Luis K. Feliz (LaGuardia 09, Kaplan Educational Foundation Scholar), who completed the Honors Concentration, was accepted at Brown, Cornell, Sarah Lawrence, Reed, Bard and Swarthmore. He eventually chose to attend Amherst College, where he was a Schupf Scholar. Luis graduated from Amherst in 2013.
Luis tells us that "the professors in the Honors Program embody the rare mix between disciplined scholars and drill sergeants. Because of their belief that diligence breeds results, professors in Honors courses command authority and expect nothing but rigor from their students. You are challenged to substantiate your opinions and engage in lively colloquy. Expect nothing short of a transformative experience."
Luis K. Feliz
Luis Alberto Lei
Luis Alberto Lei (LaGuardia 10; Sarah Lawrence '12) (center) is pictured here with Jaida Triblet (LaGuardia 10; DePaul) (left) and Emmanuel Deegbe (LaGuardia 10; Sarah Lawrence). After graduating from Sarah Lawrence, Luis was selected as the 2012 President's Honors Fellow at LaGuardia Community College.
"The Honors Program provided me with the tutelage, inspiration and confidence to be where I am today, and to aim at where I wish to be in the future. Besides the obvious academic rigor, it creates a community of scholars that serves as an example and inspiration. It is easier to transition towards a four-year college and navigate the treacherous transfer process when you are more or less following in the footsteps of alumni who are your friends, mentors and allies. Also, the personal interaction with faculty makes the Honors education into an experience comparable with the one at colleges with lower student to faculty ratio. I was nurtured, supported, and lifted above my own expectations."
Edgar Romero (LaGuardia 10) was the 2009-2010 International President of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and a 2009-2010 CUNY Malave Leadership Academy Fellow. Having completed the Honors Program Concentration, Edgar completed his undergraduate studies at City College, from which he graduated in 2012.
"I had always wanted to be in classes in which students engage with both the professor and other students. So, during my first semester, I found the Honors Program. An Honors class awakens one's intellectual curiosity; it is a place in which a question raised becomes an exciting discussion."
Edgar Romero
Jonathan Chavez and Kaire Colwell
Honors Program students Jonathan Chavez (LaGuardia 10) (left) and Kaire Colwell (LaGuardia 10). Jonathan and Kaire are also Kaplan Educational Foundation Scholars. Jonathan graduated from Bard College in 2012, while Kaire graduated from Morehouse College in 2013.
Jonathan tells us: "The Honors courses at LaGuardia were life-changing. Now I look around me with a deeper understanding of the things that make the world work."
Rhazi Kone
LaGuardia '07 and Columbia University '09; currently working for the United Nations.
The Honors Program at LaGuardia has played and will continue to play a tremendous role in my academic path, my career and in my life. This remarkable program provides a great support system to its students, getting them ready for the most prestigious institutions of higher learning and for the great challenges of life.
LaGuardia '11; Skadden Arps Honors Program in Legal Studies, City College.
As an older student going back to school, I was extremely impressed with the intelligence, passion, and intellectual curiosity of my fellow honors students. The academic rigor of the courses and engaging interaction exceeded my expectations in every way. I was inspired by the professors, who all showed a passion not only for the subject matter, but also for the very act of teaching, of expanding our horizons and pushing us to excel. All this, coupled with the increased attention and opportunities for participation afforded by the smaller class size, made for a truly enriching experience both academically and personally.
Gabriel Lockwood
Kevin Magana
LaGuardia '11; Georgetown University
Honors Concentration Graduate, Coca Cola National Bronze Scholar, All-State First Academic Team, 2011 Pearson Prize National Fellow.
"First things first: LaGuardia's Honors Program is exceptional! From the moment
you step into the classroom, you are immersed in an intellectual field fueled by your peers' and professor's love of knowledge. Your understanding of academic disciplines will deepen through intimate classroom discussions and debates, group projects, and challenging examinations. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT allow the prospect of a rigorous education deter you from starting this intellectual journey, for it is exactly this that will ignite imagination, fuel hunger, and embolden your dreams of what is achievable. Did I also mention the support network? Honors faculty members are the MOST dedicated individuals in empowering you to set and achieve high academic and professional goals. Join the Honors Program. Allow your psyche to flirt with radical transformation; you'll realize it to be the most significant investment during your stay at LaGuardia."
LaGuardia '11; Sarah Lawrence College '13.
