Mr. Luke Nasta, MPA, CASAC, has been providing substance abuse disorder treatment on Staten Island for the past 38 years. As the executive director of Camelot Counseling Centers, he knows first hand about the history of the current opiate epidemic on the Island. He knows how people become addicted, the debilitating effects on their lives, and the devastation brought upon their families.

On March 31, the College of Staten Island will present Mr. Nasta’s talk “Staten Island Drug Abuse Epidemic: A Town in Crisis” in the Center for the Arts from 2:45-4:00p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Mr. Nasta will be joined by persons currently in treatment at Camelot of Staten Island who will speak about their drug histories and how they ended up at the counseling facility that services adults, adolescents, children, and families whose lives have been affected by drug or alcohol use.

Dr. David Goode, Professor of Sociology, arranged for Mr. Nasta to be a guest lecturer in his Psychosocial Aspects of Disability class earlier this year.

“His message was so relevant, so poignant, and so critically important to our borough that we decided to bring him back to campus in a public forum to help our community grapple with this growing problem,” commented Dr. Goode.

“America is the wealthiest and most technologically advanced country in history of the world,” notes Mr. Nasta. “If we would dedicate all of our resources to this public health crisis, I believe we could control it and conquer it.”

This is an important issue for the community,” commented Dr. Nan Sussman, Dean of the Humanities and Social Sciences at CSI, “and I hope this important event will reach the families in need and help raise the public’s awareness about a very serious issue that affects many lives.”

“Staten Island Drug Abuse Epidemic: A Town in Crisis” is free and open to the public. It will be held Monday March 31, 2014, from 2:45-4:00p.m. at the College of Staten Island Center for the Arts at 2800 Victory Boulevard in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island. This important discussion is presented by the CSI department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and sponsored by the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Nufenen Pass #2, 2013, 18

The Gallery of the College of Staten Island presents the recent paintings of the accomplished and celebrated painter Ying Li, from April 9 through May 14, 2014.

The exhibit’s title, “Foreign Terrain,” has a double meaning.

The title refers to the natural source of inspiration for Ying, such as the Alpine landscapes of Italy and Switzerland that she experienced during a recent residency at the Centro Incontri Umani Ascona, and it also refers to the transformation of her canvases into landscapes in their own right.

It is perhaps in the dynamic interaction of these two meanings rather than in their separation that one comes to appreciate how her vibrant, direct, alla prima (wet-in-wet) paintings bring to life the artistic equivalencies she seeks embedded within nature itself.

More than a reflection of, or competition with nature, Ying Li’s vital landscapes fearlessly produce foreign terrains that extract, clarify and ultimately translate nature using the artist’s semantic tool box of color, brushstroke, light and frame.

Her manner of plowing or “working” the terrain of her canvases keeps current the venerable tradition of such divergent artists as Vincent van Gogh, the late works by Winslow Homer, Milton Resnick and CSI’s own Pat Passlof, to name a few.

Her works together in the Gallery and explicated by Xico Greenwald’s brochure essay will stand as an art-affirming experience for artists and viewers alike.

Born in Beijing, China in 1951, Ying Li is a professor of Fine Arts and Departmental Chair at Haverford College, PA. After receiving her initial training in China she immigrated to the United States in 1983, where she earned her M.F.A. from Parsons School of Design in New York in 1987.  She has been awarded numerous grants and residencies and her work has been extensively exhibited in both solo and group shows. She has received many outstanding reviews of her work, including several in the New York Times and Art in America.

There will be an opening reception Wednesday April 9th from 5:00-7:00 pm. The Gallery is located in the Center for the Arts at the College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Boulevard, in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island. The College of Staten Island is a senior college of The City University of New York. 

The Northfield Bank Foundation has generously supported College of Staten Island student internships at local non-profit organizations for the past several years.

For 2014-2015, the Foundation has increased their support to $40,000 due to the success of the internship program in the way it has impacted the community and the lives of CSI students.

With this new level of support, the program can continue to grow and reach more nonprofit organizations on Staten Island in the years to come. The hands-on experience of the internship enables CSI students to add the position to their resume to enhance their career opportunities after graduation.

The CSI Career and Scholarship Center selects students during an application and interview process, which ensures that the nonprofit groups receive qualified students with a serious commitment to serve their community.

Executive Director of Northfield Bank Foundation, Diane Senerchia and Board Members Lucille Chazanoff and Susan Lamberti, were honored with a reception .

The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) Education Foundation recently named Anthony Shalagin a 2014 Scholarship winner.

Each year, the AREMA Education Foundation awards scholarships to engineering students who are specializing in the railway industry and supports other educational and training endeavors that help to ensure the future of the profession.

Shalagin was awarded the Committee 27 – Maintenance of Way Work Equipment–Hougen Manufacturing Scholarship due to his already impressive work experience in the industry and his academic success.

Anthony, a graduate from Brooklyn Tech High School in 2013, says he has always had a fascination with civil engineering, especially with the transportation sector, noting “The railway system is essential to New York City, with over four million passengers relying on it daily to get around the city.”

Anthony has plenty of experience working as an assistant project manager and engineering intern for AECOM, a leading global provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad range of markets, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, water, and government since this past June.

With AECOM, Anthony has worked on important subway lines that run through New York City such as the “F” and #3 lines, to name a few. He also worked on the Jamaica Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the World Trade Center Transportation Hub. Additionally, he has assisted AECOM Capital and AECOM Vertical Transportation with business development and the procurement of large-scale projects. Recently, Anthony has been spending his afternoons gathering information for structural analysis on subway lines, checking for spalls and cracked elements that need to be replaced.

Anthony is also part of the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentor Program, an after-school program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in architecture, construction, and engineering. Students are mentored by architects, construction managers, and engineers and learn what it is like to work in the design and construction industries.

Anthony helps prepare his students for any challenges they may encounter as engineering students. A recent group was tasked with attempting to renovate the Hudson Yards: What was the students’ solution? Turn it into an amusement park.  Anthony, who was also a mentee with the program, notes “I will always be in great debt to the ACE Program for all of the dedicated mentors, resources, and opportunities it has provided for me.”

John Daza, Program Manager for AECOM, met Anthony through the ACE Mentoring Program. He and several other professionals volunteer their time and develop a mock project with students who are interested in careers in architecture, construction and engineering. He took note of Anthony’s “preparedness and maturity,” Daza said, discussing the reasons why AECOM offered Anthony a position.

“We offered Anthony a position as an Intern with AECOM in our Transportation business line and he has performed beyond our expectations and on par with Interns in their senior college year.” While at AECOM, Anthony has performed duties such as structural inspections, CAD, permitting, research for our capital investment group, construction support services for our Water business line and assisted me on project management-related tasks. “I look forward to working with Anthony as he further develops his skill set as an engineer. He is already part of my team and I hope to have him one day lead some of my teams.”

Anthony credits The Verrazano School Honors Program at CSI for helping pursue his dreams.

“The career development opportunities, small class sizes, great contact with the professors, and unconventional open-ended class discussions that promote critical thinking,” Anthony says, are the biggest advantages to being part of the Verrazano School.

While he is not entirely sure what his future will hold, Anthony is thinking about pursuing an MS in Civil Engineering and maybe even an MBA. Due to his dedication, passion, and the support structure that The Verrazano School affords him, his future is on the right track.

