The Smithtown High School East girls winter track team competed in an indoor crossover meet at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood on Saturday, Jan. 9.
Sarah Wisnieski clocked a 5:32.34 in the 1500 meter event, and Kate Ball placed 10th. Grace McDonald placed sixth in shot put with a throw of 28 feet and 3 1/2.”
By Sara McGiff
Time to get to work!
On Friday, Nov. 19, state Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James), New York State Assemblyman Doug Smith (R- Holbrook) and Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa (R-Selden) joined together to host a special Long Island Job Fair at Suffolk County Community College.
From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. people from across the county visited the Babylon Student Center and spoke with representatives from dozens of different employers face-to-face.
Booths adorned names from all categories of jobs such as the U.S Army, Sportime Tennis Academy, and even Finishing Trades Institute of NY, Painters & Allied Trades. Representatives were able to answer questions to interested visitors, in hopes that it would spark an interest.
The atmosphere was energetic, and the stream of potential employees didn’t cease until the job fair was close to ending.
According to Mattera, the job fair was for those who lost their jobs from the recent government mandates, the COVID-19 pandemic and to help boost the economy.
“Without labor, our economy fails,” he said. “Our goal here is to make sure they, especially the people who lost their jobs, come here and maybe find a new career.”
Caracappa remarked how the turnout for the job fair was outstanding and showed the need from both sides for employment opportunities.
“We made this free,” he said. “We didn’t charge vendors, we’re not charging the community to come here. This is all about opportunity for both sides.”
Suffolk County Community College’s Women’s Tennis team has served up two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) champions, an NJCAA Regional Team Championship and is NJCAA Division III National Runner-up.
Lauren Schiraldi of St. James and East Hampton’s Pamela Pillco took home the Number 1 Doubles National Championship at the NJCAA Championship in Peachtree City, Georgia earlier this month.
Pillco also earned the Number 2 National Singles Championship, and Schiraldi finished as runner-up in the number 1 singles flight.
“I knew a little bit about Lauren from her high school days, but Pamela was a surprise walk-on. I knew we had some talented players and a team to start building around,” said Suffolk County Community College Women’s Tennis Coach Glenn Nathan, himself a former Suffolk Men’s Tennis champ and Suffolk grad.
“I know the journey. I knew that winning matches at Nationals was something that was attainable because of our play during the season,” Nathan said. “The goal was to get the team to Nationals and to be winners. Everytime we played a match the team came together. That’s what you want. A competitive squad that can execute.”
“Our goal was to go to Nationals,” said Suffolk Women’s Team Captain Schiraldi, 19, a Smithtown High School East graduate and 2020 Smithtown East Athlete of the year as well as the 2020 Smithtown Musician-Athlete of the year.
“I am so grateful to Coach Nathan and to SUNY Suffolk for the opportunity to play and use the gifts God has given me to represent the college on the National stage and earn a Nationals 1st Doubles Title and a Nationals 1st Singles Finalist Honor,” said Schiraldi. “While it has been an amazing season as well as a dream come true for me, it has been an honor to play under Coach Nathan and alongside Pamela Pillco. I am also incredibly appreciative of my parents and all those who have supported me,” she said.
Pillco, who has been playing tennis sine she was five years old said she was nervous during her first three matches, but settled in after words of encouragement from Coach Nathan. “I’m proud of myself,” Pillco said, “and thinking about transferring to a four-year college after Suffolk and continuing to play tennis.”
Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Edward Bonahue congratulated the team, individual champions and coach. “Our student athletes teach us that you get out what you put in,” President Bonahue said, “and lessons learned on the court can transfer to the classroom and life. Clearly, the women’s team made a huge commitment of time and effort under extraordinary circumstances to bring home a winning season. Congratulations to our entire team, Lauren, Pamela and Coach Nathan,” he said.
College Associate Dean of Athletics and Special Events Neftali Collazo lauded the team and the individual champions. “Despite facing obstacles throughout this season, our Women’s Tennis Team was able to accomplish a great deal. Their achievements both as a team and individually speak to their talent and dedication and I thank them. Congratulations!”
Senator Mario R. Mattera (2nd Senate District), Assemblyman Doug Smith (5th Assembly District) and Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa (4th Legislative District) are joining together to host a special Long Island Job Fair to help bring job seekers and employers who have openings together.
The event will be held at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) on Friday, November 19th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Babylon Center located at 533 College Road in Selden.
