Alumni E-Newsletter Fall 2018

While I am obviously a newcomer to KCC, I am no stranger to its legacy.  For over five decades, your alma mater has embodied a strong academic tradition, a culture of service and success, and an unwavering commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.  As a result, KCC has long been recognized as a national leader among its community college peers.

For me personally, coming to KCC is the culmination of a long and wide-ranging career in higher education.  Most recently, I served as provost and senior vice president for academic and student success at Bronx Community College (BCC).  In addition, I previously served as vice president for academic affairs & provost at BCC and associate provost for academic development at William Paterson University of New Jersey.  Yet while I am proud of my service at those institutions, I am even more excited about my new role at KCC, where I look forward to working with our outstanding faculty and dedicated staff.  Together, we will lead this already-remarkable college to even greater heights.

If a college's truest measure of excellence is the success of its alumni, then KCC has much to be proud of.  As Brooklyn's only community college, KCC has propelled countless graduates to success across the career spectrum.  From healthcare to law, business to criminal justice, engineering to the humanities, and so much more, KCC alumni like you make an indelible impact on our workforce and contribute to the betterment of our society.

As a KCC graduate, you embody the very best of our community and the promise of a higher education.  I hope that you continue to feel great pride in KCC, which was recently identified as an Aspen Prize TOP 10 Community College (2019) by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. I wish you all the best, and hope you will join me in ushering in yet another outstanding chapter in KCC's history!

Sincerely,

Claudia V. Schrader

On #GivingTuesday, in partnership with the #CUNYTuesday campaign, Kingsborough Community College will celebrate KCC Spirit Day. We're banding together to raise money for student scholarships and you can help by making an online donation at https://www.cunytuesday.org/ on Tuesday, November 27 and spreading the word on social media.

• Post a picture or selfie showing why you love KingsboroughWrite a personal message about why you support Kingsborough
• Use the campaign hashtags - #KCCSPIRIT Day and #CUNYTUESDAY
• Change your profile picture/cover photo to our #KCCSPIRIT Day logo
• Ask people to share your related tweets and posts
• Follow campaign hashtags live on the day of the event

In 2014, Rachel Lazar graduated Kingsborough Community College as the winner of the Valedictorian Award (Funded in Memory of Fred F. Addes).  She has since graduated from Columbia University and now attends a master's program at John Jay College.

As a high school dropout who had not attended school in seven years, I was quite anxious when I began Kingsborough Community College. I didn t remember how to take notes, write papers, or study for exams.  I worried that college simply wasn't right for me.

Despite these doubts, I ultimately decided to take a chance on myself.  Years later, I can safely say that this remains the best decision I have ever made.

I was surprised at how quickly I fell in love with academia, and with Kingsborough Community College in general. The professors were very kind, patient, and approachable. Many took the time to talk to me about my career goals, and to answer any questions I had. The more I learned, the more empowered I felt, and I gradually built the educational foundation that I had sorely lacked.

I joined the Honors program in my second year, which opened the door to many wonderful opportunities, from presenting at symposia to having my work published in academic journals. These experiences built my skill-set tremendously, while also giving me newfound levels of confidence.  My hard work truly paid off at the end of my last year, culminating in two prestigious honors that to this day fill me with pride: receiving the Valedictorian Award (Funded in Memory of Fred F. Addes) and the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.

Being chosen to represent the class of 2014 was a powerful experience, as I felt both proud and humbled standing at the podium in front of the KCC community, sharing my truth.  I had put in the academic and emotional work, and KCC gave me all of the support and opportunities along the way.  During this time, I was also awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship to continue my education a direct result of the experiences, skills, and mentorship I received while at KCC.

After KCC I attended Columbia University, where I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. I am now a graduate student at John Jay College where I study Forensic Psychology. My academic goal is to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology with a forensic focus. My broader career goal is to impact the legal system through the lens of psychology in a meaningful way.  

All of my accomplishments thus far in life are grounded in the things I learned and the experiences I enjoyed while being a student at KCC.  I am eternally grateful that I took a chance on myself, and that KCC took a chance on me.

-       Rachel 14

Over 900 alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members, along with their friends and families, attended this year's Homecoming Treasure Island on October 21, 2018. Our guests attend Homecoming for a variety of reasons: to enjoy the exciting atmosphere, reconnect with former professors, colleagues and classmates, rekindle their school spirit, and celebrate all that is Kingsborough.

This year, guests enjoyed a fun-filled day of entertainment, recreational activities, campus exhibitions, tours and trolley rides on our magnificent campus by the sea. Among the highlights were the first-ever Fun Run hosted by KCC Athletics, a Mocktail Competition performed by two of our talented culinary arts students, Winifred Oduro and Cecilia Chong, and a Scavenger Hunt where teams comprised of students, alumni, and families tested their knowledge about Kingsborough based on a myriad of clues and competed for prizes.

We thank all of our guests who came together to share in the fun and celebrate all that is special about Kingsborough.

For pictures of this spectacular event click here.