Welcome Reception Begins Exciting Journey for 鱨 Scholars Class of 2027
A reception to welcome the 鱨 Scholars Class of 2027 was held on October 18, 2023, on 鱨’s Westchester Campus in the Rotunda. The event provided a platform for program alumni, faculty, staff and University trustees to extend their congratulations to the Scholars, as well as their families, for the effort that secured their acceptance into the program. It also marked the beginning of an exciting journey for the Scholars, who are determined to tackle their academic pursuits and excel.
At the reception, guests heard from 鱨 President Susan L. Parish, Ph.D., M.S.W., Bob Niehaus, 鱨 trustee and founding supporter of the 鱨 Scholars Program, Rob Cornetta, associate director of PACT for the Scholars Program, and accomplished Program alumni. 鱨 trustee and founding supporter Jim McCormick and his wife Marsha, as well as trustee John Thompson, joined the festivities through Zoom. Chairman of 鱨’s Board of Trustees Joe Gantz and Trustee Joseph P. Carlucci were also in attendance.
Parish addressed the 鱨 Scholars: “What you have accomplished to get to this point is truly commendable…We are so happy that we get to support you on your journey, help you earn your college degree and fulfill your career goals.”
The 鱨 Scholars Class of 2027 comprises 23 students from the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Westchester County. They join a total of 85 current 鱨 Scholars, with an average GPA of 3.5, and 72 alumni of the program.
The program – which started eight years ago with just 25 students – rewards qualified high school students with full tuition support for all four years at 鱨 with the goal of ensuring that they graduate on time with minimal student debt. “It was an idea that aligned perfectly with 鱨’s mission,” Cornetta said.
“When Jim McCormick and I came up with the idea [of 鱨 Scholars] …Not only did we want to provide the financial incentive of no debt – a full scholarship – but we also wanted them to be part of something they could be really proud of,” Niehaus explained. “This program enables [students] to get everything [they] can out of college.”
The 鱨 Scholars Program goes above and beyond to support its students by assigning them a dedicated Personalized Achievement Contract (PACT) program mentor, a crucial role held by Cornetta. With comprehensive, one-on-one support from Cornetta, 鱨 Scholars are connected to the academic, financial and career services that best meet their needs and help ensure their timely graduation. The 鱨 Scholars Program PACT mentor position was made possible by a 2020 donation from longtime 鱨 supporters Gioietta and Alberto Vitale, H.D. '09.
The Class of 2027 also heard from a panel of current 鱨 Scholars and program alumni who shared their words of wisdom. The panelists were Adriana Flores ’25, Jaylin Menefee ’24, Gisselle Battaglia ’23, Deandre Davis ’22 and Serafina Fichter ’20, M.S. ’22.
“Take advantage of the library, the PACT office, even the admissions office – put your foot in the door and know that everyone is here to help you with your college experience,” said Davis, now a 鱨 admissions recruiter, about the benefits of utilizing 鱨’s exemplary student support services.
Battaglia shared a meaningful memory from her time as a 鱨 Scholar. “At the graduation reception that we had...it was the first time that my mom was able to attend a 鱨 Scholars event with me and it was also the first time she was able to meet my donors on Zoom, Mr. and Mrs. McCormick,” she explained. “They had heard about her extensively because I always talk about her, how attending college was a way for me to say thank you for all the sacrifices she made as an immigrant from Honduras. It felt like a surreal, full-circle moment for them to meet the woman who is my role model.”
To learn more about the 鱨 鱨 Scholars Program, please click .