On Thursday, July 24, Hostos Community College's Holistic Oasis for Parents' Education (HOPE) program concluded its summer session with an exciting showcase and completion ceremony, led by Mistress of Ceremonies Leyla Caballero, a 2025 HOPE alumna and research assistant.
 

Leyla Caballero is a proud HOPE alumna and research assistant for the program.

Now in its fourth year, HOPE is a dynamic two-generation summer initiative that offers comprehensive support to HOPE Scholars and their children. This year, a total of 19 student-parents completed the seven-and-a-half-week program. Among these scholars, 11 of them were returning scholars and 34 of their children were enrolled in either Hostos' Children's Center, the Hostos STEAM Academy, or Proyecto Access STEP, where they developed their science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills through hands-on learning experiences both in the classroom and during excursions. The young STEAM scholars kicked off the 2025 ceremony with a presentation of their summer projects, showcasing the model bridges they had engineered, the art they had created, and the work they had accomplished throughout the program.

HOPE’s young STEAM prodigies showcased their impressive engineering and art projects.

On behalf of the Office of the President, Diana Kreymer, Executive Chief of Staff and Deputy to the President, shared heartfelt remarks, acknowledging the phenomenal HOPE team, including Program Director Sarah Hoiland and Co-PIs Anders (AJ) Stachelek, Ed.D.; Dr. JungHang Lee, Ph.D.; and Professor Biao Jiang, Ph.D., along with the program's dedicated teachers and staff. She then highlighted those at the "heart of it all": the HOPE Scholars.
 

Sarah Hoiland, Director of the HOPE program, reflected on the program’s impact and growth over the last four years.

"As parenting students, they carry responsibilities that many of us can barely imagine balancing," she said. "Yet here they are — showing up, making progress, and investing in their futures and their children's futures. It's a powerful reminder of why programs like HOPE matter. This is what educational equity and opportunity look like in action."
 
During her speech, Andrea Fabrizio, Interim Vice President of the Office of Academic Affairs and Provost, praised all participants for their hard work, noting that the day's ceremony provided an excellent opportunity for them and their children to celebrate and express pride in one another. "Today is a beautiful celebration because it's a celebration of mutual pride, where the parents who are here — thank you so much for participating in this program — can be so proud of yourselves for the work that you've done all summer in your classes, and also proud of your children and the amazing things they've done," she said. "And also, the children here, your parents are doing wonderful things. They're taking really hard classes, they're in really difficult programs, and they're doing it all for you."
 

Andrea Fabrizio, Interim Vice President of the Office of Academic Affairs and Provost, expressed her immense pride in this year’s HOPE scholars and their children.

The ceremony continued with the presentation of certificates to the young scholars in Hostos' Children's Center, the Hostos STEAM Academy, and Proyecto Access STEP. Professor Hoiland then turned the spotlight on the 2025 HOPE Scholars who cumulatively pursued approximately 116 credits over the summer. The 2025 cohort also expanded their horizons during daily Lunch & Learn sessions and bonded as they studied, supported one another, and navigated the program. Professor Hoiland praised their incredible tenacity and ability to achieve academic success while balancing parenting, work, and other responsibilities.
 

Scholars Lucie Zongo and Kimberly Feble shared heartfelt reflections on their HOPE journeys.

Next, reflections from HOPE Scholars Lucie Zongo and Kimberly Feble inspired pride among their fellow scholars and brought tears to the eyes of the guests. Zongo expressed that the HOPE program has been a backbone of her educational journey, and both she and her son wished they could remain in the program forever. During her emotional speech, Feble shared that HOPE was not just a support system for her, but a second home where she felt at peace knowing her son was cared for and supported in the Children's Center while she attended classes.
 
Cathy Garcia-Bou, Director of the Children's Center, honored the program's youngest participants with a presentation of plants in recognition of their hard work and growth. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates of completion for HOPE Scholars, given by Professor Hoiland, in recognition of their dedication and achievements.