Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders Academy Awards Ceremony

Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders Academy Awards Ceremony

To be held at SUNY Rockland Community College

Suffern, NY— The East Ramapo Central middle school students who completed the Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders Academy will receive awards at a ceremony to be held on Friday, August 7, 8:00 – 10:30 a.m., in the SUNY Rockland Community College Cultural Arts Center Cafeteria and Theater.

The mission of the Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders Academy is to empower students by providing them with academic skills and character traits necessary for success.  The philosophy is to equip students with the tools that will help them compete globally.  The school partners with community-based organizations and parents to support the Academy’s goals to motivate and inspire students.

As a part of the program, students spent a day at SUNY Rockland attending various workshops including:  Academic Gamesmanship; Early Stages of College Admissions; My Body and Mind: Can They Take It?; Real Talk: What You Say is What You Get; Hot Jobs and Cool Careers; The Real Deal of a College Education (presented by two SUNY Rockland students); For Girls Only; and For Boys Only.

Workshop presenters included:

Mr. Julio Carpio Bonilla, Student, Communication/Media Arts & Computer Graphics Design, Rockland Community College

Mr. Gerry Mushumbusi, Student, Fine Arts, Rockland Community College

“For Girls Only”: Imani Thompson, Student, University at Albany

“For Boys Only”: Don Taze Champagne, RCC Alumnus and Edouard Joseph

Ms. Debra Bouabidi, Director, Financial Aid, Rockland Community College

Mr. Marc Giammarco, Coordinator, Prevention Resource Center, Rockland Community College

Ms. D. Penny Jennings, CEO, Adults Caring for Teens (A.C.T.)

Dr. Eugene Henderson Jr., Vice President, Student Development, Rockland Community College

Ms. Dana Stilley, Admissions Office, Rockland Community College

The graduation will include an informational session for parents, where college administrators will present information on college admissions and financial aid.  Speakers during the program include, Mr. Bill Baker, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Rockland Community College, and Dr. Ira Oustatcher, Superintendent of the East Ramapo Central School District.  In addition to certificates awarded to the students for graduation, certificates will be presented to the students by Rockland Community College, the Honorable New York State Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, and Legislator Bill Darden.

For more information, contact Doreen Zarcone, Events Coordinator, at 845-574-4323, dzarcone@sunyrockland.edu. For more information about the College, visit www.sunyrockland.edu

###

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.