BMCC Foundation 2016 Gala Moves to Cipriani, 25 Broadway
"Due to the very positive response to our 2016 BMCC Foundation Invest in a Future Scholarship Gala, we have moved the event to a venue that allows for greater attendance,” said Doris Holz, BMCC Vice President of Development. The BMCC Foundation 2016 Gala, “Invest in a Future,” will now be held at Cipriani, 25 Broadway. This annual event is scheduled for Monday, June 6. A cocktail reception will begin at 5:45 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:45 p.m. The event will conclude by 9:00 p.m. This year’s Honorees are Don Callahan, Head of Operations & Technology, Citi, and Garrett Moran, President, Year Up. Proceeds from the event benefit the BMCC Scholarship Fund. Special Guest Star Honoree is Edie Falco; Four-Time Emmy Award Winner, Golden Globe Award Winner and Tony Award-Nominated Actress and Philanthropist. Cindy Hsu, Emmy award-winning CBS 2 News anchor and reporter will be MC for the evening.

BMCC Honors Winners and Nominees for Distinguished Teaching Awards
The first BMCC Distinguished Teaching Awards will be presented to three faculty members at a reception on Thursday, May 19 at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Shirley Fiterman Art Center. The awardees are John Beaumont, Associate Professor, Academic Literacy and Linguistics; Chamutal Noimann, Assistant Professor, English, and Nicholas R. Marino, Adjunct Lecturer, English.

BMCC Early Childhood Center Receives Accreditation Through NYSAEYC
The BMCC Early Childhood Center, located at 199 Chambers Street, recently received accreditation from the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children (NYSAEYC). “CUNY recognizes the importance of accreditation and it often makes the difference between getting funded and not funded,” says Cecilia Scott-Croff, the Center’s Executive Director. “We have a rich history, including our extensive relationship with the BMCC Teacher Education Department, so we know pedagogically the importance of developmentally appropriate practices with young children. We are also committed to sharing best practices with parents who use the Center.” With the new NYSAEYS accreditation, which is renewed every five years, “We will focus more on staff development with our own teaching personnel,” says Scott-Croff. “Also, students doing work study, and those who are interning and volunteering at the Early Childhood Center will benefit.”

Christian Pacode Named CUNYAC Student-Athlete of the Year
Panthers soccer player Christian Pacode, an Accounting major who has made the Dean's List, was honored for being the top student-athlete in the CUNY Athletic Conference, Tuesday May 10 at the 30th Annual Michael Steuerman Scholar-Athlete Awards Ceremony.

BMCC Produces Second-Largest Number of Gilman Scholars Among Community College, Nationwide
Seven BMCC students — the second largest number among all community colleges in the United States — were selected to receive the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to participate in Summer 2016 Study Abroad trips. Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000 towards their participation in Study Abroad. This year’s winners include Sociology major Daisy Crispin and Liberal Arts major Miriam El, who will study in Greece; Liberal Arts major James Perez and Speech, Communications and Theater Arts major Rafael Gell, who will study in Italy; Science major Michelle Murillo, who will study in Argentina; and Liberal Arts major Jessica Bravo-Martinez and Business Management Jane Wu, who will study in China.

BMCC Hosts 7th Annual Urban Male Conference
On May 13, BMCC hosted the 7th Annual Urban Male Conference, S.T.E.M.: Supporting Tomorrow's Empowered Male, sponsored by the Urban Male Coalition and College Now program directors from Manhattan CUNY colleges. The conference addressed issues facing the urban male population, as well as college access and success topics applicable to all students. More than 300 high school and college students attended.

New Fiterman Gallery Art Show Opens: The Conference of Birds A new exhibit, "The Conference of Birds," opened with a reception on Wednesday, May 18 in the Shirley Fiterman Art Center, 81 Barclay Street in Lower Manhattan. The exhibit showcases the work by 35 artists from New York City and beyond, and was curated by Brenda Zlamany. It will run through Saturday, July 9 and is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. Art will be available for sale in the exhibit, with proceeds benefiting the BMCC Foundation Scholarship Fund.

BMCC Participates in Tech Talent Pipeline
In a May 18 press release, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced new commitments and training programs designed to equip New Yorkers with 21st-century skills and connections to employment as part of the administration’s NYC Tech Talent Pipeline initiative. BMCC is one of 15 New York City colleges – members of the Tech Talent Pipeline Academic Council – that are making their own commitments to work more closely with the City and industry partners to further develop pathways for New Yorkers to tech careers.

