communal learning on important issues relevant to diversity, equity and inclusion. Hostos Alum Michael Cruz Wins Prestigious Rangel Fellowship The Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University is proud to announce that Michael Cruz was awarded a 2022 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship following a highly competitive nationwide selection process. The Rangel Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by Howard University, supports extraordinary individuals who want to pursue a career in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. Hostos Community College joins Grow with Google’s HSI Career Readiness Program to Train 200,000 Latino Students In Digital Skills by 2025 January 26, 2022 (BRONX, NY) – Today, Eugenio María de Hostos Community College announced its participation in the Grow with Google HSI Career Readiness Program. The initiative will help Latino students at over 20 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) prepare for the workforce through digital skills training and career workshops. National Science Foundation Awards $2.3 Million to Hostos Oasis for Parents’ Education Program The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $2.3 million to Hostos Community College’s “Hostos Oasis for Parents’ Education (HOPE): A Holistic Two-Generation Approach to Improving STEM Education in the South Bronx” program. This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture Receives $100,000 from the Howard Gilman Foundation On November 29 the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture was chosen as the recipient of a $100,000 grant from the Howard Gilman Foundation. The grant will be used for general operating expenses at the Center and will be distributed over the course of the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years. Hostos Alumnus Ayodeji Otuyelu Publishes First Book Nigerian-born poet and Hostos alumnus Ayodeji Otuyelu, ‘20, is a natural storyteller. He started writing creatively in grade school, pouring his innermost thoughts and feelings into his poems. However, he kept his writing largely to himself until he immigrated to the U.S. in 2016 in pursuit of the freedom to be his authentic self. Hostos Commemorates Veterans Day and Announces First-Ever Joe Alicea Veterans Fund Scholarship Recipients The Eugenio María de Hostos Community College Office of Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce the first Hostos student awardees of the Joe Alicea Veterans Fund scholarship: Specialist Michael Colón and Petty Officer Second Class Shalikah Ellington. They will each receive $1,000 in support of their academic journey. The Hostos Center for Arts & Culture Receives a Supplemental Award to its Shuttered Venue Operators Grant The Small Business Administration and its SVOG program recently informed the HCAC it was eligible for a Supplemental SVOG award if updated financial information for the first half of this year met the criteria. The Arts Center was approved and has been awarded an additional $163,307 (half of the original amount awarded) bringing the total to $489,922. Hostos Community College One of 150 U.S. Community College Eligible for 2023 Aspen Prize Hostos Community College of The City University of New York is one of 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America's community colleges, it was announced today. Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott Gifts Hostos with $15 Million Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is proud to announce a $15 million gift from philanthropist, author, and activist MacKenzie Scott. This is the largest single gift in the College’s history and one of the largest in the history of The City University of New York (CUNY). EdCast Receives Two More Telly Awards for Excellence in Cable Broadcasting “EdCast,” the CUNY TV program produced, written, and hosted by Hostos Professor Linda Hirsch, is the recipient of two 2021 Bronze Telly Awards in the Television General-Education category for excellence in television broadcasting. “Returning to Campus During Covid-19” and “Powerful Voices: New Approaches to Stuttering,” featuring Hero High School Student Noel Mullings, were the winning episodes. Hostos’ Public Safety Officers Help Reunite Missing Baby with Mother The morning of Friday, May 14, Hostos Community College Public Safety Officer Raul DeJesus was standing outside of Hostos’ A-Building (475 Grand Concourse) when an individual exiting the subway station located in front of the College pleaded for his assistance and told him that there was an incoherent man on the subway platform, walking around aimlessly with a small infant. Officer DeJesus immediately notified his supervisor and NYPD via his two-way radio. He then entered the subway station with Sergeant Alfredo Rodríguez and Sergeant Mayra Pinzon. Inside the subway station, they encountered the man inside a waiting train, holding an infant. Hostos Continuing Education and Workforce Development Awarded Consolidated Funding Application The Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD) and the Division of Academic Affairs was awarded $430,000 by New York State through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process in Next Generation Job Linkage funds. Robin Hood Foundation COVID-19 Relief Grant for Student Emergency Assistance and Tuition Support The Hostos Community College Foundation is pleased to announce that it has received a generous $150,000 grant award from the Robin Hood Foundation to provide assistance to students who have experienced financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. Chancellor of Universidad Autónoma of Santo Domingo Visits Hostos The Chancellor of Universidad Autónoma of Santo Domingo (UASD), Dr. Emma Polanco Melo, visited Hostos Community College on April 21, 2021 to meet with Hostos Interim President Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis and Associate Dean of Community Relations Ana I. García Reyes.