Scholars 2018

Yvener Adam – Michael J. Grant Campus

St. Joseph's College- Criminal Justice
As a former Haitian police officer and father of two, Yvener came to New York speaking only French and Creole. He successfully completed the ESL classes at Suffolk, and plans to eventually teach Criminal Justice at the college level. He was inducted into both the Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta honor societies, and was the treasurer of the Criminal Justice Club.

Who/what inspires you?
“I am inspired by my Dad who taught me the values of respect, daringness, and persistence.”

Amanda Murdolo – Michael J. Grant Campus

St. Joseph's College - Speech Pathology/Audiology
A first-generation college graduate and PTK member, Amanda chose Speech Pathology/Audiology after seeing the effect receiving hearing aids had on her father’s hearing loss. She wants to eventually earn her Au.D. so that she can help others the way her father was helped.

How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you?
“Receiving the SoLII Scholarship has allowed me to attend a wonderful school where professors are great and at the same time, stay close to home. My family is my biggest support system and I do not know how I would continue to thrive in my studies if I had to attend a college off of Long Island.”

Stephen Silver – Ammerman Campus

St. Joseph's College - Accounting
Suffolk, Stephen was active in the Honors College and Business Club, where he helped coordinate club events. Initially an engineering major, this methodical, responsible, and kind student found his niche in accounting and hasn’t looked back since.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants?
“Get involved, keep a good work ethic, push to achieve you dreams, and know that applying for this scholarship is worth the effort.”

Colleen Tyler – Ammerman Campus

Five Towns College - Theater Arts
As a Get There from Here scholar, Colleen volunteered at open houses, college fairs, and even Ndaba Mandela’s presentation at Suffolk County Community College in 2017. She is determined to become an actor and to help others heal through her work on stage. She is constantly involved in various stage and film productions, and plans to work in acting, playwriting, set design, and life coaching.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants?
“Do all that you can to be involved on campus, in your area of career interest, and in your life. It can be a tricky balance to manage all that life is offering to you, but success requires grit.”

Xiomara Arango – Ammerman Campus

LIU Brentwood - Social Work
Originally from Colombia, Xiomara is the first in her family to graduate from college. Always one to offer help to those in need, she decided to pursue Social Work, with the goal of obtaining her clinical license. While she wasn’t able to attend Suffolk full-time every semester, she was able to participate in an internship at a homeless shelter over her last two semesters at Suffolk County Community College, where she experienced the struggles that the homeless population face even after being placed in permanent housing.

Washington Arguello – Michael J. Grant Campus

St. Joseph's College - Business Management
Growing up in Corona, Queens, Washington decided to major in business because of the broad base of knowledge and skills that he would acquire that will help him eventually become an executive officer of a company. While at Suffolk County Community College, he worked full-time during the day and took classes at night while earning himself a perfect 4.0 GPA.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants?
“If you want to do something, JUST DO IT. It may and will be hard at first but soon things will fall into place. Use the small accomplishments to keep you motivated towards your larger goal. Believe in yourself and lean on the support of family, friends, professors, and other like-minded students when things get tough.”

Abigail Calise – Ammerman Campus

St. Joseph's College - Speech Pathology/Audiology
One of Abigail’s fondest memories of Suffolk was her time serving others with the Community Service Club. This Get There from Here Scholar’s desire to make a positive impact on her local community and world around her inspired her to study speech pathology.

Who/what inspires you?
“G-d inspires me in everything that I do, He is the one who inspires me to do my best and to love others unconditionally, not just with words but actions.”

Michael Cenzoprano – Ammerman Campus

New York Institute of Technology - Computer Science
Michael took a leap of faith his freshman year and declared his major as Computer Science, even though he knew nothing about how computers worked from a computer scientist’s perspective. That leap paid off, as he worked his way up to consistently being one of the top students in each class, and being inducted into both Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the Mu Alpha Theta math honor society. Michael is an avid baseball player and bowler, was the Vice President of the Urban Explorer’s Club here at Suffolk County Community College, and hopes to one day come back and teach at Suffolk.