The three elected officials put this event together to help all in the community who have lost their jobs either due to the COVID pandemic or due to government mandates or who are simply looking to find a better opportunity to improve their life.
“Our economy will only recover if those in our communities are able to get the jobs they need. I am proud to join with Assemblyman Smith and Legislator Caracappa to help our residents, who have suffered throughout the COVID crisis, get back to work. These men and women lost their employment through no fault of their own and it is imperative that we do all we can to help them get back on their feet so they can put food on their tables and pay their bills,” stated Senator Mattera.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and the NYS mandates have altered the lives of many this year. The key to helping those who have suffered from these changes, is to offer solutions and get them back to work. As Legislator of the 4th district, I am proud to partner with Senator Mario Mattera and Assemblyman Doug Smith on this job fair to connect the businesses in our community with prospective employees,” said Legislator Caracappa.
“Our community has been through so much; first, the COVID-19 pandemic and now the NYS mandates – which have left so many without jobs right before the holidays. My colleagues and I are determined to come up with solutions and that is why I am proud to collaborate with Senator Mattera and Legislator Caracappa along with Suffolk Community College to present this job fair. Our goal is to connect Long Islanders with real job opportunities and keep our community working and thriving” Assemblyman Smith added.
This event is completely free to both employers and prospective employees. At the event, prospective employees can meet with multiple potential employers in a convenient manner so job seekers are encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resume.
Due to SCCC regulations, all participants must wear a mask while attending this event. Please visit mattera.nysenate.gov for more information including directions.
Anyone with questions or who is interested in participating as an employer is asked to either send an email to [email protected] or call 631-361-2154.
After a long and intensive search, Suffolk County Community College has officially welcomed its new president, Edward Bonahue.
Now overseeing the college’s three campuses — Ammerman in Selden, Grant in Brentwood and Eastern in Riverhead — Bonahue said he’s excited to come back to Long Island after leaving for his education and career decades ago.
Bonahue grew up in Setauket and attended Nassakeag Elementary School, Murphy Junior High and then Ward Melville High School, Class of 1983.
“It was wonderful,” he said. “Growing up in the Three Villages was a wonderful privilege, just because it taught me about the value of education.”
As a teen, he taught swimming lessons for the Town of Brookhaven, which he cites as the reason he became so fluent in the different areas of Suffolk County.
“I had taught swimming everywhere from Cedar Beach to Shoreham,” he said. “I taught at the Centereach pool, Holtsville pool, West Meadow — it was one way of getting a sense that we live in a bigger place.”
Bonahue said he was “one of those kids” who was involved with the arts more than sports — although he did run track during his junior and senior years.
“Ward Melville was lucky to have a great arts program,” he said. “They have a great jazz program and I was in that generation of kids where I was in the Jazz Ensemble all three years.”
His love of arts and humanities led him to North Carolina upon graduating, where he received his B.A. in English Literature at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem.
After his undergrad, Bonahue took a job in Washington, D.C., working as an editor at the U.S. General Services Administration and then as managing editor for Shakespeare Quarterly at the Folger Shakespeare Library.
“That convinced me: ‘Oh, yeah, I kind of like this. And I think I’m going to go back to graduate school.’”
Bonahue enrolled at the University of North Carolina where he received his M.A. and Ph.D. in English Literature. He then moved with his wife to Gainesville, Florida, to hold the position of visiting assistant professor of humanities at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida.
In 2009, he was a Fulbright Scholar with the U.S. International Education Administrators Program in Germany, and in 2016-2017, he was an Aspen Institute College Excellence Program Presidential Fellow.
And while in Florida, Bonahue eventually headed to Santa Fe College, also in Gainesville, serving as the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, along with several other roles.
But as the years went on, he decided he wanted to head somewhere new and began looking for fresh opportunities. Through networking, he heard about a post back on Long Island – a place he knew very well.
New appointment at SCCC
Bonahue took on his new role officially on June 28. Under his leadership, he oversees the current enrollment of more than 23,000 credit students and 7,000 continuing education students.
“One of the one of the opportunities for Suffolk going forward is to think about how we’re serving all of Suffolk County,” he said. “It’s no secret that the number of traditional students graduating from high school is going down every year. Over time, that’s a lot of students.”
While the majority of SCCC students are on the traditional path, Bonahue said that moving forward they need to figure out ways to do better outreach to nontraditional students.
Bonahue said one of his many goals is to converge with employers and help their workers continue their education through Suffolk or connect them with future employees while still in school. He added that in a post-COVID world where there can be gatherings, he would like high school guidance counselors to come and visit.
