It’s hard to believe that the academic year is already over. Hostos’ 55th Anniversary Commencement Ceremonies were held on Wednesday, May 31 and Thursday, June 1; between those two days, nearly 900 students reveled in their achievements thus far and prepared to take the next steps of their college or career journey. We wish them luck, but that’s not where the Hostos Community College Foundation’s support of students stops. In addition to enrichments that help students reach graduation, we raise support for a number of transfer scholarships and a mentorship program that can help students continue to a four-year institution with confidence and financial stability.



The Foundation aims to ensure that each student’s experience at Hostos prepares them for the future they envision for themselves and their family. Funds raised by the Foundation help to support scholarships, experiential learning, mentorship, and other programs that help students find academic enrichment, career success, and personal fulfillment. As a supporter of the College, you are an important part of these initiatives, and we are so grateful for your support.

Foundation News

Hostos 55^th Anniversary Gala

Raises more than $425,000

On April 26, more than 300 friends of the College gathered at the beautiful Surf Club on the Sound to celebrate its remarkable impact and to show their support for Hostos students by contributing more than $425,000 to bolster scholarships and enhance academic services. Hostos has preserved its founders’ vision for more than half a century, and it has been a bridge to opportunity and socioeconomic mobility for thousands of New Yorkers.

The Gala, hosted by the Hostos Community College Foundation, honored intrepid leaders whose work and philanthropy aligns with Hostos‘ mission to celebrate and empower diverse communities, to foster socioeconomic mobility, and to provide equitable access to quality higher education. The evening’s honorees were:

●     Distinguished Professor Award: Cynthia Jones, Lecturer, Hostos Community College

●     Empowerment Award: Catherine Lapadula, Managing Director/Market Executive, International Division, WM UBS

●     Global Impact Award: George M. Logothetis, Executive Chairman, Libra Group

●     Philanthropic Impact Award: Michael R. Potack, Chairman, Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services

●     Healthcare Impact Award: Ramon Tallaj, M.D., Chairman, Somos Community Care

Read more here.

Help Hostos Students Perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

At the Gala, Hostos’ acting troupe, the Hostos Repertory Company, gave a sneak peek of their comedic play “What You Will,” which will travel all the way to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. Foundation Board members requested $34,000 in support to help defray travel costs for this incredible opportunity, and thanks to an anonymous $10,000 matching gift, guests responded with enthusiasm and generosity. With additional support from the Carolos Molina and Marilyn Molina fund for Excellence in the Performing Arts at Hostos, the outstanding need for the trip has been reduced to $11,100. You can help by making a gift.

Student-actor and animation major Mellanie Benito

Hostos 55^th Anniversary Gala Inspires

Two New Scholarships for Hostos Students

Two honorees from the College’s 55th Anniversary Gala announced their intentions to establish new scholarship funds at Hostos. The Professor Cynthia G. Jones Beloved Community Scholarship and Dr. Ramon Tallaj Foundation’s scholarship will enhance financial support opportunities for students and celebrate the tremendous impacts of these outstanding leaders.

Thank you to Professor Jones and Ramon Tallaj, M.D. for your generous support of Hostos students.

Honors Students Travel to Washington, D.C. Thanks to Libra Philanthropies

On April 10-13, seven students and two faculty members traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit cultural landmarks and meet with government officials and nonprofit and corporate leaders. One participant, Karla Romero, remarked, “Meeting such inspiring people made me think about what I can do to give back.” The Foundation would like to thank Libra Philanthropies for sponsoring this trip, the students who represented Hostos so well, and the faculty who gave their time to make this a memorable experience for students.

Transfer Peer Mentor Program

Helps Students See Beyond Hostos

When the Hostos Peer Mentor Program (also called the Transfer Peer Mentor Program) began in November 2022, only 26% of students who had applied for graduation had completed an application to transfer to a four year college. Thanks to this new program funded by the Littauer Foundation, the Office of Transfer Services and four peer mentors provided support for students through 18 tabling information events, 10 transfer application workshops, and Walk-in Wednesdays at the Office of Transfer services.

At these sessions, trained peer mentors gave real-time advice to nearly 500 students. Students celebrated their next step at a Decision Day event and got comfortable with their new campus on peer mentor-led campus tours. For students who still needed encouragement, 519 calls were made by peer mentors to follow up with students who had applied for graduation but had not applied for transfer.



Transferring students will receive additional support over the summer and into their first year at Lehman, Hunter and City College to answer questions about enrollment, academic support, advising, financial aid, and other common issues that contribute to “transfer shock” for community college students. The Foundation and the Office of Transfer Services are very grateful to the Littauer Foundation for its support of this program.

Acacia Network Renews

Scholarship Fund at Hostos

The Acacia Network has pledged $25,000 to renew the Hector L. Diaz scholarship at Hostos. This scholarship awards $2,500 to up to 10 students per year in recognition of exemplary community service and academic attainment. The Foundation extends its gratitude to Acacia for all it does for Hostos students and this community.

Upcoming Events

For sponsorship packages and event visit www.hostosgolfouting.com

For a 10% early bird discount, reach out before June 30!

Alumni News

On April 19, Career Services and the Office of Alumni Relations hosted a networking session followed by a panel discussion featuring four successful Liberal Arts A.A. alumni. The panelists, who are now entrepreneurs, nonprofit and local leaders, and educators, illustrated the career variety available through liberal arts programs and shared valuable insights about how they made most of their Hostos experience. Our sincere thanks extends to alumni participants Ana Almanzar ’97, Robinson De Jesus ’97, Gabriel Levine-Justicia ’12, and Ebony Lloyd ’17 for giving their time to inform and inspire current students. Career Services and Alumni Relations would also like to thank Professor Linda Hirsch for her planning support.

Hostos alumna Genesis Suero ’20 was selected to compete on Telemundo’s Top Chef VIP. The season began on April 26 and ran through June 2. Ms. Suero’s star has been rising since she was named the first Dominican Miss New York USA, and now the self-described foodie gets a chance to prove her culinary chops. Watch on Telemundo or Peacock to find out how far she makes it!

Scholarship and Donor Spotlight

The Bronx Rising Initiative

Scholarship Fund

The Bronx Rising Initiative Scholarship hopes to support scholars who want to use their degree to give back to their community. It was created in 2022 by former Congressional candidate Tomas Ramos and awarded its first two scholarships last spring. Mr. Ramos suspended his congressional campaign when he saw the impacts of COVID-19 on the South Bronx community. He founded the Oyate Group and launched the Bronx Rising Initiative to mobilize resources for the hard-hit community. One portion of the Bronx Rising Initiative is a scholarship for local high schoolers to help them attend college, and he was enthusiastic about creating a scholarship specifically for Hostos students.  

The first scholarships from the fund were awarded in spring 2022 to Fatima Bah and Nataliya Dixon. Ms. Bah, a mother who still found time to tutor fellow students, graduated this May and will pursue Civil Engineering at Cornell University. Ms. Dixon has worked for the Hostos Division of Student Development and Enrollment Management and she hopes to use her forensics degree to bring justice for women and children who are victims of crimes. The Foundation extends its gratitude to Mr. Ramos and the Oyate Group for their support of Hostos students.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors

of the 55^th Anniversary Gala

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