"Being an Honors student has allowed me to enroll in interesting classes that have exposed me to inspiring professors, ambitious students and life-changing experiences. I encourage other students to be part of the Honors Programs not only for the top-notch small classes that benefit them intellectually, but for the extensive network of students and mentors with whom they will be able to work closely as they set goals to be successful in their respective fields."
Maria Munoz
Diana Youssef
LaGuardia '11; Founding Member of HSAC; NYU
"The Honors Program presented me with opportunities to challenge my intellect by engaging in valuable discussions with peers and academics who share the same passion for enlightenment. Graduating from the Honors Program not only reflects well on me, but is a testament of how hard I've worked, and how I am willing to take on challenges to excel in my career."
Maria Acosta
LaGuardia '11; Founding Member of HSAC; SUNY Binghamton '13
"One of the biggest advantages of being part of the Honors Program is having the opportunity to be in a classroom where every student is willing to learn rather than simply wanting to pass the class. Consequently, class discussions become energetic conversations focused on analyzing facts. And this is where learning becomes fun!"
LaGuardia '07; 2007 All-New York First Academic Team; Cornell 09, summa cum laude; University of Chicago Law School. Sihyun took a year off from law school to serve as the 2011 President's Honors Fellow at LaGuardia Community College. He recently passed the bar in the State of Illinois.
"There are already plenty of alumni stories here discussing the benefits of being held to higher standards and being surrounded by peers who share the passion for knowledge and intellectual growth. I’ll skip all that. In my view, the greatest benefit of being part of the Honors Program is the sense of belonging to a tight-knit community that stays with you even when you are several years removed from being a student at LaGuardia.
I wish that I understood much earlier the importance of networking; talking with those who came before you is an incredibly valuable resource as there is simply no reason for anyone to ever reinvent the wheel from scratch. Looking back, I remember feeling intimidated by all the uncertainties associated with not just the transfer process, but also my life after the Bachelor’s. As former students, we can all relate to the hopes, the ambitions, and even the anxieties of current students and are thus only happy to help whenever they reach out to us. And it is because of the Honors Program that current students can connect with former ones with ease; HSAC provides a concrete forum – whether it be a transfer workshop or alumni mentoring -- where networking becomes effortless and generally quite fun."
Sihyun Kim
Tashdid Hasan
LaGuardia 09; Columbia University
Completed the Honors Concentration.
"The Honors classes I took were more than just classes. In an Honors class, a student is a part of a focused and hardworking team. The combination of a dedicated team of students and inspiring teachers creates an energetic and engaging atmosphere in the classroom, which challenged me intellectually and pushed me beyond my comfort zone. The experience was both intellectually and academically rewarding. Through lively discussions and rigorous writing assignments in my eight Honors classes, I improved my thinking process and writing skills. Students are measured against a higher scale in Honors classes, so more is expected from them. This experience gave me confidence that I can meet the academic requirements of a four-year institution. Moreover, the friendships that I developed after a semester of intellectual discussions are worth cherishing.I would say take honors classes if you seek to satisfy your academic curiosity, make great friends and have some (academic) fun."
LaGuardia '08; Georgetown University '10
"People often underestimate a community college education, but I think LaGuardia's Honors courses are just as demanding as some of the writing intensive courses here at Georgetown University. I am doing a double major in International Affairs and International Development, both of which require 500 pages of reading on an average week and a bunch of long research papers. The Honors Program at LaGuardia gave me an opportunity to not only challenge my Georgetown peers, but also a foundation for intellectual advancement. The Honors faculty work tirelessly one-on-one with their students to help them succeed. I benefitted from all of the five honors courses that I had taken at LaGuardia. I dare you to take some Honors courses if you think that you are not merely a community college student, but a thinker and a doer of tomorrow! "
Padma Aryal
LaGuardia '08; Kaplan Educational Foundation Leadership Program Scholar; Syracuse University '11.
"The Honors course I took made me open my mind and eyes to life... We were held to a higher standard, and more was expected of us."
Aaron J. Hudson
Dimitri Siavelis
LaGuardia '08; Cornell '10
"Taking an Honors class was an exhilarating experience. Mingling with students after class for a literary conversation was the greatest plus to my learning. I loved the in-class discussions."
LaGuardia 08; Sarah Lawrence College '12.
"My Honors courses offered me an atmosphere where the subjects were engaging, the professors inspiring, and the peers insightful."
