Good News 2010-2011

Vera Brown DC ’05 completed her master's degree in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine, from Boston University School of Medicine. Walter Fortson was invited to apply for membership in the School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program. Mark Halaka was accepted into the School of Business at Rutgers University. Eliezer Marcellus, a Senior Counselor of Special Programs, is on a medical mission to Haiti. Mr. Marcellus is the new advisor to the Black Men’s Collective. Quadeer Porter was elected President of the Black Men’s Collective. Gerilyn Ruiz gave birth to her daughter, Alyssa Nicole, on May 22nd. Gissele Sandoval DC ’09 is working at LucasFilms, as the Assistant to the Director of Production Management and the Director of Technology. The following students will be participating in the Bonner Leaders Program for 2010-2011: Wendy Blanco Mahmuda Choudhury Taja Conover Ciara Francis Shaheda Hall Wei (Tammy) Hsu Hetal Rana Mary Lou Rodriguez Jamera Sirmans Casalea Spence Shela Tibaut Tasmire White Sabrina Worthy Norman Wright The following students are participating in the 2010 Institute for Pre-Legal Studies at Seton Hall University: Tricia Maharaj Stephanie Oliveira Mike Ortega Jamera Sirmans Sabrina Worthy Munni Begum DC ’07, SSW ’09 was accepted to Seton Hall University Law School. Magdalena Dorvil DC ’10 was accepted into the STARS Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School this summer. This fall she will be starting the Master of Biomedical Sciences Program at UMDNJ.

Timothy Jenkins LC ’00, GSE ’01 is the principal of MedEast High School in Camden, NJ (http://www.meteast.org/about/principals_message.jsp?rn=4468905). Sheyla Ojeda, an incoming SAS EOF student, was awarded a Ronald McDonald House Charities Hacer Scholarship in the amount of $40,000. Laura Pettus RC ’10 is working as a recruiting coordinator for Standard and Poor’s. Kaz M. Wilson (Wright) LC ‘92 completed a Master’s of Science degree in Reading and Literacy at Walden University. The following 222 EOF students made the Dean’s List (3.5 term average or above, with at least 12 graded degree credits) Spring 2010: Juliana Acheampong Lipa Ahmed Naznin Ahmed Mina Aiaad Sa'de Alston Syed Ammar Kelly Andrade Mario Angulo Cassandra Archer Ernest Armstead Danilo Ayala Carina Aybar Branka Banic Sean Battle Gwendolyn Baxley Princess Belton Camille Bey Harsh Bhagat Shamika Boswell Rachael Bourke Samara Brock Leyda Burgos Malissa Butler Patricia Calixte-Civil Laura Callejas Swhendhy Cantave Marina Carneiro Jorge Casalins Melissa Casielles Stephanie Castano Casandra Castro Robert Cavella Latifah Chambers Hao Chen Rose Chery Kingcheung Cheung Patrick Chong Sadaf Choudhry Amalia Cimova Yanelys Collado Henry Columna Patricia Correa Adilson Correia Megan Cowell

Robert Coyle Tejal Darji Brittany Davis Vicky Dayaram John Dere Fiona Devonish Santei Di Leonardo Paola Dominguez Andrijana Dordjevic Magdalena Dorvil Dylan Douglas Jodi-Gail Duncan Joseph Dziuba Christophe Echeverria Mohamed Elagami Aracelis Elezaj Khaled Elfarra Ahmed Elzayat Sara Eskander Yessica Espina Anthony Falkowski Randi Feldbauer Walter Fortson Vishwa Gandhi Angie Garcia Gadiz Garcia Lisa Gill Sade Grandberry Lisa Green Justin Groc Nathan Gwira Samira Hachil Mark Halaka Jaleel Hall Adrian Halton Mina Hanna Shereen Hassanein Jordan Henry Kimberly Herrera Karen Hidalgo Tanisha Hinton Sun-Mi Hong Wuji Huang Elyla Huertas

Brittany Hunt Amml Hussein Sasha Hutnick Randy Jackson Humberto Jaramillo Forhad Ullah Yadira Urena Sashelle Vazquez Vianca Vazquez Lyanne Ventura Jenniffer Veras Cristina Vo Patrick White Brittany Williams Khrystyne Williams Wenting Yang Tsz Yiu Ja Yen David Yun Ronald Zackery Luis Zeno Claudia Jimenez Jonathan Jimenez Nadia Jossie Rozana Katideen Ramnit Kaur Satinder Kaur Cailyn Kimmick Crystal Kucuk Namrata Lakhani Qaadira Larkins Hy Le Jung Min Lee Cheryl Li Suzhuan Liang Roger Licairac Cory Lloyd Amandeep Loi Noelle Loizos Jessica Lopez Tara Luciano Samantha Luketina Joanna Mackow Monika Mackow Tony Malave

Jerome Mangroo Jessica Martin Enmanuel Martinez Genesi Martinez Norelis Martinez Yoko Martinez Sharee Maxwell Jevonnah Mayo Al-Zamar Mckinney Oscarina Melo Andy Mercado Jaimie Mergel Yuriko Mexia Rachel Mitchell Abdelrahma Mohamed Daphne Molina Tiffany Moncrieffe Margie Montoya Guzman Cynthia Moradel Jennifer Moran Patrick Mullen Lauren Napoleon Moriah Nester Dung Ngo Anthony Nieves Sarah Nogueira Andres Nunez Zuri Obado Stephanie Oliveira Mike Ortega