“I think high school students get a lot from recommendations from their teachers and guidance counselors — especially students who are underserved because of the parents haven’t been to college, they don’t have that network of what it’s like to go to college,” Bonahue said. “So, they rely on their teachers and guidance counselors for that information.”
He added that one thing that was learned during the 2020 census is Long Island is becoming a more diverse place.
“Many have not had the privilege of any exposure to higher education,” he said. “And that’s what community college is for —
providing access to educational opportunity and access to economic opportunity for folks who, without it, might be stuck in some kind of dead-end, entry-level service sector job.”
Bonahue noted that SCCC as a college needs to internalize its mission is not only to serve 19-year-old students.
“Our mission is also to serve a mom with a baby at home, someone who’s taking care of parents, someone who’s working in a family business, could be a worker who’s already been on the job and has been displaced — those are all of our students,” he said. “I think our mission is to embrace that larger sense of community, and then on top of that there are areas of Suffolk County that have not been particularly well served, or where services are not as strong as elsewhere.”
Appointed by SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras, the SUNY Board of Trustees and the Suffolk Board of Trustees, Bonahue said that in his new role, he wants the college to be an agent of change.
“I think they wanted someone who understands that Suffolk County is a diverse place — that it has many constituencies and that the three campuses have different personalities,” he said. “So, someone used the phrase that I checked a lot of boxes for Suffolk. My hope is that also I can present pictures of best practices that are practiced in high performing community colleges across the country, and if those best practices have not been adopted by Suffolk, then I think we have huge opportunities in terms of best practices that relate to community outreach, to academic and student support services, programming, workforce development, transfers and so forth. I think I think I can make a big contribution to Suffolk in a variety of ways.”
Bonahue said he plans on being not just on Selden’s Ammerman campus, he wants to be active on all three.
“I’m going to try to celebrate Suffolk across the whole county, including being present on all three campuses,” he said. “Each college serves a slightly different demographic, but one of the things I sense is that the college is hungry for a coherent and unified strategy.”
Coming back to Long Island was an exciting moment for Bonahue over the summer, but now it’s time for work. Since school started Sept. 2, he has been busy meeting faculty, staff and students, while focusing on his plans to better the local community college.
“I loved growing up on Long Island,” he said. “And so, it’s been a pleasure to return here.”
Julianne Mosher is an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College.
Amongst the Middle Country Public Library’s many historical artifacts are a few that explain just how far the area has come from its pastoral roots. The picture and story below comes courtesy of a collaborative effort among the librarian staff.
On Dec. 18, 1959, the Suffolk County Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of the county’s first community college on the former Suffolk Sanatorium site in Selden. The 1918 building above, which originally served as the Sanatorium’s infirmary, housed faculty office space when the 130-acre site on which it stood was designated as the future home of Suffolk County Community College.
Although SCCC held its initial year of classes in October of 1960 at Sachem Junior-Senior High School in Ronkonkoma and Riverhead High School, the college took permanent residence of the old Sanatorium site beginning in September of 1961. Initial enrollment included 171 full-time and 355 part-time students.
Event will feature Newsman and TV Host John Quiñones, Chicana Author and Poet Angelica Maria.
Suffolk County Community College will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans with a robust schedule of guest speakers and events across the college’s three campuses.
“Our community and our nation are strengthened by the contributions of our Hispanic leaders and citizens,” said Suffolk County Community College President Edward T. Bonahue. “Everyone at Suffolk is proud to join in celebrating and honoring the heritage of our Hispanic communities.”
“These programs and activities provide the opportunity to learn about the richness of the Latinx community through the arts and sharing important traditions. Suffolk is proud to bring the community together to celebrate the many cultures that Hispanic Heritage Month represents,” said Suffolk County Community College Chief Diversity Officer/Title IX Coordinator Christina Vargas.
Second-generation Chicana writer, poet and internationally touring artist Anjelica Maria will highlight the beauty and struggles of the Latinx culture through storytelling, poetry and music, share her journey and show others how to manifest their dreams into reality. The California artist’s presentation will be in person and livestreamed from Suffolk’s Van Nostrand Theater on the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood on Monday October 4 at 12:30 p.m.
John Quiñones, the Mexican-American newsman and television host of What Would You Do? will share his journey about how he turned disadvantages into assets and achieved his ambitions. John views a greater, stronger America built upon our dynamic cultural diversity. With a call to “build bridges, not walls,” he celebrates our differences as a powerful force and a proud part of our shared American character. Quiñones’ virtual presentation will be on Tuesday, October 5.