Andrea Gombor
Virginia Ramirez
LaGuardia '07; Brooklyn College
"I enjoyed the smart, dynamic and diverse group of students. This is the first time I see smart, committed students focusing on the same topic and issues..."
Connie Velasquez
Connie Velasquez was accepted to Adelphi University, New York University, City College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In addition to serving an HSAC member, she participated in the 2012-2013 Friends of Koch Program. She is now attending the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and plans to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice (Institutional Theory and Practice)
As a member of the Honors Student Advisory Committee, I did not only benefit from taking Honors courses with students who demonstrated dedication, but also found support. You will be with a group of students who will guide you to accomplish your dreams and show you the right way to make those dreams a reality. You will learn the skills that will be constantly used at a four-year institution, and that will also help you for the rest of your life. Personally, this enriching and educational environment changed my perspective about life, and it taught me the importance of team work and respect
Major at LaGuardia: Business Administration
Graduated: Spring 2013; HSAC Executive Member and member of the 2012-2013 Friends of Koch Program.
Accepted to: Georgetown University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Texas at Austin, Babson College, Bentley University, Fordham University, University of Connecticut, University of Indiana-Bloomington, Boston University, Northeastern University, the Colin Powell Center for Leadership and Service @CCNY
College of Transfer: Georgetown University (Economics Major)
There is a stigma that is glued to the words "community college." The stereotype of a community college education being of a lower standard compared to 4–year colleges and universities filters down to the assumption that community college students are not up to par. I was one of those victims of such stereotypes; I had a negative perception of community college and LaGuardia, but that all changed when I came across the transfer success stories of LaGuardia's Honors alumni. I was in complete shock when I realized that LaGuardia's Honors students had been accepted by and transferred to top-tier 4-year institutions and programs. I want to share a couple of pointers that can help you succeed and go wherever you want to go.
Alexis Perez
Si se puede-hoya saxa!
Student speaker at Governor Cuomo's State of the State address
Tremaine Wright (LaGuardia 2013; Mary and David Solomon Scholarship recipient), was an Executive Member of the Honors Student Advisory Committee (HSAC), and completed the Honors Track. He was accepted into City College (CUNY), Northeastern University and New York University, and has chosen to attend NYU to study Applied Psychology.
The Honors Program at LaGuardia has been an integral part of my academic success. The differences in my academic career before becoming a member of the Honors Program and afterward are like night and day: the backing you receive from the Honors faculty is second to none, my peers and advisors in HSAC were always there to support me in my personal and scholarly growth, and the opportunities you receive as part of the Honors community are in abundance. Due to these three components, I would implore anyone to get involved and tap into this network; you are truly given the tools to mold yourself into a well-rounded intellectual who will succeed at the highest levels in life.
Tremaine Wright
For MORE ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES, please go to the Transfer in Action section.
Anthony Salcedo
Anthony Xavier Salcedo (LaGuardia 13) (right) is pictured here with Freda Raitelu (LaGuardia 13; Smith) (left) and Dr. Ariana Martinez (center). He was accepted to the University of Rochester, Sarah Lawrence College, Hampshire College, Binghamton University and Geneseo College. He is now attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Whereas education is a human right and a privilege, the Honors Program at LaGuardia is an absolute luxury. I was surrounded by the best writers and critical thinkers LaGuardia had to offer, and their dedication and exceptionalism motivated me to push my limits and contemplate aspirations that I had previously believed to be beyond my reach. My peers, along with the Honors curriculum, fueled my desire for knowledge and understanding, which has since become insatiable.
Freda Raitelu
Freda was the 2013 Commencement Class Speaker, and is now at Smith College. She was an HSAC Executive Member, 2012 National Collegiate Honors Council Student of the Year, 2012-2013 Northeast Regional Honors Council Executive Board Member. She was a member of the 2012-2013 Friends of Koch Program, and completed the Honors Concentration.
If there is any advice I can offer my fellow peers at LaGuardia, it is to try and take full advantage of all of the amazing opportunities the college offers us to grow as both a scholar and individual. LaGuardia's Honors Program is one such example. Oftentimes, it can be quite mundane to attend class, maybe get some studying done on campus, and then shoot straight home. Understandably, there are many of us who have families, jobs, and other responsibilities, which may make it difficult to make time for extra-curricular activities on campus. By the same token, it is also understood that many of us have dreams and goals that exist beyond our lives at LaGuardia, and maximizing those opportunities might require a stretch beyond our comfort zone. But, as the great Frederick Douglass once stated, “if there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
For me, I understood that the window of opportunity to stake out my journey on higher education was limited, and that I would have to challenge myself to make it happen.