Lesley Pairol Gi Ming Pang Sahil Parikh Moxa Patel Nirali Patel Parth Patel Pragnesh Patel Luis Payan Ana Perez Dean Perez Giselle Pisani Yvonne Pittman Christine Pitts Ceida Plasencia Neelum Quraishi Sina Rahimi Natasha Ramsey Rosa Maria Rawlyk Estephanie Reyes Laurent Reyes Bairon Rivas Daniel Rodriguez Shanee' Rogers Danny Rojas Li Rong Celeste Roque Adrienne Rosa Leticia Ross David Ruth Elaf Saeed

Mariya Saeed Mary Salazar Vanessa Salazar Larissa Sanchez Jerry Santer Pedro Segura-Contreras Parin Shah Tanbir Singh Jamera Sirmans Jasmine Sloan El Michael Sodbinow Marteha Stewart Ceaphas Stubbs David Swerdloff Valerie Tabano Tania Tabora Georeen Tanner Saeed Tarabichi Luis Taveras Mufaddal Tayebaly Ambar Terrero Darline Then Alisha Thom Angela Thomas Monique Thomas Melissa Thompson Samantha Torres Steven Tran Stephany Tuchez

John Connelly wrote an essay that he entered into Dissent Magazine's Paul Goodman essay contest. Out of the 820 essays entered, his was selected as one of three to be published on the magazine's website. He was also awarded $250. John has also been accepted into the SAS Honors Program. Nadia Jossie is an intern at Clear Channel Radio NY, which comprises New York City's five top radio stations: Power 105.1, KTU, Z100, Q104.3, and 106 lite fm. Crystal H. Kucuk has been accepted into the SAS Honors Program. The following EOF alumni and friends of the Program participated in the 4th Annual Summer Institute Alumni Career Conference: Asha Bailey Jose Carbone Lisa Cherney Sylvia Cordero Dr. Tracy Enlow Patrice Enoe Paola Hernandez Zuheidi Hoyos

Byron Hunter Randy Jackson Tam Le Dr. Andrew Lee Carissa Lopes Brian Morgan Siree Morris Rosanna Reyes

Susan Saraiva Lennox Smalls Ken Thomas Raymond Trigg Gian-Paul Vidal Kurtis Watkins Lytisha Williams Kaz Wright

The following EOF students are participating in the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Research Program. Here are their research topics: Joray Robinson, “A Qualitative Exploration of the Ways in Which the Hard of Hearing Experience Music” Carolina Castro, “Solidaridad de La Rasa: Civic Identity Development Among Latinos in College”

Alisha Thom, “A Qualitative Study of Effective Parenting of African American Children with ADHD” June Yaw, “A Qualitative Exploration of Effective Teaching Strategies Among Urban English Educators” Quadeer Porter, “Keys to Freedom: An Analysis of the Desistence Theories Among African Americans” Asma Mumtaz also made the Dean’s List in the spring semester. Gerri Barker has been accepted into the National Honor & Merit Scholars Society (her third honor society). She was also selected to be a mentor for the Rutgers Future Scholars program. Salena Dioubate completed the Transitions for Youth Summer Housing and Internship Program, sponsored by the Rutgers School of Social Work. She was selected to be a student speaker at the graduation program. Kim Jones is a recipient of a School of Arts and Sciences Excellence Award, the Helen Hurd Scholarship. Brooke Klag completed the Transitions for Youth Summer Housing and Internship Program, sponsored by the Rutgers School of Social Work. Yetunde A. Odugbesan LC ’09 has been accepted as a member of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP). She is also featured in MadamNoire (madamnoire.com) as a "Silent Superhero.” Here is the link to view the article: http://madamenoire.com/13881/silent-superhero-yetunde-adeola-odugbesan/ Marie Tas DC ’06 is a product manager for an Internet company in New York. Zhanshai Williams was a speaker at the Rutgers Upward Bound Summer Institute Closing and Senior Recognition Luncheon. Tenisha Howard DC ’05 is a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University. She is now a faculty member in the Ethnic Studies Program at Albion College in Albion, Michigan. She is teaching Introduction to Ethnic Studies and Introduction to African American Studies. She is also the recipient of a Research Enhancement Award. Eliezer Marcellus, a Senior Counselor of Special Programs, is featured in the latest issue of the Rutgers Magazine: http://magazine.rutgers.edu/departments/fall-2010/on-the-banks/hell-on-earth Moriah Nester is a student leader in the initiative to Save the L Bus: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-L-Bus/151922048157675?ref=ts&v=wall. Yousef Saleh is featured in the following article: http://johnsonvillepress.com/2010/09/13/interview-with-yousef-selah-marlana-moore Here is the Educational Opportunity Fund Program Students’ Association (EOPSA) Executive Board for 2010-2011: President-Sadayah Durant Vice President-Salena Dioubate Treasurer-June Yaw Secretary-Clevelande Barthelus Parliamentarian-John Connelly Community Service Chair-Casalea Spence

Education Chair-Blondeen Philemond Public Relations Executive-Richard Hutchinson First Year Representative-Candice James. Staff Advisor-Catrina Diggs The following EOF students are participating in INROADS internships this year: Jonathan De La Fuente (Phillips-Van Heusen) Aditi Doshi (Novo Nordisk Inc.) Deebee Ukah (MetLife, Inc.) Jorge Casalins is the political chair of the Latino Student Council. Maria Giovine Connolly DC ’01, BSPPP ’03 is a Principal Planner at the NJ Council on Affordable Housing Walter Fortson has been accepted into the SAS Honors program. Richard Hutchinson is the Communications Vice President for the Rutgers Chapter of Journalists for Human Rights.