On Tuesday October 26, Taino-Borikua writer Ra Ruiz Leon and Weyhan Smith from Long Island’s Shinnecock Tribe present Healing Through our Heritage. The program will present the similarities between the Latinx and Native American people.
About Hispanic Heritage Month
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30-day period. – Source: https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/
Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month Events
o A display celebrating and honoring Latinx contributions, voices, dreams, and successes will be featured in the Nook of the Babylon Student Center on the Ammerman Campus, Selden.
12:30pm, Van Nostrand Theater
Angelica Maria, second-generation Chicana writer, poet and internationally touring artist from Los Angeles, CA will highlight the beauty and struggles of the Latinx culture. Through storytelling, poetry, and music, Angelica will share her journey and show others how to manifest their dreams into reality.
John” Quiñones is an American ABC News correspondent and the current host of “What Would You Do?” “What Would You Do” Uses hidden cameras, to explore how ordinary people behave when they are confronted with dilemmas that require them to take action or walk by and mind their own business.
Loteria is the Spanish word for lottery, a favorite pastime across Mexico and Latin communities for generations and growing in popularity all over the world. Students are invited to tune-in to a Zoom live-stream with a professional comedian host. Every Loteria game includes four chances to win and $200 in cash prizes! Winners receive their prize money directly to their PayPal accounts. Zoom information is forthcoming from artist/agency.
2 p.m., Conference Room 319 of the William Lindsay Building on the Ammerman Campus, Selden.
Engage in discussion and have some café with your Ammerman Tias, Deans Tania Velazquez and Katherine Aguirre. Discussion with students will include transitioning back to campus and how the College can support you. Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited. Registration is required. For more information, please contact Malika Batchie Lockhart at [email protected]
This celebration of Latinx/ Hispanic heritage will feature author Sulma Arzu-Brown and Afro Cuban Dance Company Echualaibode.
Sulma is the author of several books including the bilingual book Bad Hair Does Not Exist/Pelo Malo No Existe! Sulma is also an entrepreneur, executive director of the Garifuna Coalition, and vice president of operations for the New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This program will feature an in-depth look about how to effectively and courageously dive into one’s own culture. This session dives into Sulma’s unique cultural journey as a Garifuna and Afro-Latina. Discussion how authenticity is tied to one’s career advancement will also be explored. This celebration will also feature dance instruction from acclaimed Afro Cuban dancer Hansell Echualaibode.
All students who attend will receive a gift and have a chance to win copies of Sulma Arzu Browns books- Bad Hair Does Not Exist/Pelo Malo No Existe and My Hair Comes With Me..: shifting the Paradigm of What Success Looks like (No Pelo Malo Collection)
Zoom Meeting ID: 839 5442 2069
Passcode: represent
Suffolk Federal Credit Union presented college scholarships totaling $43,925 to six high school graduates who plan to attend Suffolk County Community College this fall.
“As a community-focused credit union, we are committed to supporting hardworking students as they pursue higher education, while also easing the financial burden for their families,” said Michele Dean, CEO & president of Suffolk Federal. “We congratulate these outstanding scholarship recipients on their accomplishments and are pleased to help them achieve their educational and career goals.”
The following four Suffolk Federal Scholarship award recipients each received a scholarship of $6,275: Alex Pinto (Deer Park), Alyssia Furchert (Blue Point), Michael Krolikiewicz (Farmingville) and Zachary Gallant (Port Jefferson Station).
In addition, Juliana Ramai (Centereach) received a $6,275 scholarship from the LT Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which was matched by Suffolk Federal for a total of $12,550.
Daniel Paesano (Sound Beach) was awarded $6,275 by Suffolk Federal in honor of the Michael E. Reilly Foundation Memorial Scholarship for Excellence.
Scholarship award recipients were selected based on their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community involvement and essays.
The scholarships are a result of an ongoing partnership between Suffolk Federal and the Suffolk Community College Foundation.
“We are deeply gratified to continue to partner with Suffolk Federal to support exemplary students with these generous scholarships,” said Sylvia A. Diaz, executive director of the Suffolk Community College Foundation. “Each of these recipients has a record of community service that reflects the values we share and the determination to succeed.”
Dr. Edward Bonahue, president of Suffolk County Community College added, “Young people are our greatest resource and best investment. Through these scholarships, Suffolk Federal demonstrates its notable commitment to helping Long Island families thrive and succeed.”