Hope Linton Wins First Place in CUNY LaborArts Contest Hope Linton, a BMCC Multimedia Arts major, won first place in the 2015-2016 CUNY/LaborArts contest, Making Work Visible, for her acrylic-on-canvas painting, “Barbershop.” Linton, whose husband is a barber, says she has "a front seat view of the struggles and fears barbers face on a daily basis.” Her painting depicts a traditional barbershop in Bronx, New York, "where the workers provide a very essential service to the community." Barbers often go unappreciated, she says, "and are one of the most creative and extremely hard-working class of people beautifying the city one person at a time."

BMCC Joins CUNY to Bring Awareness to Community Needs
At BMCC, our understanding of diversity is continuing to expand. In response to the awareness and needs of our transgender community members, BMCC is posting signs in all single-sex facilities, including restroom and lockers rooms stating: “Under the law, all individuals have the right to use the single-sex facility consistent with the gender identity or expression.” In addition, BMCC is posting signs outside single-occupancy restrooms that state: “This restroom may be used by persons of all genders.”

A CUNY-wide legal and administrative task force is currently being constituted to review legal requirements and best practices related to issues of gender identity and gender expression, and to formulate guidance to ensure that CUNY is in compliance with the law and addresses these issues in an appropriate and thoughtful manner. Based on the conclusions of the task force, the CUNY Office of the General Counsel and Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs will issue further guidance addressing these issues in more detail, including related issues such as preferred names and pronouns, residence hall policies, and education and training. For more information, visit www.cuny.edu.

BMCC Hosts 51st Commencement at Madison Square Garden, June 3
On Friday, June 3, BMCC will celebrate its 51st commencement and the College will be having two ceremonies – one in the morning, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and one in the afternoon, from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Both ceremonies will be held at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza. The valedictorians are Business Administration major Alex Guarino in the morning, and Liberal Arts major Teri Talbot in the afternoon. BMCC President Antonio Pérez will present the 2016 BMCC President’s Medal to Lloyd Blankfein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. during the morning ceremony. He will present the President’s Medal to American Express and Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, American Express Company, in the afternoon.

BMCC Express Now Open This one-stop center is now open in the Murray Building located at 255 Greenwich Street. BMCC Express is a centralized information stop to get quick assistance with a variety of services including Academic Programs, Admissions, Advisement, Bursar, Continuing Education and Workforce Development, Financial Aid, Registrar, Student Services and more. Students and visitors also have access to six self-help computer stations and one-on-one consultation for questions that need more attention.

Summer Tuition Waivers
BMCC will offer Summer 2016 tuition waivers for courses counting toward degree completion to eligible, matriculating BMCC students who are New York State residents (U.S. citizen or permanent resident). Each eligible student may use no more than one tuition waiver in the summer session starting May 31, and no more than one tuition waiver in the summer session starting July 19. Learn more.

Richard T. Kennedy, President of BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center’s Board of Directors, passed away on May 15 It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center Board President, Richard T. Kennedy, on Sunday, May 15, 2016. Mr. Kennedy served on the TPAC board of directors since 1998 and became its president in 2001. He was a founding board member of the Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc. as well as Vice Chairman of its sister organization, the Downtown Lower Manhattan Association.

BMCC TPAC Board President passes away
May 18, 2016 — Real Estate Weekly

BMCC Alumna A. Wallace-McCoy runs for Commissioner of District 7, Savannah, Georgia
May 15, 2016 — Savannah Morning News

BMCC Foundation for Child Development Grant included in Funding Roundup
May 12, 2016 — Community College Daily

BMCC Sociology Professor Deborah Gambs quoted in article about CUNY faculty vote for strike authorization
May 12, 2016 — NYSUT

BMCC Alumni Council Encourages Participation in Events and Networking
BMCC’s Alumni Council was formed to invite BMCC alumni who are interested in strengthening relationships between alumni and the college. For information contact Joy Cooper, Director of Development, at jcooper@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Ways to Give
The BMCC Foundation is grateful for contributions of al types and at all levels. Learn about the ways you can help ensure student success and make a difference at BMCC.

Language and Politics: Political Discourse Conference at BMCC
May 20

B3W (Beyond Third Wave) Presents Forgiveness
May 20, 21 and 22

Free Workshop: Introduction to Microsoft Word (Students Only)
June 2

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