Rozana Katideen has an internship at the Resource Center of Somerset, dealing with domestic violence. Yetunde Odugbesan LC ’09 attended the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York. She assisted with overall program logistics for this year’s meeting. Yetunde will be traveling to Nigeria, West Africa, with a distinguished advanced leadership delegation consisting of New Jersey city and state government officials, as part of Global Women Leadership Collaborative (GWLC). The group has been invited by the Nigerian Federal Government Ministry of Women Affairs to foster leadership collaboration with women government officials in Nigeria, and will be partaking in the 50th Celebration of Nigeria’s Independence. The group will be hosted by the first Lady of Nigeria. Rick Sentine is doing an internship with NBC Universal in New York City. He serves as the Parliamentarian of the Black Student Union and is the Public Relations Representative for the United Black Council. The following EOF students were accepted into ACCESS-MED Phase I: Mervina George Willy Gonzalez Crystal Kucuk Elaf Saeed John Connelly has been selected as a finalist by The Nation magazine for an essay he wrote for their annual Student Essay Contest. Here is the link to the essay: http://www.thenation.com/article/154926/betrayal-american-dream. He was also selected as an essay finalist in the Paul Goodman Essay Contest for Dissent Magazine: http://dissentmagazine.org/online.php?id=390. John is the Vice President of The Paul Robeson Special Interest Section Executive Board. Walter Fortson is featured in this article in the Rutgers Focus: http://news.rutgers.edu/focus/issue.2010-10-06.0799872240/article.2010-10-22.4499461964/ Paula Abbruzzese is a recipient of the Samuel and Marcella Geltman scholarship.

Gerri Barker is a member of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. As a result of her membership, she was awarded a scholarship through the New Etruria College Association Program to Study Aboard in Florence, Italy. Princess Belton has her art work displayed in the Mason Gross School of the Arts Water Show Exhibit. Quadeer Porter was a student speaker at the EOF Open House sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Mangelin Rivera DC ‘09 is an Executive Assistant at the New Jersey Immigration Policy Network. Connie Zhen was awarded a scholarship from the New Jersey Affordable Housing Management Association (JAHMA). This Foundation is a privately funded, non-profit organization that was created in 1999, and awarded its first scholarship in 2002, to further charitable and educational opportunities on behalf of residents living at a JAHMA member “affiliated property.” Jorge Casalins is featured in this Daily Targum article: http://www.dailytargum.com/news/students-share-stories-of-tuition-burdens-1.2407154 Tania Guaman is the Vice President of the Alliance of Educational Opportunity Fund Students in New Jersey (AESNJ), the state-wide organization for EOF students. Barbara Harmon-Francis, an Assistant Director of the EOF Program, presented a workshop at the Educational Opportunity Fund Professional Association of New Jersey (EOFPANJ) Fall Conference. Merylou Rodriguez was accepted into Barclays Capital Finance and Operations Boot Camp 2010. Tiffany M. Simon, Ed.D., DC ’94 is the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services at The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University. The following students participated in the Men’s Retreat, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Engagement: Quadeer Porter Rick Sentine Israel Wilson The following students participated in the Women of Color Symposium, sponsored by the Office of Academic Engagement and Programming: Tamika Baldwin Donyea Bradley Kathleen Cruz Kendra Gathers Miryam Gonzalez Hawanatu Kebbie Cynthia Munoz Yvonne Pittman Susana Rivera Merylou Rodriguez Ambar Terrero Cassandra Yeboah

Osman Beretey participated in “Bridging the Gap,” sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Engagement. Rose Chery worked as a production assistant on the Black Entertainment Television (BET) production, “Black Girls Rock.” It aired on November 7th on BET. John Connelly interviewed author Mary Doria Russell: http://ofpensandswords.wordpress.com/2010/11/24/a-conversation-with-mary-doria-russell/ Amarilis Rodriguez was accepted into the Institute for Research on Women’s Learning Community. Gerri N. Barker is a member of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She has been nominated to attend the International Scholar Laureate Program (ISLP) Delegation on Diplomacy & International Relations in China this summer. Donyea Bradley is the President of Omega Epsilon Rho Service Sorority, Incorporated. Rose Chery was accepted into the Rutgers Study Abroad Program in Rome, Italy for the spring semester. Tania Guaman and Andres Pulido are featured in this Rutgers Focus article: http://news.rutgers.edu/focus/issue.2010-11-30.1271829901/article.2010-12-07.1387497972/article_page_view Chrisna Lorjuste is participating in the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College Extern Program. She will be a Field Executive Assistant for Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey, during the winter break.