Paul Scherzinger (left) and Christopher Siani are students in the AHRC Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program at CSI.

The Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program (MRHEP) ensures that students with intellectual disabilities (ID) are granted the opportunity to prepare for adult life through higher education coursework, career exploration and preparation, the development of self-efficacy and opportunities to build social relationships.  The program was established in August 2008.

Over the course of three years, students who are a part of the Melissa Riggio Program at CSI spend five days-a-week attending classes, and participating in internships, all in the pursuit of carving a career path and creating a full life.

The students receive support while on campus through student mentors. The mentors may assist the MRHEP students with homework and note taking in class, attend clubs and Clue Events, hang out in the cafeteria, etc.

Mike Prindle, a CSI Alumnus who now works for the MRHEP full-time as a Higher Education Support Professional says, “It’s been a great experience working for the program. “They’re always happy to see me—it’s like being a teacher but much more personal.”

The idea behind this program is to ensure that the 15 students that are a part of the program at any given time has the opportunity to become a “full citizen.” Matthew Weiler, the Program Director of the MRHEP, explains that “A full citizen is someone who is employed, has a strong social circle, is politically active, and is a member of the community in every way.” He, along with the members of the staff, believes that attending college is one of the most effective ways of building full citizens.

The path is not easy.

There is a rigorous application process that begins when the parents or high school teachers of a student reaches out to the program and submits an application. The MRHEP staff evaluates the applications and recommendations.

Students then attend orientation along with their family, the idea being that, as Mr. Weiler puts it, “everyone—staff, student, and family—must share in this singular vision.” The student and parents are then interviewed separately to insure that the student and families expectations are in alignment with the vision of the program.

Finally, each student is given a project that tasks them with describing their dreams for the future, hobbies and job expectations. They attend a two day trial that includes them sitting in on supplemental courses where their level of engagement and motivation is measured. Then, and only then, does the committee pick the four or five students each year that are accepted into the program.

The seriousness of the selection process illustrates just how much of a difference becoming a part of the MRHEP can make for these students.

For example, two former students have returned to campus in order to take their General Education Diplomas (GEDs) through CSI’s Continuing Education Program.

Students who have graduated now have jobs at the Council for the Arts, at Barnes and Noble and The Wagner College Bookstore, to name a few. One former student now teaches English to elderly Chinese people.

Mr. Weiler gave an honest assessment of the possible career paths his students can take.“Maybe a student has aspirations of becoming a doctor,” he explained. “We help guide them toward a career path that may be more realistic, so, after three years that same student can earn a job working in a doctor’s office—the idea is we personalize each and every piece of curriculum to fit the needs and goals of each of our students.” The AHRC Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program primary goal is employment upon graduation.

As much as the MRHEP does for its students, they also make sure to give back to the campus any way they can. The staff is composed of CSI Alumni who work there full time or CSI interns earning credits as mentors. They are also sure to take part in several of the events on campus, both as a way of giving back and so the program’s students can participate in the campus atmosphere. Additionally, on an annual basis, CSI student mentors can compete for a $1,000, Melissa Riggio Higher Education Scholarship. This is funded through the Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC) Foundation.

Danielle Pompili, Community Support Supervisor, put it best: “it isn’t about being a guest; it is about being a partner.” She went on to explain that “everybody has the right to experience college and expand his or her world.”

For their part, the students are sure not to take the MRHEP for granted.

Paul Scherzinger, with the program since 2011, declared that he “always wanted to go to college and joined the program to “better myself.”

Christopher Siani, completing his first year with the program plans on volunteering at a nursing home and is excited to continue to “learn new things.”

When asked what the best part of attending CSI was, Siani answered, “It’s all the best.”

Award-winning actor Frank Ferrante recreates his PBS, New York, and London acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx in this fast paced 90-minute show full of hilarity.

An Afternoon with Groucho will be performed on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 3pm at the College of Staten Island’s Center for the Arts (CFA) Williamson Theatre.

Celebrate the madness and music of the one and only–Groucho! This two-act comedy consists of the best Groucho one-liners, anecdotes, and songs including “Hooray for Captain Spalding,” and “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady.” The audience literally becomes part of the show as Ferrante ad-libs his way throughout the performance in grand Groucho style.

Accompanied by his onstage pianist, Eric Ebbenga, Ferrante portrays the young Groucho of stage and film and reacquaints us with the likes of brothers Harpo, Chico, Zeppo, and Gummo, Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, Greta Garbo, Marx foil, Margaret Dumont, and MGM’s Louis B. Mayer.

The show is ideal for all ages.Tickets are $25, 20 and can be purchased in person, by phone, by mail, and online through the CFA Box Office, 2800 Victory Boulevard, 1P-113, Staten Island. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm; Saturday, noon to 3pm; 718.982.ARTS (2787), www.cfashows.com.

Frank Ferrante – (Groucho) is an actor, director, and producer described by The New York Times as “the greatest living interpreter of Groucho Marx’s material”.

Animal Crackers and A Night at the Opera co-author Morrie Ryskind called him “the only actor aside from Groucho who delivered my lines as they were intended”.

Discovered by Groucho’s son Arthur Marx when Frank was a drama student at the University of Southern California, Ferrante originated the Off-Broadway title role in Groucho: A Life in Revue (written by Arthur) portraying the comedian from age 15 to 85.

For more information regarding Frank Ferrante’s work please visit www.eveningwithgroucho.com

Business Insider, a global leader in aggregating, reporting, and analyzing the top news stories across the Web, teamed with the academic ranking and review service Niche, to compile a list of the country’s “most underrated colleges.”

“Oftentimes, these schools’ strong academic programs are overshadowed by the popular perception that a college is better if it’s tough to get into,” Business Insider reports, adding “these colleges challenge that myth, and are smart — and potentially safe — options for student applicants.”

The College of Staten Island (CSI), a senior college of The City University of New York (CUNY), was the only college chosen in New York State, one of 50 nationwide, to be included in the rankings.  It is the third national ranking for CSI in as many years.

Other prominent schools named to the list includes: University of North Carolina, University of Pittsburgh, University of Maryland, West Virginia University, American University, University of Connecticut, University of Delaware, Washington State University, University of Montana, Seton Hall University, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, and University of North Georgia.

“This article suggests that all students, even ones with the highest entrance scores and most impressive applicant portfolios, should consider attending one of these institutions,” notes Dr. William J. Fritz, Interim President at CSI, adding “I am familiar with all of the other 49 institutions on the list, and we have been placed with some very prestigious company.”

Read the full article at businessinsider.com>

“Business Insider and Niche have developed a new ranking model that levels the playing field for public college’s such as CSI,” Dr. Fritz states, “taking into account the breadth of opportunities available and the commitment to the students of our community.”

CSI, home to nearly 15,000 students, was named for the first time as one of America’s Best Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report in 2013, and one of “America’s Best-Bang-for-the-Buck Colleges” by Washington Monthly magazine in 2012.

“Recognition leads to confidence by others in our academic mission, which translates into the confidence to invest in resources for faculty and students,” Dr. Fritz concluded.

