WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS HONORED AT PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD EVENT

Westchester Community College recently held its annual Greta Cohen Personal Development Awards ceremony on the Valhalla campus to recognize the progress made by students facing challenges during the course of their education. Five students received $1,000 and two students received $500 each to help them continue their education. The awards are named after Greta Cohen, a retired faculty member.

The Personal Development Awards were established by an anonymous donation to the Westchester Community College Foundation. The donor wished to recognize the achievements of graduating students who had overcome serious obstacles in order to get a college education. Unlike other scholarships, the award is not about financial need or high grades. It’s about determination; it’s about the will to succeed in spite of great obstacles; it’s about changing one’s life. Applicants are asked to write an essay describing how their experiences at the college have helped them to grow and change in significant ways, and to give an oral presentation to an audience of administrators, counselors, and faculty. The winners are chosen by a committee of faculty members.

The $1,000 awardees were:
Natalia Arce of West Harrison
Paulina Gockah of Ossining
Theresa K. Leahy of South Salem
Juan Rosa of Yonkers

The $500 awardees were:
Howard Rapp of Yonkers
Keeho Nam of the Bronx