What are your long-term career goals?
“I would love to become a software engineer working in the defense industry for Northrop Grumman. I want to work in a field I love while being able to benefit our country through improving our military strength.”

Jaeliece Dominguez – Ammerman Campus

St. Joseph's College - Business Administration
Jaeliece was heavily involved at Suffolk County Community College with the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) as the club secretary. She helped plan many events, but is most proud of the food drive she coordinated to help with the Hurricane Maria Disaster Relief for victims of the 2017 hurricane in Puerto Rico.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants?
“Please remember that becoming involved in student organizations and campus events is just as important as maintaining your GPA in receiving the SoLII Scholarship. It will not only make you a more ideal candidate, but also enhance your experience at Suffolk County Community College.”

Jessica Goldman – Eastern Campus

LIU Post - Nutrition and Dietetics
This outgoing, well-organized, hard-working woman made sure that she was involved in both her passions - nutrition and dance – while at Suffolk County Community College. She was a member of the Suffolk County Community College Dance Team, Nutrition Club, PTK, and Honors Program. She plans to graduate from LIU Post’s dual B.S./M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics program, become a Certified Diabetes Educator, and specialize in pediatric nutrition - a direction she chose when she had the opportunity to work with diabetic children at a summer camp in 2017.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants?
“My advice is to begin the scholarship process early; go to the workshops, have someone read your essays, and get involved in Suffolk County Community College’s campus!”

Amy Guethlein – Michael J. Grant Campus

Five Towns College - Business Admin: Audio Recording Technology
Joining the Honors Program Learning Community at Suffolk County Community College not only allowed Amy to be part of a challenging and rewarding academic environment, but it also served as a place where she met her closest friends. This creative and ambitious woman wants to make a difference to inspire others through music and film.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants?
“Be open and honest in your essays. Show all of yourself, not just the perfect parts. Let them get to know the real you.”

Kevin Herrera – Ammerman Campus

Stony Brook University - Mechanical Engineering
As the first person in his family to graduate from college, Kevin credits the great engineering program at Suffolk County Community College for transforming him into a “more intellectual and well-rounded individual ready to take on any challenge.” This Get There From Here scholarship recipient volunteered over 100 hours as a student scribe for a student with disabilities at Suffolk County Community College, was awarded the 2018 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, and the PTK All-State Award.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants
“Get involved, get out there and be a part of the community. There is only so much you can learn in the classroom and getting involved in activities and clubs will teach and allow you to put in practice all of the great things you have learned.”

Sopio Kay – Michael J. Grant Campus

Hofstra University - Accounting
A refugee from the Republic of Georgia, Sopio started taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at Suffolk County Community College just two years ago. Even after successfully completing her ESL classes, she had to spend hours watching video lessons on accounting on YouTube to understand the unfamiliar jargon. Despite her obstacles, this mother of three still found time to become a member of both the PTK and ABG Honors Societies, and various volunteer opportunities both at Suffolk and in her community.

What are your long-term career goals?
“I plan to get my MBA at Hofstra University, pass the exam, and become a CPA. Eventually, I would like to teach at Suffolk County Community College.”

Jade Killean – Eastern Campus

Stony Brook University - Environmental Studies
Jade spent five months as a missionary in Mexico and Bolivia, where she experienced the water crisis first-hand. This experience and her calling to serve others propelled her to study the environment with dreams of one day bringing clean water to struggling communities by working on the federal level of the U.S. Government.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants?
“Definitely highlight your accomplishments, but also mention the things that make you human. You want the reader to remember you, so what are you going to say that will leave an impact on them?”

Jordan Lindenman – Michael J. Grant Campus

SUNY Old Westbury - English
Jordan came to Suffolk after a five-year hiatus from college and became a work-study student during his sophomore year in the Career and Transfer Center on the Michael J. Grant Campus. He plans to work in publishing and eventually become an English professor at the college level, teaching literature.