The rising national profile of CSI is well-timed as the College recently launched the $20 million “Campaign for CSI: For College and Community” to raise much-need funds for faculty support, student support, capital and construction projects, and increasing the College’s endowment.

Business Insider was launched in July 2007 by DoubleClick founders Dwight Merriman and Kevin Ryan, and former top-ranked Wall Street analyst Henry Blodget. In 2013, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos invested $5 million in the “leading online business news site for the digital age.”

Stand-up comedian, actor, and writer Paul Reiser has entertained us for more than 20 years with his quick wit and comedic talent. Join Reiser as he hits the College of Staten Island’s Center for the Arts (CFA) stage unleashing his hilarious and distinctive comedic take on life. Paul Reiser will be performing on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 8pm at the CFA Springer Concert Hall.

As a seasoned entertainer, Paul Reiser continues to add to his ever expanding list of accomplishments. In addition to co-creating and starring in the critically acclaimed NBC series, Mad About You with Helen Hunt, his successes include his most recent book, Familyhood, the long awaited follow-up to Babyhood and Couplehood which reached number one on The New York Times bestseller list.

Recently Reiser appeared alongside Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in the HBO original movie Behind the Candelabra based on the life of Liberace. Some of Reiser’s other film roles include Aliens, Beverly Hills Cop, Diner, Bye Bye Love, The Marrying Man, and The Thing About My Folks.

Perhaps lesser known are Reiser’s musical talents. Reiser wrote the Mad About You theme song with Grammy-winning producer Don Was. His most recent music project was releasing Unusual Suspects, an album of original songs he wrote with celebrated British singer/songwriter Julia Fordham, on which he also arranged and played piano.

Over the course of his diverse and successful career, Reiser has shown his passion and talent for entertaining. Join Reiser as he re-emerges on the comedy scene and returns to what he does best–making people laugh.

Tickets are $30, 25, 20 and can be purchased in person, by phone, by mail, and online through the CFA Box Office, 2800 Victory Boulevard, 1P-113, Staten Island. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm; Saturday, noon to 3pm; 718.982.ARTS (2787), www.cfashows.com.

The CUNY Board of Trustees appointed Dr. William J. Fritz President of the College of Staten Island.

The Board of Trustees of The City University of New York today appointed Dr. William J. Fritz, an internationally renowned field geologist, as President of the College of Staten Island. Dr. Fritz has been serving as Interim President of the College since August 2012. Interim Chancellor William P. Kelly recommended Dr. Fritz to the Board, which gave its unanimous approval.

Board of Trustees Chairperson Benno Schmidt said: “Dr. William J. Fritz is an outstanding administrator, prominent scholar and researcher with an impressive track record of collaboration with faculty and a commitment to student success. He has demonstrated exemplary leadership at the College of Staten Island.  He believes deeply in the College’s mission of offering its students access to a high quality education.  He will continue to bring great distinction to an institution of vital importance to Staten Island, our City and our State.”

Interim Chancellor William P. Kelly said:  “In the two years that Dr. Fritz has served as interim president of CSI, he has set a bright course for the future.  Among many other achievements, he has established a School of Business, School of Education, and a School of Health Sciences. Under his leadership, CSI has opened its first residence halls, has made significant progress with its advancement efforts, and has played a leading role in statewide initiatives such as CUNY 2020 and Start Up NY.  CSI’s profile within the borough and throughout CUNY has been sharpened; the college enjoys warm relations with many external partners.”

Read the full article on the CUNY Newswire at cuny.edu>>

Elsa Garcia takes a break at the Nancy Munson Memorial Fountain on Alumni Walk.

Elsa Garcia, a senior accounting major with the School of Business has traveled a long road to reach her commencement this May. In 1998 she arrived in the US from Chihuahua, Mexico, soon married, gave birth to two children, and then learned to speak English while being a full-time mom to toddlers.

Her ten-year-journey to college graduation was made possible by the many opportunities available at The City College of New York (CUNY) as well as the College of Staten Island (CSI).

In 2004, Elsa heard about the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at the Adult Learning Center, part of CSI’s Continuing Education program. After spending three semesters studying English she craved another challenge and wanted to earn her GED.

While remembering her experience preparing for the GED, Elsa practically shuddered. “It was the most difficult test in my life,” she said of the GED. “I didn’t even know what an essay was but I knew I wanted to do more than just learn English.”

After passing her GED exam she was accepted into the College Transition Initiative (the forerunner to CUNY START) at LaGuardia College where she excelled, mostly, she explained, due to the support she received from the faculty and staff. “I feel like they took my hand and taught me how to be a college student,” said Elsa of her time with the Initiative. “I was taught how to apply for college, the advisors helped me with every step—I was even given the $75 I needed to submit my college application.”

The road was not a completely smooth one however, as she failed the CUNY Reading Exam by one point.

Disappointed but not defeated, Elsa enrolled in the CUNY Learning Immersion Program (CLIP) for the summer, retook the test and scored the highest score in her cohort. In her CLIP evaluation, her instructor, Azedah Leonard called Elsa, “a student every teacher wishes to have.”

Elsa was then accepted into the Accelerated Studies in Associates Program (ASAP) at CUNY’s Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) which, she claimed, “helped me in every way—it was another door.” As a result of being in ASAP, she received all the support she needed from books, advisement to Metro cards. In five years, Elsa went from a Mexican immigrant who did not speak English to a mother of two with an Associate’s Degree taking her kids for swimming lessons at BMCC.

Donna Grant, Director of the Adult Learning Center and CUNY START at CSI, responded to the theme of doors, saying, “A lot of people think all of the doors are closing on them when in reality once a door closes, another opens…Elsa understood that.”

Along with all her work as a full-time student, Elsa never forgot that she was a full-time mom, as well.

At BMCC she made it a point to schedule classes early in the day so she could drop her kids off at school and pick them up when she was done. During Saturday classes she brought her kids with her and they took advantage of BMCC’s pool and movie theatre. “My kids enjoyed it immensely,” said Elsa of her kid’s experience on campus. “They befriended the staff and faculty—they were a big hit in the lunchroom.”

Elsa spent her time in ASAP at BMCC on the Dean’s list and graduated with her Associate’s Degree with honors. She applied to CSI and was able to transfer all of her credits and even received a scholarship through the ASAP Program, factors that Elsa calls, “Part of the Plan.”

“I noticed the difference between studying for my Associate’s and studying for a Bachelor’s right away,” Elsa admitted. “Studying is like a muscle, you have to work it out.”

At CSI, Ms. Grant, who had been tracing Elsa’s journey since the beginning offered some advice,” I told her to enjoy college,” she said. “Part of going to college is experiencing all aspects of the campus, not only the classes.” With that in mind, knowing that studying for an Accounting degree would be difficult, Elsa forged ahead but was sure to “smell the roses.” She took several art classes, studied Health Sciences, played tennis, studied music, and even became a loyal CSI basketball fan along with her children.

She was also a member of the Emerging Leaders Program for two semesters in which she volunteered her already precious time tutoring GED students in math through the Continuing Education Program.

Now, as Elsa is completing her ten-year-journey and embarks on a new one in the career of Accounting, she takes the time to appreciate her hard work and the support she received getting to this point.