Sakina Spruell Cole RC ’93 is featured in this article: http://news.rutgers.edu/focus/issue.2010-11-01.4539130324/article.2010-11-29.6714322457

Aaron Rowlett participated in the Men’s Retreat, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Engagement. The following students, and staff member, were inducted into the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society: Danielle Bechta Shamika Boswell Amber Garcia Ricardo Janvier Merylou Rodriguez Jasmine Sloan El Valerie Edouard has been accepted into the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) Student Advocacy Training on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Lissette Herrera DC '09 has been accepted into the School of Social Work's Study Abroad Program in Israel. Simone Mack-Bright, a Senior Counselor of Special Programs, is completing her two-year tenure as Chair of the Educational Opportunity Statewide Alumni Association (EOFSAA). EOFSAA’s last project for 2010 was a book bag and schools supply drive. Ms. Mack-Bright writes, “Thanks to the EOF Family, at the Fall EOFPANJ/AESNJ Conference we collected almost 50 bags and a box full of school supplies that have been shipped to children in the African Village of Antubia. “ Yetunde Odugbesan LC ’09 was recently appointed Chair of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Advocacy for the City of Newark African Commission, under Mayor Booker's administration.

Leury Pena was awarded the “October Spotlight on Stellar Service Award” from RU Info. Aaron Rowlett has a spring semester internship with Merrill Lynch. Li Rong was accepted to the Study Abroad program in Australia for next spring. Mahjeda Ali was accepted into the New Jersey Leaders of Tomorrow Presidential Internship for the spring semester. Tejal Darji was accepted into New Jersey Dental School. Karen Hidalgo DC’10 is a graduate student in the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Here is the link to her profile: http://clfr.wustl.edu/AboutUs/FacultyStaff/Pages/CompleteProfile.aspx?ItemID=19 Nkem Osian DC '09 was accepted into the master's degree program in Public Health at New York University. Her focus will be on International Community Health. Merylou Rodriguez was accepted for a Barclays Capital 2011 Summer Operations Analyst position, in its NYC headquarters. Al-Nisa Petty is participating in the Study Abroad program in London this spring. Hunter Yost received his first law school acceptance (specific school names will be shared once he makes a final decision). Sean Battle is President of the Verbal Mayhem Poetry Collective, which runs the only on-campus weekly open microphone. Melissa Boucaud is President of the Rutgers University chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Casandra Castro is participating in the Study Abroad program in Italy. Brittany Hunt is a spring semester intern with GEEBEE Marketing and All Colors Marketing LLC located in Highland Park, NJ. GEEBEE is a manufacturer and marketer of ethic toys and games, directed specifically at the African-American market, and All Colors is an advertising company that designs branded apparel and novelty items for its clients. Dagma Isaac is Public Relations Chair for the Haitian Association at Rutgers University (HARU). Wooldy Pierre is President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and a Resident Assistant in Clothier Hall. Valerie Edouard participated in a service learning project in South Africa, sponsored by the Douglass Residential College and the Global Literacy Project Inc. (www.glpinc.org). While there, she received several invitations by members of the African National Congress and other political figures to return in the Summer 2011. The following 217 students made the Dean’s List Fall 2010. Dean’s List is defined as at least a 3.5 term average, with at least 12 graded degree credits:

Dean's List Fall 2010

Name_First Name_Last

Paula Abbruzzese

Rowaida Abdelaziz

Sandra Abusuleiman

Lipa Ahmed

Amanda Alcantara

Sa'de Alston

Jazlyn Amador

Kathrynn Antos

Cassandra Archer

Cristina Ayala

Marlly Ayerdis

Branka Banic

Kourtney Barber

Gerri Barker

Gwendolyn Baxley

Najmin Begum

Princess Belton

Emeline Betances

Camille Bey

Selica Blagrove

Rachael Bourke

Vernee Brooks

Kayral Brown

Daiara Caceres

Patricia Calixte-Civil

Dayana Caminero

Sadayah Canady

Jamie Cann

Marina Carneiro

Kelly Carvajal

Melissa Casielles

Stephanie Castano

Casandra Castro

Robert Cavella

Jovanna Cedeno

Latifah Chambers

Hao Chen

Tan Chen

Xiaoyan Chen

Kingcheung Cheung

Dean's List Fall 2010 Name_First Name_Last

Naima Chowdhury

Jessica Colberg

Jamar Colon

Lashanda Coq

Catherine Cordova

Kimberley Cordovez

Patricia Correa

Megan Cowell

Robert Coyle

Kathleen Cruz

Holley Culetto

Kevin Dahaghi

Mona Dalia

Tejal Darji

Ludine Daux

Thomas Dellamonica

John Dere

Santei Di Leonardo

Regina Diamond

Aditi Doshi

Dylan Douglas

Daphney Dupervil

Joseph Dziuba

Aycha Edwards

Aracelis Elezaj

Rehaam Elzayat

Ydamis Estrella

Svetlana Eydelman

Anthony Falkowski

Randi Feldbauer

Stephanie Flores

Walter Fortson

Cindy Fuentes

Frank Fusco

Vishwa Gandhi

Mervina George

Lisa Gill

Idenny Gomez

Jose Gomez

Dean's List Fall 2010 Name_First Name_Last

Sade Grandberry

Lisa Green

Colleen Grosse

Kelley Guerrero

Patricia Guerrero

Karina Guzman

Nathan Gwira

Samira Hachil

Adrian Halton

Alyssa Hassell

Marlene Hernandez

Yilson Herrera

Irene Hsieh

Wuji Huang

Alicia Hurtado

Richard Hutchinson

Danny Huynh

Phu Huynh

Shaima Ibrahim

Yesenia Infante

Yesenia Jalil

Candice James

Claudia Jimenez

Ashley Johnson

Hawanatu Kebbie

Mariam Keita

Kawsar Khan

Munaf Khatumbra

Cailyn Kimmick

Crystal Kucuk

Gerardo Laracuente

Qaadira Larkins

Jerusha Lee

Maurice Leszkiewicz

Suzhuan Liang

Roger Licairac

Stella Liu

Jonathan Long

Samantha Luketina

Dean's List Fall 2010 Name_First Name_Last

Tiffani Mabry

Monika Mackow

Tiffany Mangan

Jerome Mangroo

Samantha Martin

Norelis Martinez

Vanessa Martinez

Viviana Martinez

Muta Mashack

Jevonnah Mayo

Al-Zamar Mckinney

Oscarina Melo

Moomal Memon

Alderey Mendoza

Andy Mercado

Jessica Mims

Jazmyne Mitchell

Georges Mombrun

Elizabeth Monaghan

Daysi Morales

Keith Morris

Iyesha Morrison

Asma Mumtaz

Fathima Munaff

Minnathul Munaff

Jonathan Munoz

Jehada Nabil

Ariel Nagi

Christie Nann

Marlyne Negron

Moriah Nester

Duong Nguyen

Tu-Nhi Nguyen

Kristin Nimoh

Matthew Noojin

Zekeriya Onalan

Gi Ming Pang

Ariele Parrish

Pragnesh Patel

Dean's List Fall 2010 Name_First Name_Last

Shamit Patel

Svati Patel

Stephanie Pena

Al-Nisa Petty

Giselle Pisani

Christine Pitts

Ceida Plasencia

Laura Pulgarin

Neelum Quraishi

Natasha Ramsey

Laurent Reyes

Tabel Reyes

Tenesha Richardson

Jeffrey Rios

Laura Rios

Irem Rivera

Amarilis Rodriguez

Daniel Rodriguez

Dezrae Rojas

Li Rong

Brian Ruiz

Raywatie Rupnarain

Elaf Saeed

Mariya Saeed

Shadman Sakib

Angelita Sanchez

Ioaki Sanchez

Maricarmen Sanchez

Thomas Santana

Pedro Segura-Contreras

Parin Shah

Katherine Sharp

Karandeep Singh

Jasmine Sloan El

Michael Sodbinow

Julissa Soriano

Sara Stanulis

Ceaphas Stubbs

Alvina Swati

Dean's List Fall 2010 Name_First Name_Last

Samira Syed

Precious Tabansi

Quadria Tankard

Luis Taveras

Mufaddal Tayebaly

Darline Then

Alisha Thom

Monique Thomas

Melissa Thompson

Shela Tibaut

Steven Tran

Stephany Tuchez

Deebee Ukah

Forhad Ullah

Natalia Valencia

Carlos Vazquez

Lyanne Ventura

Cristina Vo

Brittany Williams

Ronald Zackery

Minjin Zheng Gerri Barker is the recipient of a scholarship from the Rutgers’ Chapter of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). Danielle Bechta and Quadeer Porter were selected by the Office of Financial Aid to advocate on behalf of student funding, in Washington D.C. Princess Belton is a scholar with the Institute for Women's Leadership. She presented her social action project at its social change event. Jorge Casalins represented Rutgers University at the 20th annual Rising Leaders National Summit in Washington, D.C. Ariel Nagi is an intern at Cosmopolitan magazine. Leury Peña is the new Secretary of Clothier Hall, for the Residence Hall Association (RHA). Amarilis Rodriguez is the recipient of the Brian L. Morgan Scholarship. Merylou Rodriquez has been invited to participate in the Rutgers University Chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success.

Carolina Castro is an IWL Leadership scholar at the Institute for Women's Leadership and is interning at the Center for Women's Global Leadership. John Connelly was elected Vice Chair of the New Brunswick chapter of NJPIRG. Here is the link to an editorial he wrote for the Daily Targum: http://www.dailytargum.com/opinions/keep-hope-alive-take-action-to-help-yourself-1.2473660 Ramathia DeFreese is the Media Coordinator of the Panhellenic Council. Magdalena Dorvil DC ’10 has been selected to make a poster presentation of her research at Harvard Medical School on “generation of osseous tissue by three-dimensional biological printing” at the New England Science Symposium. Ms. Dorvil plans to begin medical school next fall and has been accepted into the following schools: New Jersey Medical School, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Rozana Katideen is featured in the 2011 Rutgers Summer Session catalog: http://summersession.rutgers.edu/summer/sites/ce-drupal01.rutgers.edu.summer/files/summer/docs/Sum11Brochure-final.pdf. She also appears in two Summer Session videos that can be found on You Tube. Rhonda Legrand won “Top Witness Testimony” at the Mock Trial Fordham Invitational. Jeffrey Mendoza is the President of Clothier Hall. Jaimie L. Mergel has been accepted into the MSW Advanced Standing program at the Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work. Natasha Ramsey has been accepted into the following medical schools: New York University, Jefferson, UMDNJ, NJ Medical School, Temple University, and SUNY Downstate. She is still waiting on decisions from a few others. The following students are participating in the Rutgers 66 Leadership Conference (if you are participating, and do not see your name here, remember to email me to share your news!): Gwen Baxley Jorge Casalins John Connelly Qualiyah Arrington served as a panelist at the TRiO Day Youth Summit Against Bullying. She is the Treasurer of the LGBTQQ People of Color Alliance (LLEGO). Gwen Baxley has much wonderful news to share. She has been entered to the hiring pool for Resident Assistant position for next school year, has been accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Program, received an Academic Excellence Award, has a feature story in the Jersey Journal/NJ.com (http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/02/rutgers_sophomore_helps_jersey.html), will be Vice President of Verbal Mayhem next year, and is showcased in hercampus.com (http://www.hercampus.com/school/rutgers/using-power-words-gwen-baxley). . Donyea Bradley is a founder and the chapter President of Omega Epsilon Rho Service Sorority, Inc. Laura Callejas was accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Program.

