Honors Convocation Recognizes Outstanding Scholars in the Class of 2020

Borough of Manhattan Community (BMCC/CUNY) hosted its first virtual Honors Convocation on Friday, June 12.

Despite a distance-learning format necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic — and alongside massive protests against police violence and racism that have consumed New York City and cities around the world — more than 40 graduates of the Class of 2020 maintained the highest possible standards of academic achievement at BMCC.

These outstanding students were recognized at an Honors Convocation held via Zoom on Friday, June 12.

BMCC Interim President Karrin E. Wilks welcomed the BMCC community from her office at 199 Chambers Street, while most of the participants watched the ceremony from their homes.

“To those being honored this afternoon, my heartfelt congratulations and admiration,” Wilks said. “Earning a college degree is a significant accomplishment that will serve you well, as you continue your journey into the future and as you continue to grow intellectually, personally and professionally.”

The students being honored in the Convocation have taken the accomplishment of earning a degree a step further, she said, by graduating with honors and distinction.

“I encourage you to harness the power in that distinction — the power in your mind, the power in your spirit and the power in your heart. We encourage you to think about the responsibility that comes with achievement and the responsibility that comes with success. This ceremony is about you and it’s also about what you do next.”

Through their success, Wilks said, the graduates also have the opportunity to help others. “Your being here speaks to your potential as leaders — to make a difference in your chosen career, to make a difference in your community, to work with others to address issues that matter to you — and to make the world a better place, a fairer and more equitable place, a place where all people can thrive.”

Acting Provost Erwin Wong spoke to the honorees and audience, noting that despite the tremendous obstacles posed by the COVID-19 crisis, BMCC’s most outstanding students had excelled in many impressive ways.

“We are extremely proud of all you have done,” Wong said. “I often tell students when you’ve done a great job, you also must thank the ones who helped you along the way — your faculty, friends and family — because they make part of that success. BMCC is a family and we are very proud of what you’ve accomplished. We hope that you’re going to be just as successful in your journey to your senior colleges, to your career paths and to whatever you pursue.”

“Against our global struggle with the pandemic and demonstrations demanding change, we stop today to recognize some of our brightest students,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Marva Craig, as she congratulated the students being honored.

“These are students we are confident will play leadership roles to ensure that who we become as human beings will be in the best interest of humankind,” she said. “Let us recognize that as a society we are changing and let your voices be heard as you stand up for these changes.”

Academic Excellence Awards reflect outstanding scholarship across almost 30 degree programs

Faculty presented the Academic Excellence Awards and shared their perspective of each student’s special gifts.

These included Christine Jacknick, Josh Wolfson, Cheryl Christopher, Mahatapa Palit, Sahana Sen, Shane Snipes, Hao Tang, Don Wei, Lesley Rennis, Oleg Muzician, Carlo Diego, Shari Rothfarb Mekonen, Maria Enrico, Sung Gwak, Mahmoud Ardebili, Luis Gonzales Urbina, Jose Fernandez Romero, Shirley Leyro, Shruti Sharma, Nicole Lopez-Jantzen, Lisa Rose, Rose M. Kim, Vincent (Tzu-Wen) Cheng, Brianne Waychoff, Lori Kee and Jen Gilken.

Academic Excellence in Academic Literacy and Linguistics

Clarisse Taboy

Academic Excellence in Animation Motion Graphics

Eduardo Arroyo Garcia

Academic Excellence in Business Administration

Maheya Jasin Afnan

Academic Excellence in Childhood Education

Ashley LaSalle

Academic Excellence in Communication Studies

Kevin Quia

Academic Excellence in Computer Network Technology

Jia Wei Ye

Academic Excellence in Criminal Justice

Candida Flores

Academic Excellence in Digital Marketing Award

Jie Lin

Academic Excellence in Early Childhood Education (Preschool)

Mihaela Copil

Academic Excellence in Economics

Boyaca Orjuela

Academic Excellence in Engineering Science

Manoel Kadja

Academic Excellence in Finance

Angie Portilla

Academic Excellence in Gender and Women’s Studies

Giulia Michieli

Academic Excellence in Health Information Technology

John Lanza

Academic Excellence in History

Sabina Narvaez

Academic Excellence in Human Services

Rosa Maria Perez Diaz

Academic Excellence in Mathematics

Ferdousi Begum

Academic Excellence in Modern Languages (French)

Yngrid Lizardo

Academic Excellence in Modern Languages (Spanish)

Claudia Velazquez Monterosas

Academic Excellence in Nursing

Cleopatra Williams

Academic Excellence in Public Health

Ardita Alija

Academic Excellence in Respiratory Therapy

Imrat Jahan

Academic Excellence in Science for Health Professions

Evangelia Joseph

Academic Excellence in Secondary Education (Mathematics)

Gong Tang

Academic Excellence in Secondary Education (Social Studies)

Rufino Lopez

Academic Excellence in Small Business Entrepreneurship

Dalla Coulibaly

Academic Excellence in Sociology

Jose Lopez

Academic Excellence in Theatre

Kaitlin De Santis

Academic Excellence in Video Arts and Technology

Nicole Benson

 

Special Awards highlight the extraordinary accomplishments of students

Special awards were given out by administrators and faculty Erwin Wong, Marva Craig, Pedro Pérez, Oleg Muzician, Judy Eng, Maria Enrico, Lorna Malcolm and special long-time friend of BMCC, Elizabeth Butson.

Abner Rosenfield Scholarship Award

Abubakar Yussif  

Grace Hopper Award for Academic Excellence in Computer Science

Jillianna Richcrick

Josh Wolfson Scholarship Award (Accounting)

Joanna       Szczepanik

Ekaterina Trusova

Katy P. Halepli Scholarship Award

Assel Frolova

Sirandou Datte

Leila and Simon Peskoff Award (Mathematics)

Lamarana Diallo

Dustin Ross

Leila and Simon Peskoff Award (Nursing)

Marzouk Amadou

Orville N. Hill College Discovery Award

Amaury Mateo

Pullés Award for Academic Excellence in Modern Languages

Ruth Lahoz Ogando

Vice President for Academic Affairs Award

Abdoul-Hanane Gbadamassi

Vice President for Student Affairs Award

Cheng Chen

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Award

Jose Fabrizzio Romero Cevallos