If it happened to me, it could happen for you too!
Michael Jefferson (LaGuardia 2013; Judy and Victor Farkas Foundation Honors Scholarship recipient & Eastbay College Fund scholar) was an Executive Member of Honors Student Advisory Committee (HSAC), and completed the Honors Track. Michael was also a participant of the 2012-2013 Friends of Koch Program. He was accepted into San Diego State University, California State University Eastbay, Queens College, Sarah Lawrence College, and Columbia University. He is now at Sarah Lawrence College.
My involvement with the Honors Program came as a result of a mess-up with my financial aid situation, which led me to lose all my classes prior to the start of the Fall 2012 semester. I was then forced to sign up for two Honors classes because they fit my schedule. As angry as I was at this situation, it later proved to be the best mistake that could have ever happened to me!
While skeptical at first, I soon learned that Honors courses should only be feared by those who don’t want to learn. Those students who sign up for college and would be satisfied with learning absolutely nothing while receiving an alphabet on their transcript are the only students who would not understand the value of an Honors course. The reason why is because in the Honors Program you actually learn the material from professors who are highly passionate and expect much from their students. The goal is to prepare students for success at four-year institutions. These experiences, coupled with the unsurpassable support and opportunities afforded by HSAC, are truly unforgettable. As I always say, since it does not cost any extra money and you learn so much more from your professors, it is detrimental to your experience at LaGuardia if you refrain from both taking as many Honors courses as applicable, and getting involved in your Honors community (HSAC).
Michael Jefferson
LaGuardia Honors Program student Brian Park (LaGuardia 10) graduated from New York University-Polytech.
"The classes that I took in the Honors Program helped me to prepare for the courseload at NYU-Poly, says Brian. "Furthermore, students are expected to learn more on their own than they are in most regular classes. The Honors Program has helped me to deal with the academic demands and expectations at a selective 4-year institution."
Brian Park
Sasheen Pottinger
LaGuardia Honors student Sasheen Pottinger (LaGuardia 09) is a graduate (Biology major) from Cornell University.
For Sasheen, "the Honors Program experience was priceless." She notes, "I developed long-lasting friendships and strong problem-solving skills. I was challenged to think outside the box, to be respectful of different perspectives, and to always ask why. I developed the necessary tools that will steer me towards success at Cornell and beyond."
Lillian Zepeda graduated from LaGuardia in 2011 and transferred to NYU Steinhardt on a CCTOP scholarship. She was also accepted to Mount Holyoke College and St. John’s University. At LaGuardia, she was an Honors Program student and vice president of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Lillian graduated in 2013 with a B.S. in Media, Culture and Communication and is currently the President’s Honors Fellow at LaGuardia.
"The Honors Program classes are a dynamic space where minds meet to exchange ideas. You’re not fed information to store and regurgitate; you’re given the facts and expected to put the world in perspective and create your own truth. To say Honors classes are challenging because of the work load is a misstatement – they’re challenging because you take the seat of a scholar, roving, independent and accountable."
Lillian Zepeda
Yeshey Pelzom
LaGuardia '06; 2006 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Scholar; 2008 Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholar; Agnes Scott 08; King's College, London, UK (M.A. in Medieval Literature)
"Not that I undervalue regular courses, but for me, Honors courses gave me an opportunity to realize my strength as a student. The confidence that I gained and that the interest that was nurtured in an Honors class led me to my Master's Degree in Medieval Literature from King's College London. I have had many classroom moments when new insights left me awestruck, but I was never as alert and receptive as I was in the Honors classroom at LaGuardia."
Honors Program student Sela Hong (LaGuardia 09) entered CUNY's City College as a Skadden Arps Honors Program in Legal Studies scholar, and was a Fulvio Dobrich New Americans Scholar at the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies at City College.
She says: "Taking Honors classes was one of the smartest choices I made during my time at LaGuardia. These classes helped me build a solid foundation for my future and to be connected with other motivated and academically accomplished students. Honors classes not only trained me to develop advanced study skills, but also made me a better critical thinker."
Sela Hong
The LaGuardia Honors Network
An initiative of the Honors Student Advisory Committee
The Honors Program @ LaGuardia Community College / The City University of New York.