Barbara Harmon-Francis, an Assistant Director in the EOF Program, is a recipient of the prestigious Tri-State Excellence Award, given by the Tri-State Consortium of Opportunity Programs. Tenisha Howard DC ’05 was awarded Most Valuable Professor by both the men's and women's basketball teams at Eastern Michigan University. She was accepted to the Decolonizing Knowledge and Power Summer School Program in Barcelona, Spain. Brian Le is a member of Asian American Leadership Cabinet. Yvonne Pittman is an intern with Rutgers Against Hunger (RAH). Vanessa Sirmans introduced the panelists and keynote speaker at the TRiO Day Youth Summit Against Bullying. The following students participated in EOF Student Day in Trenton: John Connelly Tania Guaman Delmira Martinez In addition to the students mentioned in the previous “Good News” email, the following students participated in the Rutgers '66 Leadership Conference: Wendy Blanco Donyea Bradley Courtney Davis Zanab Gohar Gabriela Gonzalez Victoria Salami Princess Belton is featured on the home page of the Institute for Women’s Leadership web site for her Social Action Project: http://iwl.rutgers.edu/events_past.html Brittany Davis is the Secretary of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Courtney Davis is on the Jewish Student Board and is a Hillel First Year Impact Fellow. Tania Guaman is the Chair of the Alliance of Educational Opportunity Fund Students of New Jersey (AESNJ), the state-wide EOF student association. Jung Lee was accepted into the six-week Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) at the University of Texas, in Houston. Jazmyne Mitchell was accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Program. Rosanna Reyes RC’03, SSW ’06 passed the qualifying exam for her doctorate. Politics and Possibilities is a project designed to raise political awareness. It was created and is administered by Dr. Robinson, and is in its 16th year. It consists of a field trip to Washington, D.C. during Spring Break. This year, the group was treated to presentations and tours by staff at the following places: the Supreme Court, the CIA, the National Clandestine Agency, the Washington Internship Institute, the Department of Justice and the Rutgers Federal Relations Office. The participants were:

Shah Ahmed Craig Brennan Carolyn Roberts Victoria Salami The following students also participated in the Rutgers '66 Leadership Conference (the EOF count is now up to 12): Tahiya Choudhury Georges Mombrun Jamera Sirmans Kathrynn Antos has been admitted into the Graduate School of Education’s Elementary/Special Education dual 5-year program. She will also be taking on a leadership position as an Academic Programmer in the new Busch campus science building next year. Sean Battle is President of the Verbal Mayhem Poetry Collective. Gwen Baxley won the February campus Spotlight Of the Month Award from the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH). Jorge Casalins is the Founder & Vice-President of Latinos Entering Government And Law (LEGAL). He was accepted to the American College of Thessaloniki (in Greece) for the Fall 2011 Study Abroad program. Tahiya Choudhury was selected as a University Hearing Board member. She has an externship with the Superior Court of NJ, shadowing a judge. Qaadira Larkins was accepted into Ohio State University’s School Psychology MA/EdS program. Leury Peña was promoted to supervisor at RU Info. Brittany Ryan was accepted to the Fall 2011 Study Abroad program in Thessaloniki, Greece, at the American College of Thessaloniki. Shamika Boswell also attended the Rutgers '66 Leadership Conference (this brings the EOF count to 13). Courtney Davis was selected for an internship with Wegmans Food Markets, as a Management Intern. This is a two-year program and she will receive an offer to be a full-time manager when she graduates. Lisa Gill is interning at New Brunswick Tomorrow, a non-profit organization focused on environmental and social issues in the New Brunswick community. She is doing a project on childhood obesity. Lisa recently returned from Alternative Spring Break in Nicaragua (http://ruglobalhealth.wordpress.com). Jordan Henry is the recipient of a Summer 2011 Scholarship from Rutgers Summer Session. Rozana Katideen is featured on a Rutgers Summer Session billboard, at the Metropark train station. Jeffrey Mendoza was elected President of the College Avenue Quads for next year. Rosanna Reyes RC’03, SSW ’06 passed her dissertation proposal defense. She is officially ABD (all but dissertation).

