For Immediate Release
September 21, 2015

Suffolk Student Host of Suffolk Hacked, New Info Series at Suffolk Community College

West Babylon’s Tara Hack, 27, is the new host of a college based, student-focused news program airing on Suffolk County Community College's social media channels, web site and student portal, and soon on television screens throughout the college's three campuses.

"Suffolk Hacked”  was launched earlier this month with a student focus, combined with information about athletics, campus clubs and departments students should know about. The program has taken the campus by storm.

Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Shaun L. McKay and the College's Board of Trustees recently recognized Hack at a Board of Trustees meeting where an episode of her show was shown.

"I am grateful for this tremendous opportunity that would not have been possible without the support of my fellow students and the faculty, staff and administration at Suffolk County Community College," Hack said.

"Tara has broken new ground with her innovative approach," said Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Shaun L. McKay. "We look forward to seeing more from Tara and having it seen far and wide."

Hack plans to use her experience as the host of “Suffolk Hacked”  to hone her writing and on-camera technique for a demonstration reel for a future career in broadcast television.

Hack, a Radio and Television Production major,  is no stranger to performing and has been writing and performing her own music since she was a child – even teaching herself how to play guitar at just 14 years-old by watching instructional videos on YouTube.

Hack plays her original music three days per week with MUNY, the Musicians Under New York program underwritten by the MTA, in Penn Station and Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal.

When she was 18, Tara co-wrote a song entitled “Saya Tidak Bersalah” (I’m Not Guilty) about an Australian woman, Schapelle Corby, who was jailed in Indonesia. The song quickly gained international airplay and was featured in The Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times.

Here at home the song was played on college radio stations, including at the University of Rhode Island and University of Colorado at Boulder where Tara was asked to play at the Conference of World Affairs. Tara continued her humanitarian efforts by penning another song, “She Falls Down, ” to raise awareness about domestic violence. The song was used as the background in a Chicago public service announcement.