Besides winning this scholarship, what achievement in your life are you most proud of?
“Graduating, but more importantly just going back to college. I never thought college was for me or that I could handle the courses. I’ve realized that I am capable of obtaining a college degree and hopefully the career of my dreams.”

Jillian McMahon – Eastern Campus

LIU Riverhead - Childhood Education
This 4.0 student didn’t know that teaching was her passion until she found herself in her first education class at Suffolk County Community College: EDU 101. Now she not only plans to get her bachelor’s in Childhood Education and master’s in Special Education, but she also has dreams about getting her PhD after that. During her last two semesters at Suffolk, she had the opportunity to student teach at a special needs preschool, which only fueled her desire to teach students with special needs.

Who/what inspires you?
“My mom is my biggest inspiration. If it wasn't for her, I would never know how to work hard and strive for greatness.”

Shannon Miller – Ammerman Campus

LIU Post - Communications
In our current culture of fake news, Shannon wants to filter out the babble and deliver stories straight from the source. Writing has always been her passion, and while at Suffolk County Community College, a poem she wrote for her Advanced Poetry class was chosen by her professor for inclusion in Evolution, Suffolk’s literary magazine. She intends to combine her love of writing with her compassion for others to open the minds of all those around her.

How would you describe yourself in two sentences or less?
“I am determined to learn from each experience and grow from each opportunity. I strive for perfection in each task I take on, and do so with passion, creativity, and dignity.”

Conor Mulvaney – Michael J. Grant Campus

Adelphi University - Social Work
Influenced by his mother’s career as a social worker, Conor aims to continue on after his Bachelor’s to get a dual-degree in law and social work to ultimately work as a civil rights attorney. Conor was the President of the Chemical Dependency Counseling Club that hosted a toy drive for children of addicts and alcoholics who are new to treatment and may be unable to afford gifts.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants?

"Lean on the relationships you’ve built at Suffolk, because they’ll be there to carry you to the finish line when you feel you can walk no further.”

Brooke Rayano – Eastern Campus

St. Joseph's College - Studio Art
Art has always been a passion of Brooke’s and she is excited to see where it takes her, whether it be inspiring others as a teacher or healing others as an art therapist. While at Suffolk, she had her artwork displayed in the Lyceum Gallery on the Riverhead Campus.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants?
“Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from succeeding. You are enough - 100% enough.”

Faiz Shakir – Michael J. Grant Campus

St. John's University - Risk Management and Insurance
Faiz was the President of the Student Government Association and Captain of the Speech and Debate Team while at Suffolk County Community College. He also served on the Association Advisory Committee and the Food Service Advisory Committee, where he campaigned to bring vegan, kosher, and halal foods to Suffolk. This charismatic Bermuda native received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, and is ecstatic to be attending SJU, his dream institution since high school.

What is your favorite quote?
“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering." - Ben Okri.

Jaclyn Walsh – Ammerman Campus

St. Joseph's College - Accounting
This hard-working, motivated woman’s love for learning earned her a 4.0 GPA at Suffolk and previously, a Girl Scout Gold Award. She used her love of math and computers to decide on a career in accounting, and plans to become a CPA. One of her favorite memories at Suffolk County Community College was being a part of the Out of the Dark Suicide Prevention walk which raised almost $10,000 for suicide awareness.

How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you?
“I feel like I have an entire community now rooting me on to continue my educational and career goals so I am even more motivated to hold the torch high to inspire the next scholars and applicants.”

Amina Zahid – Michael J. Grant Campus

Stony Brook University - Biology
Amina credits her work with the Peer Mentor Program at Suffolk County Community College as the beginning of her success. This persistent, passionate, hardworking woman received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence in 2018 and plans to pursue a degree to become a medical doctor/neurologist when she graduates from Stony Brook University.

What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants?
“Don’t let the fear of competition discourage you!”

Our past SoLII scholarship recipients!