Taruna Chugeria DC ’02 presented a workshop entitled, “Paving the Path to Success: A Program that Shows Results” at the Tri-State Consortium for Opportunity Programs Conference. Kayral Brown has been accepted to the School of Business. Patricia Correa was one of the distinguished student panelists at the spring Undergraduate Education meeting. Valerie Edouard is Treasurer of the Douglass Black Students' Congress (DBSC), and is a resident of the Douglass Residential College’s Africana House in the Global Village. Dhaval Gandhi has been accepted to the medical schools at the University of North Carolina and UMDNJ. Tammy Hsu will be the Operations Coordinator for Teach for America's Summer Institute in Philadelphia. Tammy is a: New Jersey AmeriCorps Member, participant in the Rutgers Bonner Leaders Program, student liaison for the Civic Engagement and Service Education Partnerships (CESEP) Program Student Council, Student Assistant Coordinator with Learning to End Hunger, and Executive Board Secretary of the Rutgers Chapter of Em[POWER]. Lurangee Jimenez DC ’09 is employed with the Department of Family Services as a Human Service Specialist. She is a caseworker for families who need assistance with obtaining benefits from the State of New Jersey. Yetunde A. Odugbesan LC ’09 has been selected as Nigeria's Outstanding Leader of the Year and ranks # 1 on the top 20 list. She has also been selected as Eminent Leaders Emerging Personality of the Year and was inducted into the Eminent Leaders Hall of Fame. Here are the links: http://www.eminentleaders.haukint.com/emerging-markets-leaders and http://www.eminentleaders.haukint.com/2011/outstanding-nigerians-2010 Giselle Pisani was accepted into the following programs for graduate school: Tufts University (MA/Ed.S. in school psychology), Alfred University (PsyD in School Psychology), Fordham University (bilingual school psychology), and St. Johns University (MS in Bilingual School Psychology). She is still deciding on which one to attend in the fall. Hetal Rana is in the Rutgers Bonner Leaders Program and helped plan Bonner Week. She is also a Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) scholar. The following EOF students were honored at the Academic Excellence Awards Ceremony for high-achieving sophomores: Gwendolyn Baxley Patricia Calixte-Civil Laura Callejas Aycha Edwards Jerome Mangroo Christie Nann Neelum Quraishi Laurent Reyes Elaf Saeed Princess Belton’s art work is part of Window Art for Highland Park, and is being displayed in the window of Everybody's Barbershop.

Yagel Cabrera has been accepted into the School of Social Work. Laura Callejas has been awarded an SAS Excellence Award, the Donald C. Stone Endowed Scholarship. John Connelly conducted an interview with author Mary Doria Russell (http://ofpensandswords.wordpress.com/2010/11/24/a-conversation-with-mary-doria-russell). His interview is being used by Random House to promote her new novel, Doc. Phu Huynh has been invited to join the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Jessica Mims is leaving in May to volunteer with the Peace Corps, in Ethiopia. Gissele Sandoval DC ’09 recently started working as an Office Coordinator and Executive Assistant at Kaboom Productions, a nationally and internationally recognized commercial, music video and content production company in San Francisco. Edis Shanata was accepted into Teach For America. Ceaphas Stubbs was accepted into, and will be attending, the University of Pennsylvania Master’s in Fine Arts Program for Photography. He has been selected as a PennDesign Diversity Scholar for the academic year 2011-2012. Marie Ulysse DC’02 is a Financial Aid Counselor at Lincoln Technical Institute. She earned a Master of Science degree in Public Administration, from Kean University, in January 2007. The following EOF students were recognized at the Access Med Graduation and Awards Ceremony by the Office of Diversity and Academic Success in the Sciences (ODASIS) Program:

Tejal Darji Jaleel Hall Samara Henry Mariam Kieta Moomal Memon Natasha Ramsey Betsy Rojas Parin Shah

Sean Battle has been accepted into, and will be attending, the Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing graduate program at Rutgers Newark. Tanya Clarke was accepted into Epsilon Beta Chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma, the National Health Education Honorary. Paola Dominguez has been admitted to Teachers College, Columbia University, in the Master of Arts degree program in the Department of Organization and Leadership with a specialization in Higher and Postsecondary Education. Nathan Gwira was elected SAS Senator of the College Avenue Campus and President of Psi Sigma Phi Multicultural Fraternity Inc. He is the recipient of a Gilman Scholarship to study abroad during the summer in Changchun, China. Mr. Gwira is a Resident Assistant in training for next semester at Clothier Hall.

Nelson Morales Jr. is a staff photographer for The Daily Targum. Yetunde A. Odugbesan (LC '09) will be graduating this May with her master's degree in Global Affairs from Rutgers-Newark. She is also completing a fellowship program at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Ms. Odugbesan was accepted into the PhD program in Global Affairs at Rutgers-Newark and to the United Nations Worldview Institute Program for this summer. Special thanks to Victor Marsillo for updating and maintaining the "Good News" page on our website: http://saseof.rutgers.edu/good_news.shtml. You can now easily view older editions. The following students were inducted into Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society this semester: Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society Spring 2011

Sa'De Alston (DRC) Kathrynn Antos Kayral Brown (DRC) Laura Callejas Jorge Casalins Sha'Kerah Champion Kimberley Cordovez Cindy Fuentes Jonelle Green Roger Licairac Cory Lloyd Jerome Mangroo Georges Mombrun Chi Nguyen Tham Nguyen Irem Rivera Janel Valladares Lyanne Ventura Christopher West

The following students were elected to the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society Executive Board: President: Ta'Lissa Patrick (DRC) Vice-President: Mahjeda Ali Treasurer: Chi Nguyen Secretary: Laura Callejas Historian: Kimberley Cordovez Community Service Chair: Georges Mombrun Parliamentarian: Gerri Barker Membership Chair: Cory Lloyd The following students participated in the Senior Reception for Graduating Seniors: Gwendolyn Baxley (DRC)-spoken word Daphney Dupervil (DRC)-speaker Fabiola Franck-soloist Edis Shanata-speaker

