EOF Monthly Connections

May 2012 Newsletter

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

CONNECTIONSCONNECTIONS

Awards Dinner 2

Accomplishments 3

Senior Spotlight 4

Poem: A Guiding Light... 4

EOF Student Alliance 5

Poem: Your Adventure 6

Inside this issue:Inside this issue:

C o n g r a t s students!

We have officially ended the academic y e a r ; you may

n o w relax and e n j o y y o u r

s u m m e r ahead. I am truly proud of all of you this past year. The level of f o c u s , hard work a n d persistence resonated throughout the Fall & S p r i n g . Every day we saw each one of you here in the office, studying, completing assignments, asking questions and getting

tutoring. The effort of your work showed as we had one of our largest honor roll lists we’ve ever had with a 3.0 or higher GPA for the Fall semester and we are sure we’ll see the same results, as grades come in for the Spring. Thank you all for the amount of p a r t i c i p a t i o n a n d attendance to all our vari-ous workshops and commu ni ty se rv ice opportunities, these are added services that we hope have enhanced your experience this year.

If you’re taking classes this summer, keep up the momentum and stay f o c u s e d . S u m m e r s e s s i o n s c a n b e challenging; but very rewarding as it gives you the opportunity to complete your classes in a quicker time frame and move ahead to complete

your degree. You know EOF will be here for you all summer long, any help you need – don’t forget to come see us!

For those of you g r a d u a t i n g , a g a i n congratulations! This is a huge accomplishment for you! Ahead is a world of opportunities, but we know that you will go on to do great things. Each college you are attending is very fortunate to have you there. We wish you all much success as you move on, but keep in touch with EOF, as we will miss you!

Enjoy your summer and see you in the Fall!

Sincerely,

Pamela Marcenaro Director, Educational Opportunity Fund

Another Academic Year Another Academic Year

Behind Us! Behind Us! So l ong 2011 So l ong 2011 –– 2012…2012…

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect

before which difficulties disappear and obstacles before which difficulties disappear and obstacles

vanish.” ~ John Quincy Adamsvanish.” ~ John Quincy Adams

EOF EducatorEOF Educator

of the Year:of the Year:

DrDr. Maria Lee. Maria Lee

History/Political History/Political

Science & CriminalScience & Criminal

Justice DepartmentJustice Department——

CCMCCM

EOF Service EOF Service

Award:Award:

ProfessorProfessor

Jefferson CartanoJefferson Cartano

Engineering Engineering

Technologies / Technologies /

Engineering ScienceEngineering Science——

CCMCCM

EOF awards ceremony, APRIL 26, 2012EOF awards ceremony, APRIL 26, 2012

P A G E 2 C O N N E C T I O N S

Spring/Summer Candidates for Graduation & Fall Graduates: Jean Ann Mirsky, Patricia Kijak, Tom Gizas,

Elijah Barrett, Ayesha Aly Ahmed, Nafisa Aly Ahmed, Hoai Thuong Nguyen, Yury Rincon and Victoria Bronson.

Academic Achievement Awardees: Back Row-Bolivar Reyes, Cristian Aroca, Nicole Barrett, Yuleisy Lopez, Melanie

Jimenez, Carlos Mejia, Victoria Bronson, Casey Vreeland, Qwamine Solomon, Patricia Kijak and Joseph Hilton. Front

Row- Janelle Longmore, Yury Rincon, Hoai Thuong Nguyen, Somina Mosaku, Jaslyn Rodriguez and Edward Akaezuwa

Oliver Sheffield Student Scholarship Awardees: Back Row-Qwamine Solomon, Bolivar Reyes, Yuleisy Lopez, Yury Rin-

con, Carlos Mejia, Cristian Aroca, Melanie Jimenez, Janelle Longmore. Front Row-Laura Bohorquez, Brenda Lizarraga,

Henry Rincon, Somina Mosaku, Jaslyn Rodriguez and Pam Marcenaro, EOF Director

Educator of the Year Awardee

Dr. Maria Lee

EOF Scholar of the Year

Cristian Aroca

Most Improved Award

Bolivar Reyes

Senior Message

Victoria Bronson

RECOGNITION AWARDS (CONTINUED)

Oliver Sheffield Student Scholarship Cristian Aroca David Mejia Staten Baynes Somina Mosaku

Laura Bohorquez Rosa Peralta Catalina Carvajal Bolivar Reyes Melanie Jimenez Henry Rincon Brenda Lizarraga Yury Rincon Janelle Longmore Jaslyn Rodriguez Yuleisy Lopez Qwamine Solomon Carlos Mejia Lia Weber

LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Active Minds Ambassadors Club Victoria Bronson Ayesha Aly Ahmed Catalina Carvajal ADA Task Force of Dr. Edward Yaw Asian Students Association Raziel Franchi Hoai Thuong Nguyen AESNJ/Student Chapter Catholic Campus Ministry Cristian Aroca Hoai Thuong Nguyen Victoria Bronson Catalina Carvajal Chi Alpha Epsilon Justin Cassells Edward Akaezuwa Aqueela Chaudhry Nicole Barrett Jeanine Cleirbaut Victoria Bronson Cassandra Exius Catalina Carvajal Ariana Geiger Yasmine Ibrahim Ikechukwu George Melanie Jimenez Thomas Gizas Patricia Kijak Denia Guzman Yuleisy Lopez Joseph Hilton Hoai Thuong Nguyen Jessica Jaramillo Yury Rincon Melanie Jimenez Patricia Kijak CCM’s Horizon Peer Mentors Brenda Lizarraga Raziel Franchi Hyacinth Levine Janelle Longmore Gay/Straight Alliance Stephanie Lopez Larry Molder Yuleisy Lopez Lori Macula New Social Engine Carlos Mejia Ayesha Aly Ahmed David Mejia Jean Ann Mirsky Phi Theta Kappa Larry Molder Victoria Bronson Somina Mosaku Catalina Carvajal Hoai Thuong Nguyen Henry Rincon Strategic Gaming Club Yury Rincon Ayesha Aly Ahmed Aida Rodriguez Victoria Bronson Johanny Toro Katijha Uddin Student Nurses Association Casey Vreeland Patricia Kijak Ashaloy Wilson

Outstanding EOF accomplishmentsOutstanding EOF accomplishments

Graduating Seniors and students who received awards at the EOF Recognition Dinner, April 26, 2012.

P A G E 3

CCM GRADUATING SENIORS

December 2011 May 2012 Ayesha Aly Ahmed Elijah Barrett Nafisa Aly Ahmed Thomas Gizas Gabriel Garcia Patricia Kijak Jason Messina August 2012 Jean Ann Mirsky Victoria Bronson Hoai Thuong Nguyen Jessica Chudnow Yury Rincon Gabrielle Ferris

RECOGNITION AWARDS

NJ Legislature—Senate & General Assembly Citations Edward Akaezuwa Lori Macula Cristian Aroca Carlos Mejia Nicole Barrett Somina Mosaku Staten Baynes Hoai Thuong Nguyen Victoria Bronson Bolivar Reyes Joseph Hilton Yury Rincon Melanie Jimenez Jaslyn Rodriguez Patricia Kijak Qwamine Solomon Janelle Longmore Casey Vreeland Yuleisy Lopez EOFPA NJ Outstanding Academic Achievement Award Hoai Thuong Nguyen EOFPANJ Academic Achievement Award Patricia Kijak & Yury Rincon EOFPANJ Outstanding Achievement Award Jean Ann Mirsky Scholar of the Year Community Service Cristian Aroca April Garcia Most Improved Persistence Award Bolivar Reyes Victoria Bronson Alumni of the Year Sara Moreira Academic Achievement Awards Edward Akaezuwa Yuleisy Lopez Cristian Aroca Lori Macula Nicole Barrett Carlos Mejia Staten Baynes David Mejia Victoria Bronson Somina Mosaku Catalina Carvajal Hoai Thuong Nguyen Brendan Ferris Rosa Peralta Gabrielle Ferris Bolivar Reyes Joseph Hilton Yury Rincon Melanie Jimenez Jaslyn Rodriguez Patricia Kijaj Qwamine Solomon Janelle Longmore Casey Vreeland

E O F M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R

P A G E 4

W hat are your plans after

graduation? I plan to

transfer to Montclair State Universi-

ty.

How has County College of Morris

and EOF prepared you for life after

college? CCM and EOF has pre-

pared me for life after college by

not only prepared me for CCM but I

also made great friends during that

time.

What are memorable moments you

have had with EOF? The orienta-

tion for one and all the events over

the years.

When you are not stud-

ying and engaging

academic life, how

do you spend your free

time? I’m always hanging out with

friends playing baseball and basket-

ball.

Tom Gizas

providing me with a great start in

my education.

What role has the EOF program

played in your academic, personal,

and, professional development?

EOF has helped me a great deal

throughout my two years at CCM.

What advice or message would you

like to leave to current and/or fu-

ture EOF students? Don’t give up,

just keep on going.

