Student Yuka Terada poses proudly next to her poster about the e-smoking practices among children and youth.
Yesterday, Hostos Community College hosted its Second Annual Student Symposium, a highly anticipated event that showcased the significant academic achievements of its students. The Symposium featured the innovative work of 120 students across a variety of disciplines, including STEM, Allied Health, Game Design, Education, Literature, Humanities, and Behavioral and Social Sciences.
The event began with an opening ceremony moderated by Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Andrea Fabrizio at a packed Hostos Café. Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis opened with heartfelt remarks, expressing her excitement for the day's proceedings, orchestrated by Fabrizio and the Office of Academic Affairs team. "This is what academia is about…coming together, learning from one another," she noted.
Then, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Shiang-Kwei Wang emphasized the vital role of mentorship in academia. She encouraged students to engage deeply with their faculty advisors, describing them as essential guides who "will help you cross the finish line in every possible way."
President Daisy Cocco De Filippis was delighted with the day ahead.
Provost Wang asked the presenters and mentors to raise their hands to show attendees the impressive participation turnout of the Student Symposium.
Dean Fabrizio was lauded for her role as the head organizer of this annual event.
Soon after, award-winning author NoNieqa Ramos – who recently presented their children’s book about founding members of the College at the Hostos library – delivered a moving keynote speech, addressing the challenge of overcoming impostor syndrome, urging the audience to celebrate their achievements and recognize the support systems around them. "It is difficult for me to stand before you and celebrate my accomplishments," Ramos shared. They recounted their own journey, marked by challenges such as being raised by a single parent and, as a queer Latine, feeling out of place in predominantly white institutions.
She also lamented the lack of significant representation of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ characters in children’s literature, and said that though there has been some incremental progress made, there are mountains yet to be moved. Ramos found a sense of belonging and empowerment through their involvement with LAS MUSAS, a pioneering literary collective of Latinx women and marginalized genders aligning with femininity. This group provided a crucial space for connection and support, fostering a community that celebrated Ramos’ identity.
NoNieqa Ramos delivered a rousing keynote speech.
Attendees filled the Hostos Café for the Opening Ceremony.
"We are not done fighting. What is a mountain when there are giants? they affirmed. “And we will continue to see more books written by us and for us," Ramos declared, inspiring the audience. They concluded with a powerful reminder of the supportive community surrounding each person: "The Bronx needs you. Your people need you. Look around and see yourselves and all the people supporting you. It doesn’t matter where your journey takes you; somebody has your back, and it all starts here with sharing your work, what you do, and what you are passionate about."
Following the speech, the symposium featured opening ceremony student presentations across disciplines. This was a collective opportunity for attendees to sample the incredible diversity of the work on display throughout the day.
Student Jonathan Ciriaco shared his findings about data transparency and blockchain technologies during the opening ceremony presentations.
(L-R) Proud mentor Professor Saadia Lgarch with her student John Ciriaco.
(L-R) Professor Sarah Hoiland poses with her mentees, the Early College Student Leslie Pérez, and Hostos student Jocelyn López.
Afterward, several concurrent sessions took place all over the C-building’s premises. In these sessions, students from diverse fields shared their capstone projects, scientific discoveries, and creative writing or works. The range of topics was vast and included presentations on data distribution, critical analyses of explicit bias in tech, and discussions on the science and ethics of animal slaughter, to name a few. This variety exemplified the breadth of academic inquiry and innovation at Hostos, showcasing an impressive array of student-led research.
The STEM poster session was noteworthy, brimming with excitement and a thirst for knowledge among all present. The session provided a platform for students to present their cutting-edge STEM projects and engage in in-depth discussions about their research and findings, sparking further interest and exploration in specialized topics.
Students who were not presenting actively participated as audience members, visibly impressed and supportive. They cheered on their peers, demonstrating a strong sense of community and pride in the accomplishments being showcased.
Student, SGA Senator, and Communications Office Scheduling Assistant Ansumana Jammeh presents his two posters during the STEM session, which took place at the Hostos Gym.
Matthew Ramírez, a non-presenting student at the symposium, shared his reflections on the day's events, emphasizing the importance of such academic gatherings. "Seeing all the students gather together to show us such amazing and well-researched work was amazing! All the poster boards were so detailed and well-written, and every student explained their topics very well," he noted.
Matthew highlighted the diversity of topics, ranging from breast cancer prevention to artificial intelligence, and expressed how much he had learned. "I think it's important for the Hostos community to attend events like these so we can all see the great work the students do throughout the semester. They work hard and deserve an opportunity to be congratulated, and at the same time, they can educate us in what they know best," he added. "I look forward to attending the next symposium!"
The event wrapped up with a final set of concurrent sessions, offering one last opportunity for attendees to engage with a diverse array of topics and discussions.
The entire Hostos community, from faculty to staff, participated in the many symposium events. Basil plants were given away to raise awareness about Earth Day next week.
For her part, President Cocco De Filippis was thoroughly impressed. “I cannot express how proud I am of these students. With the caliber of work being presented, the care with which it was researched and presented, and the beautiful mentorship of the faculty clearly yielding such amazing fruit. It fills me with the purest joy a college president could feel. I applaud Provost Wang, Dean Fabrizio and the entire faculty and student body for their dedication to the life-changing education that will uplift this community. Bravi!”
About Eugenio María de Hostos Community College
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 for over half a century. Since 1968, Hostos has been 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.
Hostos offers 28 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate secure transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. A two-time Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence finalist, the College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos also boasts both men's and women's basketball teams, which have won multiple CUNY Athletic Conference and National Junior College Athletic Association championships, with the women's team making history in 2024 as the only team ever to secure seven consecutive titles in CUNY’s history. The College is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 25 colleges.
For inquiries, email publicrelations@hostos.cuny.edu.
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