(Left to right) Jolisel Vargas-López and Jody Pérez
 
Two recent Hostos graduates, Jody Pérez and Jolisel Vargas-López, were recognized at the USA TODAY Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Awards on March 9 at the New York State Museum in Albany.

Pérez completed her Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and Science in Fall 2014 and is beginning work on a Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Technology at Mercy College. She hopes to become an advocate for abused and abandoned animals by providing education on minimizing neglect. She has volunteered more than 20 hours.

Vargas-López completed her Associate Degree in Public Administration in Fall 2014 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration at Baruch College. She is a member of the Hostos Student Leadership Academy’s Ambassador Program and the CUNY Ernesto Malavé Leadership Program, and has completed more than 50 volunteer hours.  

The students were also recognized by NYS Senator Ruben Díaz, NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera, Assemblyman Michael Blake, and Assemblyman Víctor M. Pichardo.

Students from all across the state in CUNY and SUNY two-year colleges were recognized for their academic achievement, leadership skills and service to the community by being awarded the prestigious All-New York Academic Awards.  Each community college had two students recognized at the event by Dr. Rod Risley, Executive Director & CEO, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society; Dr. Kevin Drum, President, New York Community College Association of Presidents; Dr. Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor, State University of New York; and Dr. Frank Sánchez, Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs, City University of New York.

Professor Rees Shad, the advisor for Phi Theta Kappa-Alpha Kappa, also was on hand to represent Hostos.

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.
 
Recently 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.