“I didn’t speak any English—I started by reading children’s books,” she admitted while discussing her humble origins. “Now, I am reading books about business law and hate leaving the CSI library because I love learning so much—I would never have made it without all of the programs CUNY offers students like myself.”

Ms. Grant reiterated that’s statement, “these types of programs open doors to non-traditional students,” she said of programs such as ASAP and CUNY START. “Every year, people come into our programs with the desire to learn and we make it possible for them to achieve their dream.”

Elsa has some advice for students who like her, are not native English speakers or are full-time parents. “First off, you have to really want it because it isn’t easy,” she said of working toward a college degree. “Take it step by step, there is no rush—it took me almost ten years—but most importantly, you have to enjoy it.”

National Grid's Steve Holliday gives an engineering presentation to students from Curtis High School.

The Chief Executive of National Grid from London, Steve Holliday, along with the New York President of National Grid, Ken Daly, and his leadership team, recently visited the campus of the College of Staten Island. After a reception in the office of CSI President William Fritz, the group was escorted on a brief tour of the College’s 204-acre park-like campus.

The visit culminated with a demonstration of the fusion of two plastic gas pipes by National Grid technical trainers for 30 students from Curtis High School. The technicians explained that this process is employed in the field when gas service is provided to various locations. Following the demonstration, National Grid allowed ample time for students to ask specific questions. As one of the leading energy utility companies in the world, National Grid also made a significant impact on the students as top executives discussed the career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Dr. Neo Antoniades, Associate Professor in the CSI Department of Engineering Science and Physics, also engaged the students in hands-on experiments in CSI’s state-of-the-art electronics laboratory. In addition, Professor Antoniades presented a series of mini-lectures on the fields of engineering, design, and mathematics in engineering;  the concepts and role of electronics in our lives; and research in electrical engineering with a focus on high-tech fiber optics.

“National Grid’s presence on the CSI campus and the precious time spent interacting with high school and college students has shown us the tremendous value that the company places on educating the next generation of engineers and their commitment to continuing the working relationship with the College of Staten Island and the Department of Engineering Science and Physics,” said Professor Antoniades.

Dr. Antoniades has been presenting an Engineering Workshop Series to intermediate and high school students since 2008 and National Grid has been the primary funder of those workshops.

National Grid also sponsors STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) scholarships for CSI students as an extension of the company’s Engineering Our Future Initiative (EOF), which encourages young people to study STEM.

The College of Staten Island continues to support STEM studies as an educational experience for high school and college students, while also creating an awareness of the numerous career choices in those industries.  National Grid’s longtime partnership with CSI enables the College to continue its legacy of excellence with the finest faculty and facilities available.

The College of Staten Island athletics program celebrated another great year that was this evening, dishing out over 60 awards at its annual awards banquet held at La Greci’s Staaten in Staten Island, New York.  The annual event recognized the top performers and other distinguished award winners spanning CSI’s 14 intercollegiate programs.

View the CSI Today Photo Gallery>

After greetings from Director of Athletics Charles Gomes and CSI President Dr. William Fritz, awards were given for each sport in chronological order beginning with teams last fall, and ending with women’s softball, which finalized its season with a CUNYAC title and was one of three teams to advance to NCAA National Tournament competition.

Major awards were presented to Female Athlete of the Year Demi-Jean Martorano, senior from the women’s soccer team, who decimated the record books, tying a team record for goals this season with 26, while easily compiling a career record for goals with 85 and points with 204.  The midfielder/forward earned CUNYAC Player of the Year honors this fall for the second time in her career.  CSI Basketball sharp-shooter Bloochy Magloire earned Male Athlete of the Year honors.  Magloire, a first-team CUNYAC All-Star led CSI basketball to its finest season ever at 28-3 overall, complete with the program’s first ECAC title in 30 years.  Along the way, Magloire eclipsed the school’s all-time point scoring record with 1,822 career markers.

CSI Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors was given to men’s tennis star and senior Daniel Ursomanno.  A CUNYAC All-Star this season, Ursomanno was a finalist for the school’s Valedictorian honor at Commencement and was named a CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorable Mention, boasting a 3.96 GPA in Business Management.  Emmanuel Esperance Jr., Director of Recruitment and Admissions, also honored the CSI Women’s Tennis team for posting CSI Athletics’ highest Team GPA, at 3.47.

Andrew Pate, graduating junior from men’s cross-country, was awarded the 9th Annual Bill Cali/John Scrivani Sportsmanship Award, named after CSI’s former baseball skippers who earned similar honors from the Staten Island Advance in 2005.  CSI men’s basketball head coach Tony Petosa, who won the same honor from the Advance in 2011, assisted in the presentation.  Pate, the CUNYAC Individual Champion at this year’s championship helped deliver CSI the CUNYAC team championship, their first in program history.

CSI Bursar Michael Baybusky, a familiar voice of athletic programming on CSI SportsNet, was on hand to offer nearly 20 awards, bestowed to CSI student-athletes who earned yearly awards from the CUNYAC and ECAC, among other national agencies. Baybusky also noted the CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors held this same evening at John Jay College.

Honoring those outside the halls of athletics, the program honored Staten Island Advance sportswriter Jim Waggoner with its annual Distinguished Service Award, highlighting his 27 years of service to CSI and the sports community.

Midway through the ceremony, members of the CSI Student-Athlete Advisory Committee presented their fifth-annual G.L.O.V.E. Award to the CSI Men’s Baseball Team for their model of Giving, Leading, Organizing, Volunteering, and Encouraging.

All told, the rousing event was a great success, according to David Pizzuto, Associate Athletic Director, principal organizer and host of the event each year.

“Our administration deserves a lot of credit for pitching in and making this night a great success,” he said.  “Each year I’m amazed by the level of excellence our student-athletes exhibit, and today is a small token in showing how much we respect that.”

Gomes, the driving force behind bringing the banquet off-campus to the Staaten this year concurs.  “This has been an outstanding year for our athletic department and I’m happy that we have the opportunity to honor the accomplishments of this impressive group of student-athletes,” Gomes said. “They’ve represented the College of Staten Island extremely well on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. I’m looking forward to making next year even better.”

An end-of-year highlight video, prepared by CSI Facilities Manager Anthony Avena was the highlight of the evening.  The video will be posted soon.  The CSI academic year will come to a close in the coming weeks, when Commencement will take place on May 29.

