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The Warrior Award
Presented to Jared Ndiba
Ms. DeWese
and Mr. McCollum
Leadership Academy Cords
David Arez, Erika Barcenes,
Katherine Saldariagga and
Jagdeep Singh
Ms. Kalli Koutsoutis
Assistant Vice President,
Planning and Assessment
Presentation of Honor Cords
Students Graduating with Academic Honors
Mr. Shepelsky
and Professor
Thomas Broschart,
President, Faculty Senate
Congratulations to all of our graduates.
Graduates, please join us after the ceremony
in Rooms 101 and 103 for commencement rehearsal.
Honors Convocation
Ceremony
May 8, 2013
AWARDS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AWARD
This award is presented to the baccalaureate graduate with the highest overall
cumulative grade point average who also has demonstrated a high level of
service to the Vaughn community. Minimum grade point average for this
award is 3.50.
FOUNDERS AWARDS
These awards are presented to graduates from each associate degree program
who have attained the highest cumulative grade point average in their
programs while demonstrating the professional and civic values that exemplify
the mission of Vaughn College. Minimum grade point average for this award is
3.50.
CASEY S. JONES AWARDS
These awards are presented to graduates from each baccalaureate degree
program who have attained the highest cumulative grade point average in
their programs. Minimum grade point average for this award is 3.50.
FIORELLO LAGUARDIA AWARD
This award is presented to a graduate or graduates from the master of science
degree program who have attained the highest cumulative grade point
averages while demonstrating the professional and civic values that exemplify
the mission of Vaughn College. Minimum grade point average for this award is
3.50.
ENGINEERING INNOVATION AWARD
This award is presented to a graduate who was an active participant
in professional development or competition while at Vaughn College and who
published or presented a paper on a new and innovative idea at a technical
conference. This award seeks to honor students who have investigated
innovative research projects in engineering.
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY DAY AWARDS
These awards are presented to students in the engineering and
technology department, based on their research paper development and
presentation during the annual spring technology day conference. Six judges,
four industry advisory members and two faculty members select the top two
completed research projects and the top works in progress.
ASCH-ROOT ENGINES OF INVENTION SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is presented to a bachelor of science degree student in
engineering or engineering technology who has attained a minimum 3.0
grade point average. This scholarship seeks to inspire faculty and
students to work together on a research project in the fields of science and
mathematics.
The Board of Trustees Award
Presented to Jonathan Sypeck
Dr. Fitzpatrick
The Asch-Root Engines
of Invention Scholarship
Presented to Junghee Lee
Ms. Elaine Asch-Root
Member, Board of Trustees
Yeager Awards
Presented to Brian Fernandez,
Jeremy Foster, Alec Gever, Keshad Khan
Alba Lara, Lincoln Oliver, Robert Orth,
Antone Peterson, Melissa Russo,
Mark Vahlsing and Joseph Valerio
Mr. Ernie Shepelsky
Vice President, Enrollment
Bessie Coleman Award
Presented to Erika Barcenes
Dr. DeVivo
Student Government Association
(SGA) Awards
Presented to Dr. Stephen Braccio,
professor, and Tanya Solivan,
payroll and benefits manager
Mr. Cesar Revelo
President, SGA
Service Awards
Presented to David Arez, Erika Barcenes,
Achraf Ifinis, Stanislav Kichikov,
Jared Ndiba, Noemi Nunez,
Katherine Saldarriaga and Lukasz Wasiak
Ms. Jerima DeWese
Assistant Vice President
and Dean for Student
Affairs
Honorable Mention Award
Presented to Marina Hanna
Ms. DeWese
Male Athlete of the Year
Presented to Jihad Ceaser
Mr. Ricky McCollum,
Director of Athletics, Fitness
and Wellness
Female Athlete of the Year
Presented to Mellisa Jastillana
Senior Athlete Awards
Presented to Spencer Boakye, Jihad Ceaser,
Antonio Diaz, Nique Irving,
Moussa Kone, Gregory Lobozza,
Mahdi Macbahi, Jared Ndiba, Melvin Okumu,
Bismark Opoku and Jagdeep Singh
AWARDS
AVIATION DEPARTMENT (continued)
Dr. Braccio
Aviation Maintenance Management Program
Casey S. Jones Awards presented to Jaime Castano
and Jesse Moody
AVIATION TRAINING INSTITUTE
Mr. Domenic Proscia,
Associate Vice President
Associate in Occupational Studies Program
Founders Awards presented to William Farrell
ENGINEERING AND
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Dr. Hossein Rahemi,
Chair
Aeronautical Engineering Technology Program
Founders Award presented to Rachid Nafaa
Electronic Engineering Technology Program
Founders Award presented to Orlando Rosa
Casey S. Jones Awards presented to Vinson Ballek,
Minh Dang, James Gonzalez and Nixon Oyugi
Mechanical Engineering Technology Program
Casey S. Jones Awards presented to Mamunur Anik,
Ricardo Matute and Jonathan Sypeck
Animation and Digital Technologies Program
Founders Award presented to Myron Warmington
Engineering Innovation Award
Presented to Jonathan Sypeck
Engineering Technology Day Awards
First-Place Paper presented to William Babikian
Second-Place Paper presented to Antonio Diaz and Achraf Ifinis
Ongoing Projects
First-Place Paper presented to Wajahat Khan
and Jonathan Sypeck
Second-Place Paper presented to Victor Mora
YEAGER AWARD
This award is presented to those students in the fast-track Air TrafficCollegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program who have attained
outstanding academic achievement. It is named in honor of General Charles
E. “Chuck” Yeager, who in 1947 became the first pilot to break
the speed of sound.
