BMCC PRESIDENT VISITS BRITISH STUDENTS WHO SENT PRAYERS AND POEMS AFTER THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACK
October 15, 2003
In the United Kingdom to receive an award for contributions to global education, Antonio Pérez, president of Borough of Manhattan Community College, made a side trip to visit students at the Coseley School in Coseley, Bilston.
Two years ago, shortly after the attack on the World Trade Center, students at the Coseley School sent prayers and poems that they wrote to the students at Borough of Manhattan Community College. This fall, The BMCC president visited the Coseley students to thank them in person for their support. Meeting with the group of students who sent the encouraging words, Perez told them, “It was a tremendous help to us during a time of trial to know that across the ocean you were praying for us.” Perez also addressed the entire school during an assembly.
The Coseley students were in a religion education class taught by former deputy head Tim Hipkiss when the World Trade Center was attacked. Hipkiss, who was discussing the power of prayer with students, gave his students a homework assignment to write prayers for those affected by the tragedy. Searching the Internet, the students found the website of Borough of Manhattan Community College, and they decided to send their prayers and poems to BMCC.
After displaying the collection of prayers and poems for all to see in the fall of 2001, the college now keeps the prayers and poems from Coseley students in the college archives.
Meanwhile, Pérez hopes to establish a lasting relationship between the British school and the American community college.
Pérez visited the United Kingdom in October to accept the Chair’s Award for Contributions to Global Education from the City College of Birmingham, U.K. This award is not given every year. The chairperson of the board of directors of the City College of Birmingham may confer the award only once during his or her tenure as chair.
While in the United Kingdom, the BMCC president also gave several addresses to education leaders.