Award winners this year include the following:

Men’s Soccer (3)
MVP – Alfonso Castaneda
Rookie – Jacob Szumanski
Coaches – Mubaric Ibrahim

Men’s Basketball (3)
MVP – Bloochy Magloire
Rookie: Frankie Schettino
Coaches:  Matthew Van Manen

Men’s Swimming (4)
MVP: Danila Novikov
MVD (Diver): John Pignatelli
Rookie: Tim Sweeney
Coaches:  Stephen O’Driscoll

Women’s Swimming (3)
MVP: Dakota Dawkins
Rookie: Naomi Gaggi
Coaches:  Olivia Brown

Men’s Baseball (4)
MVP – Joe Palmeri
Pitcher – Chris Falcone
Rookie – Josh Bernstein
Sportsmanship – Chris Moran

Women’s Basketball (5)
MVP: Melanie Johnson
Rookie:  Alyssa Carlsen
Senior Award: Jaclyn Tocco
Co-Coaches:  Katelyn Hepworth
Co-Coaches:  Megan Myhre

Cheerleading (3)
MVP: Stephanie Davis
Rookie:  Brianna Spicer
COY (Cheerleader of the Year): Ashley Isaacs

Women’s Volleyball (4)
MVP: Pola Poskrobko
Co-Rookie: Siobhan Granich
Co-Rookie:  Victoria Wong
Coaches: Jean Marie Lewandowki

Women’s Softball (4)
Offensive MVP – Christina Tufano
Defensive MVP – Brittany Smith
Rookie: Jacqueline Cautela
Coaches:  Christina DeCarlo

Women’s Cross-Country (3)
MVP: Victoria Barry
Rookie:  Rebecca Vidal
Coaches:  Ayat Odeh

Men’s Cross-Country (3)
MVP: Andrew Pate
Rookie: Justin Mills
Coaches:  Kenneth Morella

Women’s Soccer (3)
Co-MVP: Demi-Jean Martorano
Co-MVP: Samantha Wysokowski
Coaches:  Gabriella Romero

Women’s Tennis: (3)
MVP: Sabrina Bragerton-Nasert
Rookie: Nozima Toshpulatova
Coaches: Michelle Kushnir

Men’s Tennis (3)
MVP:  Daniel Ursomanno
Rookie:  Chris Pinto
Coaches: Ed Ruffe

Distinguished Service Award
Jim Waggoner

SAAC G.L.O.V.E. Award
Men’s Baseball

Team G.P.A. Award
Women’s Tennis, 3.47

Bill Cali/John Scrivani Sportsmanship Award
Andrew Pate, Men’s Cross-Country

Male Athlete of the Year
Bloochy Magloire, Men’s Basketball

Female Athlete of the Year
Demi-Jean Martorano, Women’s Soccer

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Daniel Ursomanno, Men’s Tennis

Top U.S. colleges and universities were ranked in a TIME Magazine article that stemmed from a White House proposal to assess how well colleges and universities serve their students. To see how well the proposal would work, TIME used numbers from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

The College of Staten Island (CSI) ranks 48^th out of 2,500 institutions of higher learning in the country when the interactive ratings are set to their default importance of equally weighting graduation rates, tuition, and the percentage of students who receive Pell Grants.  If affordability is of primary importance, CSI tops out as 22^nd in the United States in TIME’s interactive rankings.

This is the fifth prestigious national ranking for CSI in the last three years.

Dr. William J. Fritz, recently named president of CSI after serving for the past two years as interim president, and the previous five as provost, feels the ranking algorithms are finally leveling the playing field for institutions such as CSI and The City University of New York (CUNY), where access and affordability dovetail with a world-class education and unparalleled opportunities.

“The continued national recognition for the high-quality education at the College of Staten Island is long overdue, and we are proud to be included in TIME magazine’s list of top colleges and universities in the country,” Fritz said. “Our many national distinctions are made possible by the tireless work and dedicated efforts of our faculty, staff and outstanding students, and are a source of great pride for all members of our college and Island community.”

CSI was named for the first time last year as one of “America’s Best Colleges” in the North by U.S. News & World Report; while Washington Monthly magazine recently named CSI one of “America’s Best-Bang-for-the-Buck Colleges.” Business Insider, the leading business and technology news website, named CSI to its list of top schools in the country with great academics and high acceptance rates that challenge the myth that a college is necessarily better if it is more difficult to gain entrance, criteria which mirror CUNY’s mission. Only one school per state was chosen, with CSI representing New York. The College is also consistently listed in the top 15% of “Military-Friendly” schools in the country by G.I. Jobs magazine.

Each of the 2,500 colleges and universities were evaluated according to its six-year graduation rate, the percentage of full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving Pell grants, and the net cost for students receiving any form of aid whose families make less than $110,000 a year.

The TIME magazine article and interactive rankings regarding graduation rate, accessibility and affordability can be found online at “Obama Thinks He Can Rate Colleges. Can You Do Better?”

College of Staten Island Class of 2014 Salutatorian Elizabeth Krawczun

Elizabeth Krawczun  is a Verrazano School student who will receive a Bachelor’s degree in Epidemiology. She has served as a volunteer at the South Beach Psychiatric Center and performed independent research, working on data collection within the infection control department.  In January 2013, she studied abroad through Brooklyn College in a global health program in rural India, and last January, she traveled through the Macaulay Honors College to the Dominican Republic to study health and water sustainability. In Summer 2013, she participated in the CUNY Summer Undergraduate Research Program working under Prof. Heidi Jones, Hunter School of Public Health, studying clinical abortion methods and treatment of female patients across the U.S. and Canada. She has served as President of the CSI Chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and was a member of the Emerging Leaders program.

Elizabeth has been accepted into two graduate programs in the UK this fall, and will make her final decision to study Epidemiology at Imperial College London or Medical Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh.

More about Elizabeth:

• CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies: Epidemiology
• B.A. anticipated June 2014
• CUNY Baccalaureate Thomas W. Smith Academic Fellowship (Fall 2012–)
• CSI-2014 Verrazano Senior Convocation Class Speaker (May 2014)
• CSI- Eta Lambda Chapter of Phi Beta Delta (May 2014)
• CUNY-Japan Kakehashi Program (May 2013)
• President, National Society of Collegiate Scholars,CSI Chapter (May 2013–)
• CSI-Verrazano Honors Program (Fall 2011–)
• CSI-Verrazano Study Abroad Scholarship (January 2013)
• CSI-Emerging Leaders Program (Fall 2012–Spring 2013)
• CSI-STEAM Scholarship (Fall 2011)
• Dean’s List (2011-2013)

Blaze presented his research findings at the 18th International Taurine Conference in Marrakech, Morocco, April 2012.

Blaze Fraser is graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 3.9 GPA from College of Staten Island’s Verrazano School Honors Program. While studying at CSI, he conducted undergraduate research under the supervision of Dr. William L’Amoreaux, director of the Imaging Facility. Blaze’s research is focused on taurine, an effective osmolyte in the body, and its physiological effects on different tissues. This upcoming fall semester, he will begin attending the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in pursuit of his long-term goal of becoming a dentist.

Blaze is the middle of five children, all born and raised in Staten Island. After Commencement, he will be the fourth College of Staten Island graduate of his family with the others including his mother Bernadette, brother Jerry, and sister Lauren. He takes great joy in his family and faith and their influence on his personality, work ethic, and outlook on life. He is thankful to the College of Staten Island for allowing him to achieve through all of the exceptional opportunities presented to him.

More about Blaze:

• Member and Treasurer, CSI Pre-Dental Association (2011-2013)
• Department of Biology/Imaging Facility – researched the effects of Taurine on RPE tissues under the supervision of Dr. William L’Amoreaux (Spring 2012, Spring 2014); created experimental set-ups; grew cell cultures and treated and examined them; trained to use various lab equipment
• Presented preliminary research findings at the 18th International Taurine Conference in Marrakech, Morocco (April 2012)
• Recipient, STEAM Scholarship (2011-2013)
• Recipient, Student Government Academic and Curricular Affairs Departmental Scholarship, 2012
• Part-time manager at Body Tan (2011-2013)
• Post-graduation Plans: Has been accepted to Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and will attend starting in Fall 2014.

