RCC Student Discusses Education with Melinda Gates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: April 27, 2010

CONTACT: Lisa Saunders

(845) 574 - 4244

lsaunde2@sunyrockland.edu

Honors Student from Rockland Community College
Discusses Education with Melinda Gates

Ramapo, NY - A Rockland Community College Honors student, selected for membership in the elite 20-member USA TODAY’s 2010 ALL-USA Community College Academic Team, discussed community college remedial education with Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mark Svensson of Orangeburg, N.Y., 20, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, was honored for his acceptance on the ALL-USA Team at the annual conference of the American Association of Community Colleges on April 19, 2010, in Seattle, W.A. Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, spoke at the convention and prior to her speech, asked to meet with Svensson and eight other members of the ALL-USA Team to hear their thoughts on ways to improve community college education. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $110 million to help two-year colleges improve remedial education.

For more information about the $110 million pledge, see: http://chronicle.com/article/Melinda-Gates-Pledges/65174/

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Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate's degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to simply learn something new. Quality education...at a price you can afford.