President Daisy Cocco De Filippis shared her heartfelt admiration for this year’s incredible honorees.


On Thursday, April 10, Hostos Community College celebrated its third annual President's Recognition Barbeque, an inspiring event dedicated to honoring the incredible resilience and achievements of 13 remarkable students: Madeline Arzu, Marielisa Dominguez, Damaris Esquilin-Berrios, Juan Fana, Kimberly Feble, Daniella Gerik, Ronan Green, Luisa Griggs, Jah-ki Jackson, Adria Sebisaho, Alyssa Valentine, Ashley Walker, and Daja White.

 

The luncheon, beautifully orchestrated by the Office of the President, was a powerful tribute to students who have triumphed over adversity while steadfastly pursuing their academic dreams. In her opening remarks, President Daisy Cocco De Filippis expressed her profound admiration for the honorees and shared how deeply moved she was when she read their nominators' heartfelt testimonies. She emphasized how she "beams with pride" when she envisions the extraordinary futures that await them, no matter the challenges they have faced.

 


Professor Kristopher Burrell delivered a powerful keynote address. 

 

Jason Pelosi, Student Success Coaching Unit Director, served as the master of ceremonies for the much-anticipated annual event and Dr. Kristopher Burrell, Associate Professor of History, delivered a heartfelt keynote address during which he reflected on Hostos' students' incredible spirit. "Honestly, looking out at all of the students assembled here this afternoon is inspiring to me," he said. "The theme of today's barbecue is honoring student resiliency. Hostos students are the embodiment of resilience, the embodiment of determination, the embodiment of perseverance."

 

He went on to acknowledge that the day's honorees have experienced significant challenges during their time in college and yet continued progressing toward degrees, careers, and better lives for themselves. He reminded them that they are deserving of admiration and support, urging them to find strength in seeking help when necessary and to extend a hand to others in need. "We can honor our own resilience by helping someone else persevere through their tough time," he reminded.

 


Madeline Arzu was nominated by Professor Nicole Wallenbrock.

 

During the ceremony, nominators shared the incredible stories of this year's honorees, moving many to tears as they recounted journeys marked by battling illness, balancing parenting with education, and returning to college after a long hiatus. This year's honorees include parents, grandparents, veterans, and survivors, all pursuing studies in fields like Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Game Design, Computer Science, and more. Their diverse backgrounds and tenacity showcase the profound strength that lives within each of them.

 


Damaris Esquilín-Berrios shared how although she’s faced numerous challenges, she has not let them hold her back. 

 

Honoree Damaris Esquilín-Berrios, a mother and grandmother who has battled cancer, expressed her deep gratitude for the recognition and thanked her nominator, Marina Esquilín, Scholarships Coordinator, and Dr. Althea Sterling, Interim Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Management (SDEM). Esquilin-Berrios shared that she knew she was home when she arrived on campus for orientation. Although she faced numerous challenges during her time at Hostos, she did not let them set her back; instead, she used them as motivation to "conquer the world." She urged her fellow honorees to always believe in themselves and remember that there are others who will support them and they are "in the right place to feel at home."

 


Ashley Walker was nominated by academic advisor Rachel Cholst, who is now part of the growing community that she is building while at Hostos. 

 

Similarly, honoree Ashley Walker spoke about how she struggled after she was diagnosed with leukemia in 2023 and eventually found renewed purpose when she decided to enroll at Hostos after a 15-year hiatus from college. "I felt like when I got into Hostos, when I walked up to the campus, when I met the people, I felt like I was where I needed to be." Motivated by the realization that every day is a new chance to live, she is dedicated to building community every chance she gets and is a proud member of the Hostos Rainbow Club, through which she met her nominator, Rachel Cholst, Academic Advisor. Walker shared the community she's found at Hostos has given her great joy, and she is dedicated to paying it forward every day. She urged others to continue to spread joy and kindness, too, because she believes everyone has the capacity to do so.

 


Luisa Griggs, with her nominator, Dr. Diana Cruz, shared how she perseveres during difficult times. 

 

Luisa Griggs, nominated by Dr. Diana Cruz, Academic Advisor, is a Harlem native and veteran who returned to New York City in 2024 and enrolled at Hostos with the goal of following in the footsteps of her late mother, who was a Hostos alumna and dental hygienist. During her remarks, she shared that although life is sometimes “rough,” exercising gratitude, trying to stay positive, and sometimes taking a deep breath with the intention of feeling better helps fuel her resilience. 

 

As President Daisy Cocco De Filippis listened to the resonant testimonies of the honorees, she was visibly moved. In her closing remarks, she reaffirmed that "Hostos is the place for all of us," emphasizing that it's never too late to begin or continue one's educational journey. She concluded with a heartfelt message: "This is just one of many initiatives to show you that we love you and we hear you."

 

The President's Barbeque, made possible by Ms. MacKenzie Scott's Gift: President's Initiatives, was the second event this spring dedicated to honoring students' perseverance, following the President's Recognition Tea held in March for Women's History Month.

 

Thank you to the Hostos community members who nominated this year's inspiring honorees and for all that you do to foster community, excellence, and resilience at Hostos.