The Verrazano School Honors Program at the College of Staten Island held its fourth annual Verrazano Senior with 34 graduates in the Class of 2014 representing 18 different majors.

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Verrazano graduates include Blaze Fraser, the 2014 CSI Valedictorian, and Elizabeth Krawczun, the 2014 CSI Salutatorian.   Six students are graduating summa cum laude, the highest Latin honor awarded to students based on cumulative GPA, and twenty-three students overall are graduating with Latin honors, indicating a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

As has become a Verrazano tradition, Professor Charles Liu, the multitalented Director of The Verrazano School, provided a live piano prelude before welcoming the graduates and guests at the start of the ceremony.  Dr. Fred Naider, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, brought greetings on behalf of President William J. Fritz and congratulated the graduates on their many accomplishments while wishing them continued success in their future endeavors.

Salutatorian Elizabeth Krawczun, the graduate selected as this year’s Class Speaker through an application process, reflected on the role of The Verrazano School in the lives of its students and encouraged her fellow graduates as they move into the next phase of their lives.

“We came to CSI to master a body of knowledge, “ Krawczun remarked, “whether to learn the physiology of the human limbic system, interpret the poems of Tennyson, or study electromagnetic principles of a Faraday device, we entered college because we wanted to glimpse the possibilities of what we could achieve, and to imagine a life of successes and contentment. The Verrazano School helped us to do just that. Studying abroad allowed us to grow and experience new places and cultures, volunteering strengthened our sense of community and service and purpose, Verrazano Extracurricular Learning Activities (VELA) events taught us how to highlight our accomplishments and seek out new and exciting opportunities through interview and internship sessions, personal statement writing, and resume building workshops . . .

“Moving forward, we accept the responsibility to keep our minds open, to reflect on the possibilities of how we might live and understand ourselves, others, and the world. In translation, the Greek author Plutarch wrote, “What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.” This expresses our inescapable connection with the outside world, and the fact that we touch other people’s lives simply by existing. Graduates, your intelligence, your capacity for hard work and the education you have earned and received, give you unique status, and great possibilities.  Recognize the great potential you hold in this competitive world. Success is never an accident.”

The Verrazano School Honors Program strives to create a culture in which students not only achieve academic excellence in their courses of study but are well-prepared for graduate studies and professional success, and are connected to their local and global community through service and leadership.  The Verrazano Class of 2014 embodies these goals, and indeed their success is not accidental.  Over the past four years, more than two-thirds of the graduates participated in undergraduate research and scholarship.  Verrazano graduates have presented their research at venues including the CSI Undergraduate Conference on Research, Scholarship, and Performance, the CSTEP conference at Lake George, the CUNY Summer Undergraduate Research Conference (CSURP) in Manhattan, and the International Student Computer Cluster Competition in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Due to their academic excellence, Verrazano graduates have been inducted into the Phi Beta Delta International Honors Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, and Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society for Business, Management, and Administration.   Students also participated in internships at organizations and companies including SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Staten Island Mental Health Society, YMCA, Staten Island University Hospital, Integrated Financial Services, and Clear Channel Media & Entertainment.

The connection to the local and global community through service and leadership was exemplified in the Verrazano Class of 2014.  Verrazano graduates explored the world through study abroad programs, conferences, and volunteerism in countries including China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, England, India, Italy, and Morocco.  The national average of college students studying abroad is approximately 2%, but nearly 30% of the Verrazano graduates had an international educational experience.  In addition, two students presented research at the International Taurine Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco in Spring 2012 and one student spent several weeks every year volunteering at an orphanage and school in the Dominican Republic.

Collectively, the Verrazano graduates completed more than 3300 hours of community service at organizations including public schools, Staten Island University Hospital, Eden II, Families Helping Families, Richmond University Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital, the Staten Island Zoo, and numerous Verrazano and other campus activities.  Seven of the graduates were honored for their exemplary service to the community, and Angela Dauge, a Science, Letters and Society major, was specially recognized for completing over 650 hours of service at Project Homefront.

Many graduates were also involved in campus activities and served in leadership roles including Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, officer board of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, members of the Emerging Leaders Program, Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams, Swim and Diving Team, WSIA radio station, President of the Pre-Dental Association, Psychology Club, Accounting Club, and the Senior Class Gift Committee.

The broad reach of Verrazano students in the world was evident in an anecdote that Professor Liu shared during the ceremony.   Just a day before the Convocation, he was driving on a desolate Arizona highway on his way to a scientific conference.  While listening to the radio, he heard a familiar voice come over the airwaves.  Lauren Hornek, a Media Studies major in the Class of 2014, was live on the air on the “60s on 6” channel on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.  Lauren’s tenacity and hard work landed her several internships at SiriusXM which ultimately led to her being offered a full-time position this spring.  Professor Liu shared that this is just one example of the impact that Verrazano students have outside the borders of the campus.

Many Verrazano graduates will continue their education next year, both locally and internationally.  Blaze Fraser, the 2014 CSI Valedictorian, will be attending Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, and Elizabeth Krawczun, the 2014 CSI Salutatorian, will be attending the University of Edinburgh to pursue a MSc in Medical Anthropology.   In addition, Verrazano graduates have been accepted to Doctoral programs in Physical Therapy at the College of Staten Island and Nazareth College; graduate programs in Accounting, Computer Science, Special Education, and TESOL at the College of Staten Island; and a Master’s program in School Counseling at St. John’s University.  Other graduates are taking the year off to study for the MCAT and LSAT before applying to medical school and law school for the fall of 2015.

The Verrazano Senior Convocation ceremony concluded with the awarding of Verrazano certificates and honor cords to each graduate.  Verrazano graduates wear the blue and gold honor cords at Honors Convocation and Commencement to signify that they have successfully fulfilled the requirements of The Verrazano School Honors Program.

After the ceremony,  graduates and their guests made their way over to the Green Dolphin Lounge for a dessert reception to cap off the evening.  The reception, catered by Jodi Merendino and her staff, kept with the Verrazano tradition of including an assortment of homemade miniature pies with the Verrazano “V” on top. The reception offered an opportunity for students to celebrate with their families and friends, professors, CSI administrators, and Verrazano alumni.

College of Staten Island Class of 2014 Salutatorian Elizabeth Krawczun

The College of Staten Island honored its top students at the Seventh Annual Honors Convocation at the Center of the Arts Springer Concert Hall.

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Elizabeth Krawczun, the CSI Class of 2014 Salutatorian and graduate from the Verrazano School Honors Program, was the student speaker at the event which also featured remarks by Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. A. Ramona Brown, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Fred Naider and CSI President Dr. William J. Fritz.

Before the 2014 CSI Salutatorian spoke to those in attendance, President Fritz offered his remarks.

President Fritz first asked the honorees to take a moment to recognize all of the individuals who “have so positively touched and influenced your lives.” He then discussed the reasons for which the students were being honored—that the College was proudly celebrating “your intellect, your drive to succeed, and your dedication to service.”

Continuing a trend that he began at last year’s Honors Convocation, President Fritz quoted last year’s class of 2013 Salutatorian, Christina Terracino, because “after all, I realized there is no greater source of inspiration than the words coming from our own students.” President Fritz chose a quote that he felt best expressed a deep appreciation of interdisciplinary education.