What would you say is your philos-

ophy in life? Always try your best

and never give up.

In what ways have you changed or

remained the same since your par-

ticipation in the EOF Summer Ori-

entation Program? The orientation

Senior “Spotlight”Senior “Spotlight” T h omas Gi zasT h omas Gi zas

C O N N E C T I O N S

“A Guiding Light for the Year Ahead”“A Guiding Light for the Year Ahead”“A Guiding Light for the Year Ahead”

As you go through the days of the year ahead,As you go through the days of the year ahead,As you go through the days of the year ahead, Busy with all the responsibilities the world hasBusy with all the responsibilities the world hasBusy with all the responsibilities the world has Placed upon you, remember to keep the trulyPlaced upon you, remember to keep the trulyPlaced upon you, remember to keep the truly Special things in mind.Special things in mind.Special things in mind.

Keep things in perspective: Work, play, learning,Keep things in perspective: Work, play, learning,Keep things in perspective: Work, play, learning, Living. Have happiness as a part of your priorities! Living. Have happiness as a part of your priorities! Living. Have happiness as a part of your priorities! Be creative and aware and wonderfully alive. And Be creative and aware and wonderfully alive. And Be creative and aware and wonderfully alive. And Always remember where to find your smile.Always remember where to find your smile.Always remember where to find your smile.

New journeys await you in the coming year.New journeys await you in the coming year.New journeys await you in the coming year. Decisions lie ahead, wondering what you will do,Decisions lie ahead, wondering what you will do,Decisions lie ahead, wondering what you will do, Where you will go, how you will choose when the Where you will go, how you will choose when the Where you will go, how you will choose when the Choices are yours. Work for the ability to choose Choices are yours. Work for the ability to choose Choices are yours. Work for the ability to choose Wisely, to prosper, to succeed. Let the roads that you Wisely, to prosper, to succeed. Let the roads that you Wisely, to prosper, to succeed. Let the roads that you Travel take you to beautiful places, and have the faithTravel take you to beautiful places, and have the faithTravel take you to beautiful places, and have the faith It takes to achieve and aspire.It takes to achieve and aspire.It takes to achieve and aspire.

I hope your tomorrows take you to the summit of your I hope your tomorrows take you to the summit of your I hope your tomorrows take you to the summit of your Goals and your joys take you even higher.Goals and your joys take you even higher.Goals and your joys take you even higher.

by Douglas Pagelsby Douglas Pagelsby Douglas Pagels

P A G E 5

EOF Student AllianceEOF Student Alliance Edie NelsonEdie Nelson

assist in selling tickets during the

day at the Student Center, and

Davidson Room, announcing the

winners and running them to the

recipients. Thank you to everyone!

Our last event was

the end of the

s e m e s t e r

luncheon at

F o r t e ’ s

Restaurant. We

had six students attend. All enjoyed

a delicious lunch while recognizing

the accomplishments of the year.

The AESNJ Leadership awardee

was announced, who was Brenda

Lizarraga, the President of the

Alliance for the last three

T he EOF Student

Alliance had a great

year! Our final big

project was the Tricky Tray event,

and this year was our best

fundraising yet! Our total raised

was $1023.00!

Wow- way to go EOF!! Kudos to

all the students who took part in

making this happen.

Our students donated more items

for the tricky tray this year than

ever before, which minimized our

need to purchase ready-made

baskets, and were very helpful in

sorting and wrapping up the

baskets. Many also volunteered to

semesters. Although she was not

able to continue leading the

Alliance this spring, she did provide

the club with over a year of

dedicated leadership for the prior

two semesters. Kudos and thank

you to Brenda and all the active

EOF students in the Alliance! Your

volunteer work made a difference!

E O F M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R

Your Adventure!Your Adventure! By: Joa nna Fu c hsBy : Joa nna Fu c hs

P A G E 6 C O N N E C T I O N S

NNNow that you've graduated,ow that you've graduated,ow that you've graduated,

Your adventure has begun.Your adventure has begun.Your adventure has begun.

Your schooling has prepared youYour schooling has prepared youYour schooling has prepared you

For the race life has you run.For the race life has you run.For the race life has you run.

—————————

We praise you for your efforts,We praise you for your efforts,We praise you for your efforts,

And send good wishes, too,And send good wishes, too,And send good wishes, too,

For a future filled with happiness,For a future filled with happiness,For a future filled with happiness,

And your fondest dreams come And your fondest dreams come And your fondest dreams come

true.true.true.

Congratulations to our Graduating Seniors

From the EOF Staff