BESSIE COLEMAN AWARD
This award is presented to an outstanding female graduate who has attained
the highest cumulative grade point average while demonstrating the
professional and civic values that exemplify the mission of
Vaughn College. Minimum grade point average for this award is 3.50.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (SGA) AWARD
This award is presented to staff and faculty members who have shown
commitment and support to the entire student body. The recipients are
selected by the association officers.
SERVICE AWARDS
Certificates are presented to graduates, selected by the office of student
affairs, for outstanding work in club activities and other special service
to Vaughn College.
HONORABLE MENTION
Presented to a student who has remained steadily committed to
achieving academic excellence in their degree curriculum.
STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS
These awards are given to one male and one female student-athlete who
have displayed extraordinary athletic talent during the past academic year.
The recipients’ work ethic and commitment to excellence has allowed them
to maintain a high level of team spirit and competitive play.
SENIOR ATHLETE AWARDS
These awards are given to Vaughn College senior student-athletes who have
either completed their competitive eligibility, or will be graduating in 2013,
and have contributed significantly to the success of their teams.
THE WARRIOR AWARD
This award is presented to the student-athlete who encompasses all aspects
of a “Warrior,” including overcoming obstacles and seeking new heights.
This recipient has achieved academic excellence while exhibiting the ability
to lead their team in competition on the varsity level, maintaining a
minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average and continuously
demonstrating the values of sportsmanship, leadership and team play.
HONOR CORDS
Graduates who have completed their degrees with academic honors are
attired with gold cords. Students who have completed the Leadership
Academy are recognized with burgundy cords.
HONORS CONVOCATION CEREMONY
CONVOCATION SPEAKER
MARIA OTERO
Maria Otero is the founder and president of the Women’s Venture
Fund, Inc. (WVF), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting
women in becoming successful entrepreneurs. Since its founding, the
WVF has assisted more than 17,000 women with loans, advisory services
or business development training. As the leader of the WVF, Otero is
often asked to comment on “women in business” and the critical success
factors essential to nurturing and developing their entrepreneurial spirit.
She has been interviewed by NBC, Fox News, WPIX, Bloomberg News,
Crain’s New York Business, The New York Times and other media
outlets. Otero routinely serves as a speaker at national forums on issues
affecting minorities and women’s economic development and works with
the New York Department of State to meet with, and advise foreign
delegations researching best practices for developing women
entrepreneurs.
Otero has evaluated more than one thousand business plans to determine
the winners of significant cash prizes at several national and regional
competitions including Forbes’ Small Business contest, Baruch’s
entrepreneurship competition and the New York City Women’s Small
Business competition. Since her appointment in 1992, Otero has served on
the Mayor’s New York City Commission on Women’s Issues.
Otero has appeared as a guest columnist in El Diario newspaper and was
featured in several print media including Shape Magazine, the National
Association of Female Executive’s magazine and Crain’s New York
Business. For her contributions to the development of women business
owners, she has received numerous honors including Bloomberg’s
Hispanic Entrepreneur award, the Financial Women’s Association public
service award, US Women’s Chamber of Commerce recognition and the
Small Business Administration’s excellence award.
She began her career as an attorney in the public sector serving the Public
Service Commission and the Attorney General where she focused on
environmental litigation. She received a juris doctorate from the
University of Pennsylvania Law School and a bachelor of arts from
Queens College.
Welcome
Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo
Senior Vice President
Greetings from the President
Dr. John C. Fitzpatrick
Convocation Address
Ms. Maria Otero, Esq.
Founder and President,
Women’s Venture Fund
Student Speaker
Jonathan Sypeck
50th Reunion Alumnus Speaker
Class of 1963
Representative
Presentation of Awards
MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
Dr. Stephen Braccio,
Professor
Master of Airport Management Program
Fiorello LaGuardia Awards presented to Francesco Colacino
and David Futch
Airport Management Program
Casey S. Jones Awards presented to Natasha Waldron and
Lukasz Wasiak
Airline Management Program
Casey S. Jones Award presented to Lorris Linton
General Management Program
Casey S. Jones Award presented to Jaen Villalvir
AVIATION DEPARTMENT
Dr. Braccio
Aircraft Operations Program
Casey S. Jones Award presented to Michael DiFiore
and Zachary Wasuta
Aviation Maintenance Program
Founders Award presented to Travess Ellsworth and
Michelle Hernandez
Casey S. Jones Award presented to Joe Salvo