“The way in which literature can capture the human condition and lead us to understand multiple perspectives is truly remarkable. Literature allows us to relate to things previously unimaginable. Perhaps I can now better imagine the feeling of a Nursing student nervously lifting a syringe for the first time, the joy of a Biology major experiencing the results of an experiment that has just come to fruition, or a student of music who has just found the perfect song lyric. Music, like literature, tells a story. I learned the power of words, and heard the many interpretations expressed by fellow students during class discussions. I learned that everyone has a story to tell.”

Dr. Fritz ended his remarks by telling the honorees that “we celebrate your stories tonight,” and that “we stand in awe of all the things you have already achieved and all that you have contributed to the continuing success and evolution of this great institution.”

Krawczun, who graduated with a CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies in Epidemiology, then discussed a recent Facebook post she read about a professor using a jar filled with golf balls, pebbles, and sand as a way to provide his students with a metaphor for life. “Now,” she said, quoting the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the most important things—your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions—and if everything else was lost, your life would still be full.”

“The message of this story is a simple one but one that we need to reminded of every once in a while.” Krawczun concluded, remarking on the message of the post.

She then quoted writer Neil Gaiman when, during a commencement speech in 2012 told the attendees to “make good art.”

“As we go forward,” she explained, “we must take our scholarship, ambition, character, heart, and spirit to make good art. Programming software, pumping gas, preparing a good meal, telling a funny joke. Make good art. Graduating is art, and hopefully there are other, better, pieces to come. You are art. Life is art.”

Krawczun also referenced her study abroad trip to India and how it “truly changed me and changed how I viewed myself and the world.”

She also talked about how, if on May 30^th, the day after graduation, “your gown is hanging in your closet or rolled into a ball in the trunk of your car, if you are working early or sleeping late, you should be proud. Remember to be proud.”

Following the ceremony, the honored students, their families and friends, faculty, and staff attended a dessert reception in the Center for the Arts Atrium where they were able to celebrate their accomplishments at CSI but, like Krawczun urged her fellow honorees, to remember to be proud.

Preparing for its second installment, the College of Staten Island is unveiling its Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2014, and will celebrate the memories and accolades of seven deserving members in time for its inauguration ceremony this fall. The year’s chosen field will be honored on Thursday, November 13, 2014, at Staten Island’s Grand Oaks Country Club. This year’s eclectic mix of candidates will join the seven members chosen in the inaugural Class of 2012 as the Hall’s only members, which honors deserving individuals from both the College of Staten Island and Staten Island Community College.

The distinguished honorees of the CSI Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2014 are:

- Fiosa Begai – Women’s Soccer Player (2005-2008)
- Kevin Crombie – Men’s Baseball Player (1989-1992)
- Nicole Estrada – Women’s Basketball/Softball Player (2005-2009)
- Fran Hirschy – Men’s Baseball Coach (1989-1994)
- William Hodge – Men’s Track & Field Player (1968-70)
- Bruce Knittle – Men’s & Women’s Tennis Coach (1993-2003)
- Rob Roesch – Men’s Basketball Player (1987-89)

“We are extremely proud to announce the 2014 Hall of Fame Class,” said CSI Athletics Director Charles Gomes. “Each of these former individuals were among the absolute best to have ever competed at CSI and set a standard we hope our current teams strive to achieve. We look forward to immortalizing the accomplishments of the 2014 Hall of Fame Class during our event in November.”

A total of five athletes and a pair of coaches will earn distinction this time around, with the most contemporary names coming from the women’s fields.

Two-sport star Nicole Estrada dominated the basketball hardwood and softball diamond from 2005-2009, winning CUNYAC softball championships in 2007 and 2009. The slugger finished with a .362 lifetime batting average, and was good for fifth on CSI’s all-time hit list with 158. On the court, Estrada finished second all-time with 1,588 career tallies, adding 680 career rebounds, good for sixth all-time. The dynamic two way player ranks fifth all-time in assists (311) and fourth all-time in career steals (264).

Doing the same on the soccer pitch was four-year standout Fiosa Begai. The four-time CUNYAC champion and conference Most Valuable Player set the standard at the College, ushering in the women’s program at CSI by setting multiple school records. By the time her career came to close she owned the school record for goals, since broken, at 53, adding 21 assists, and 254 shots, currently second on the all-time list. Her 13 career game-winners are also second all-time, along with her 127 total points.

Men’s hoops star Rob Roesch only spent two seasons with the Dolphins from 1987-89, but the Dolphins went 55-16 in his two seasons, winning a pair of CUNYAC titles. Roesch was a two-time CUNYAC MVP, finishing with 1,364 points and 850 rebounds (good for second all-time) in his abridged career. Roesch’s 727 points alone in 1987-88 are a single-season school record, as were his 482 rebounds in 1988-89. His 57 career blocks rank fifth all-time.

Four-year baseball hurler Kevin Crombie becomes the first baseball star to join the Hall. Crombie’s unique sidearm style was the envy of the NCAA Division III ranks, as the Dolphins won a pair of CUNYAC Championships and made a pair of trips to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament, the only ones in school history. Crombie boasted a career 28-4 record with a miniscule 2.40 ERA, the second-lowest mark in school history. Crombie also places second all-time at CSI in career innings pitched (229.0) and strikeouts (281), while placing third all-time in complete games (13) and saves (4). The right-hander also posted six shutouts in his career, four alone during the 1991 season.

Staten Island Community College made its mark on the Hall of Fame this season by way of legendary runner, the late-William Hodge. The captain of the track squad from 1968-70, Hodge was the record-holder in the quarter-mile at SICC, and was a member of the gold medal team in the one-mile relay at the Penn Relays, the only SICC or CSI gold medal win in program history at the prestigious event that feature runners at every collegiate level. Devoted to a career in track & field, upon putting the SICC program on the map, Hodge then dedicated his life to coaching, winning Coach of the Year honors and a bevy of championships at four different NCAA Division I schools and earning enshrinement into the Robert Morris Hall of Fame in 2010. Hodge passed away in 2010 at just 59 years of age while coaching at Belmont Abbey in North Carolina, where he also lived.

Hodge’s coaching career after his playing days are certainly as worthy of enshrinement as the two coaches that enter the CSI Hall of Fame in 2014. Legendary Men’s and Women’s Tennis coach Bruce Knittle, a former pro who once defeated John McEnroe, guided the Dolphins programs to a total of 10 CUNYAC Championships (eight women’s titles and two men’s) in his 10 years at the helm of both programs from 1993-03. The coach pioneered the sport at the College, introducing a highly successful summer camp at the College during that same time.

Baseball skipper Fran Hirschy did not have the longevity of Knittle’s, but the coach’s all-time 111-40 (.735) record over five seasons with the squad from 1989-94, still stands as CSI and NCAA Division III records for winning percentage over that time. The team won three CUNYAC titles during that stretch and made the College’s only two NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances in 1991 and 1992, going 5-4 all-time in the dance as CSI’s only sport with a winning record in national championship play. Hirschy also guided the Dolphins to it’s first-ever ECAC Championship in 1990. In his five-year career, the Dolphins posted a 33-3 record in CUNYAC play.