The following students were elected to the Executive Board of the EOF student organization EOPSA: President: Richard Hutchinson Jr. Vice-President: Blondeen Philemond Public Relations Exec: Dana Davis (friend of EOF) Education Liaison: Josmary Adames (friend of EOF) Community Service Chair: Clevelande Barthelus (DRC) Kathrynn Antos was accepted into the 5-year BA/master's degree program in the Graduate School of Education. Princess Belton (DRC) had her BFA thesis exhibition for Mason Gross School of the Arts. Following graduation, she will be attending Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she will pursue a master's degree in Arts Administration. Ms. Belton is the recipient of a $10,000 Honors Scholarship award. John Connelly was elected SAS Senate Leader for the Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA). Simone Mack-Bright, a Senior Counselor of Special Programs, is starting a two-year term as a Sector Representative for the Educational Opportunity Fund of New Jersey Professional Association (EOFPANJ). Moriah Nester (DRC) was accepted into the 5-year BA/master's degree program in the Graduate School of Education. Quadeer Porter was inducted into the prestigious Cap and Skull Society. The following students are members of Phi Beta Kappa:

Roger Licairac (inducted in junior year) Melissa Casielles Patricia Correa (DRC) Oscarina Melo (inducted in junior year) Edis Shanata (inducted in junior year)

Sa'de Alston (DRC) was selected for an internship at Clear Channel Radio, working in the programming and editorial department. She was recently awarded a School of Arts and Sciences Excellence Award, the Amelia T. C. Watkins Scholarship, and a School of Arts and Sciences Scholarship, totaling $1,000 for the 2010-2011 academic year. Ms. Alston is also the recipient of the Flip Wilson Scholarship, for full tuition, for the 2011-2012 school year. Marissa Canter (DRC) was selected to be a move-in Greeter for the Douglass Residential College. Mario Garcia has a summer internship at the Liberty Science Center. Lissette Herrera (DC '09) is graduating from the Graduate School of Social Work at Rutgers University, with her master’s degree in social work. Colleen Grosse was one of only two School of Business students selected to receive a scholarship from Hess. She will be a First-Year Interest Group Seminar (FIGS) peer instructor next fall. Christine Moro has been accepted into Touro Law School and Hofstra Law School. She is still waiting for decisions from Seton Hall and Rutgers Newark law schools.

Darline Then will be working for Macys, Inc., beginning in June, as an Executive Development Management Trainee. The latest edition of the Knightly Dispatch is on our website: http://saseof.rutgers.edu/knightly_dispatch.shtml. Special thanks to staff editor Catrina Diggs. The following students participated in Rites of Passage: The 19th Annual Celebration of Black and Latino Graduates:

Daphney Dupervil SAS '11 (DRC) (student speaker) Fabiola Franck (musical selection) Joe Jimmeh SAS '11 (musical selection)

John Dere SAS '11 is attending Rutgers Law School. Amber Garcia SAS '11 (DRC) is featured in the EOF student spotlight section of the Knightly Dispatch. She is a member of Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society. Ms. Garcia is the recipient of an SAS Excellence Award, The Anna Morgan Scholarship, in the amount of $1,000. Paula Garcia will be studying abroad this summer in Urbino, Italy. Gabriela Grzybowski has a summer internship as a Financial Advisor Intern for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, with the Savino Financial Group. Lenese Jean DC '07 completed her master's degree in Human Resource Management at Rutgers University. Joanna Mackow SAS '11 and Monika Mackow SAS '11 will be interning this summer at Johnson & Johnson in the Human Resources Department. Marcela Munoz received a co-op offer for the summer and the fall semester with Bristol-Myers Squibb. Cecile Edwards DC '04 was hired as a receptionist-permanent substitute teacher at a charter school in East Brunswick. Tenisha Howard DC '05 is the recipient of an MLK Endowed Scholarship, as well as a "Time to Degree" Summer Fellowship. Ms. Howard is in the doctoral program in higher education at Michigan State University. Rozana Katideen LC '11 is working at a safe house for women and children escaping domestic violence. She is working directly with sheltered clients; answering hotline calls from women seeking shelter, or counseling and other services. Simone Mack-Bright, a Senior Counselor of Special Programs, is featured, with her daughter, in this segment on the Wight Foundation on NJN News: http://www.njn.net/news/watch/tuesday.html (starting at the 22:30 mark). Enmanuel Martinez has a summer internship with Kohl's in Jersey City, New Jersey. Shabina Permaul was accepted into the School of Social Work at Rutgers University. Andres Pulido was accepted to the School of Business at Rutgers University.

Casandra Castro will be volunteering in Thailand with International Student Volunteers (ISV). Kshijta Desai has been elected as the Administrative Specialist for the Alliance of Educational Opportunity Fund Students of New Jersey (AESNJ). Gabriela Grzybowski obtained an internship with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, as a financial representative. For a financial consultation, you can contact Gabriela at (732) 272-6077 or gabriela.grzybowski@nmfn.com. Azizah Hamiduddin, an Assistant Director in the EOF Program, was a recipient of a Community Recognition Award at the Upward Bound Senior Recognition Banquet. Olive Henries was accepted into the Study Abroad program at the University of the West Indies, in Barbados, for the fall semester. Hetal Rana has been elected as the Service Opportunity Specialist for the Alliance of Educational Opportunity Fund Students of New Jersey (AESNJ). Tiffany Rhoney DC '10 completed her master's degree in social work, from the Graduate School of Social Work at Rutgers University. Esther Salas RC '91 is the first Hispanic woman to be appointed a U.S. District Court judge in New Jersey: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/nj_appoints_first_hispanic_wom.html. Rick Sentine obtained an internship with McGraw Hill Corporation, in Corporate Communications. He will be working closely with the CEO of the company.