The seven honorees will be honored collectively in November. They were chosen among dozens of potential hopefuls, all nominated by the CSI and outside community. A total of 14 members make up the Hall of Fame committee at the College, representing a cross-section of administrators, coaches, students, media and at-large members of the Staten Island community.

CSI Associate Athletic Director David Pizzuto, who served as Chair and Master of Ceremonies at the inaugural event in 2012 and serves as Chairperson again in 2014, was delighted with this year’s class.

“The Hall of Fame process provides us with an appreciation for the many achievements and standout performers our department has boasted over the years,” he said. “We had so many valued candidates that the selection of just seven honorees was incredibly difficult. That said I feel the Class of 2014 is one we can be extremely proud of. We have a terrific cross-section of student-athletes and coaches who set the benchmark for the excellence that has come to define our athletic programming today. It’s humbling to be a part of.”

Gomes, who joined the CSI athletics administration in 2013, sees the Hall of Fame as a showcase for the program, and with two years between Hall of Fame classes, he hopes to build the ceremony with each class.

“This will be a great event for the College of Staten Island as we honor those individuals who made outstanding contributions to our athletic tradition,” Gomes said. “They raised the bar with their athletic performances, and we will now raise the bar in how we celebrate their accomplishments. It promises to be an exciting event.”

The inauguration event will take place at Grand Oaks Country Club at 200 Huguenot Avenue, on Thursday, November 13, 2014, from 6-10pm, and will feature a full three-course dinner with open bar. Tickets can be purchased at $100 each per adult and $75 for children, by calling (718) 982-3169. Donations, sponsorship opportunities and journal postings are also available. For more information call (718) 982-3169 or log onto www.csidolphins.com.

The heat that accompanied recent Commencements at the College of Staten Island took a welcome hiatus, this year, as a partly cloudy day with temperatures in the high 50s greeted the 2,375 members of the Class of 2014, and their families and supporters at CSI’s 65th Commencement on the morning of May 29.

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View and download the event program>

In his opening remarks, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Fred Naider explained that although this year’s ceremony marked the 38th Commencement since the establishment of CSI in 1976, it is actually the 65th when all of the commencements of the College’s predecessor institutions (Staten Island Community College and Richmond College) are taken into account. This readjustment of the clock represents the efforts of College President Dr. William J. Fritz and his administration to embrace the proud heritage and legacy of the only public institution of higher education on the Island.

In keeping with this new approach, legacy was the dominant theme in President Fritz’s Commencement address. He pointed to the proud legacy at CSI that the graduates had help to build, noting the recent national recognition of the College’s excellence, including Time magazine’s college ranking that placed CSI at number 48 out of 2,500, ahead of Stanford, MIT, and University of California-Berkeley; Business Insider, the prominent business and technology Website, recently choosing CSI to represent the State of New York on its list of top schools in the country; and U.S. News and World Report selecting the College as one of the Best College’s in the Northeast.

Part of that legacy, President Fritz stated, were the many recent achievements on the CSI campus and beyond, such as the opening of the Dolphin Cove residence halls; the College’s new doctoral-granting status with programs in Nursing and Physical Therapy; its new schools of Business, Education, and Health Sciences; and accolades that include three National Science Foundation awardees and a Guggenheim Fellow. President Fritz also underscored the critical and selfless support that CSI students provided to our community in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

“No wonder,” President Fritz said, “Governor [Andrew] Cuomo during a visit last year called our campus ‘a jewel of the CUNY system.’ You were here. This is your great legacy.”

President Fritz concluded his remarks by paying tribute to the achievements of alumni from CSI, SICC, and Richmond College, which began with the first class of 200 from SICC in 1956, noting that people must embrace and honor the past in order to forge an effective and meaningful path to the future.

This year’s valedictorian was Blaze Fraser, who was graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. After spotlighting the immense contribution of “secretaries, tech support, professors, and administration” to the achievements of the Class of 2014, Fraser devoted a portion of his speech to the importance of motivation to achieving success. “Without that drive inside of you,” he told the graduates, “your journey to this point is a long unsure road. Your understanding of yourself as a person and perception of what your reasons are for everything you do gives you that direction and fuels you to succeed. Many of us here today understand ourselves and our incentives more than we did before this journey began.”

Also on hand to honor the College’s newest alumni and extend their support were U.S. Senator Charles Schumer; CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Secretary of the Board of Trustees Jay Hershenson; and CUNY Trustee Rita DiMartino.

In the afternoon, the tradition of honoring exceptional CSI faculty, staff, and students continued with the Annual Dolphin Awards ceremony.

Read the bios and view the CSI Today Dolphin Awards Photo Gallery>

This year’s honorees included:

- Outstanding Scholarly Achievement by a Member of the Full-Time Faculty: Soon Chun

-Outstanding Teaching by a Member of the Full-Time Faculty: Richard Flanagan

- Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Full-Time Faculty: Jonathan Peters

-Outstanding Teaching by a Member of the Adjunct Faculty: Jennifer Durando

- Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Non-Teaching Instructional Staff in HEO Title: Vito Zajda

-Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Non-Instructional Staff in CLT and OIT Specialists Title: Aleksander Dudek

-Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Non-Instructional Staff: Mary Ann Durante

-Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Non-Instructional Staff in Maintenance, Operations, Security: Mary-Jeanne Hennessy

-Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Part-Time, Non-Teaching Staff: Joyce Adorno

-Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Currently Enrolled Student: Jesse Rodriguez

President Fritz opened the ceremony by discussing the importance of the past in shaping the future. Noting that “it is important to understand that while our Strategic Plan is necessarily forward looking—our Mission, Vision, and Values set forth in the Plan are also reflective of our traditions and legacy dating back to the establishment of the Staten Island Community College in 1956, Richmond College in 1965, the merging of institutions in 1976 creating the College of Staten Island, and our relocation to our current campus in 1993. As part of this ‘continuum’, we must simultaneously ‘reach back’ in order to ‘reach ahead’. Dr. Fritz then announced that “for the upcoming 2014-2015 academic year, we plan to be very intentional in celebrating our rich legacy.”

College Writer/Editor Terry Mares followed Dr. Fritz, reading short biographies of each of the honorees, celebrating their contributions to the College.

Jenna Jankowski has accomplished a great deal during her Macaulay career, but developing and leading the college’s first athletic organization is one of her most influential achievements. The Macaulay Marauders quidditch team includes 40 students from all 5 boroughs who have traveled extensively together to compete, and has twice advanced to the World Cup.

Jenna’s studies focus on Dramatic English Literature and Corporate Communications and have taken her abroad several times. In London she studied contemporary British drama and in Amsterdam she gained a comparative understanding of how liberal policies effect everyday life.

Jenna’s excellent performance in the CUNY New York State Model Senate Session Project led to her being selected to speak on the floor of the State Senate. Jenna credits her internships with teaching critical professional skills. She wrote grant proposals, speeches and press releases at Staten Island Borough Hall; helped the reelection campaign of Congressman Michael E. McMahon and currently serves the Empire State Development’s New York City Regional Office.

A Dean’s List scholar for all four years at Macaulay, Jenna is also the recipient of the Macaulay Legacy Award. The Staten Island native has been selected to take part in the Edward T. Rogowsky CUNY Washington D.C. internship program and will be interning for Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.