The credit union recently expanded its charter to include Nassau County as well as Suffolk County.
Six Suffolk County Community College interns are spending their summer monitoring the health of tidal wetlands as part of a multi-year study funded by a grant issued to Suffolk County and the College from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Interns Jake Montgomery (Hampton Bays), David Ziff (West Islip), Kyler Vander Putten (Oakdale), Brendan Lin (Stony Brook), Grace Nelson (Selden), and Jessica Cormier (Farmingville) don waders, backpacks and other protection from the heat and biting insects to navigate through the challenging conditions of Suffolk’s south shore salt marshes as part of a multi-year post-Hurricane Sandy tidal wetland restoration project.
Assistant Professor of Marine Biology and grant coordinator Dr. Kellie McCartin said the students are given an orientation before starting their field work to understand the overall goals and science behind the multi-year study and how to safely navigate the salt marshes. “There are three monitoring aspects to this study: measuring the abundance of mosquito larvae, surveying the fish, invertebrate and plant community, and measuring water quality. Our students are learning a wide variety of skills and data collecting methods commonly performed by environmental scientists,” McCartin explained and said that the students are in the field up to four times per week collecting data that are vital to current and future salt marsh restoration efforts here on Long Island.
“Salt marshes play an important ecological role as the interface between the marine and the terrestrial environment, said Project Director of the Coastal Resiliency Internship Amy Dries.
“Salt marshes also affect public health by providing larval habitat for mosquitoes that are vectors for disease,” Dries said, adding that previously, ditching and pesticides were used as a control mechanism. “Ditching requires maintenance, and mosquitoes develop resistance to pesticides in the long term,” Dries said.
Beginning in the summer of 2017, select marshes on the south shore of Long Island were sampled weekly for mosquito larvae, nekton, and vegetation were collected and water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity) were measured by interns from Suffolk County Community College. Hot spots of mosquito larvae were frequently found near locations of the invasive Common Reed, Phragmites australis, where reduced water flow and low salinities were also identified. Based on the data obtained by the interns, restoration of the marshes began in 2019.
“We need healthy wetlands for a healthy Suffolk County,” said Edward Bonahue, President of Suffolk CountyCommunity College, “whether it’s water quality, habitat restoration, or aquaculture. Our students clearly feel a sense of urgency about this project, and I’m delighted they’re committing their time and energy to studying our crucial natural resources.”
Suffolk graduate and now Field Supervisor Nick Cormier, himself an intern before earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Stony Brook University, said it’s nice to combine a passion for science with being outdoors. “It’s a great opportunity that’s also fun,” Cormier said, “the students are engaged and inquisitive. They want to be there,” he said.
Suffolk intern Brendan Lin of Stony Brook said he recommends the internship to anyone who’s interested in environmental science. “It’s quite interesting how the data we collect will help improve marsh conditions,” Lin, who is pursuing an environmental science and forestry degree, said.
Kyler Vander Putten said the internship is helping him narrow his study choices. “I’ve been really interested in the environmental science world and marine biology,” Vander Putten said. “I’m going to try and narrow it down by taking part in different internships and opportunities wherever I can. The field work we do supports everything we learned in class,” he said.
“The students are excited to be in the field. They’re applying what they’ve learned in the classroom or virtual classroom and it is a fantastic experience for any student interested in a career in the sciences” McCartin said.
Suffolk County Community College has been awarded $90,000 as part of the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership grant. Suffolk is one of 10 community colleges nationally to receive the grant award that may be renewed annually for up to four years.
“This Johnson Controls award will advance the ability of our HVAC program to train high-need, high-skills technicians for our county workforce, and to partner with area employers who need this talent,” said Dr. Edward Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College. “We’re very grateful to Johnson Controls for investing in community college programs that are keeping up with cutting-edge building engineering technology.”
The college will use its funding to invest in state-of-the-art training simulators and growth of a guided mentoring program featuring Johnson Controls employees supporting peer mentoring and career counseling.
The Johnson Controls grant supports efforts to expand associate degree and certificate programs in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), fire and security and digital building automation systems, all areas where the U.S. Bureau of Labor is predicting an increased need for skilled trades expertise in coming years. In general, the funding will support the purchase and development of classroom materials, learning technologies and student scholarships.
“We are excited by this opportunity,” said Sylvia A. Diaz, PhD, LMSW, executive director Suffolk Community College Foundation. “Johnson Controls’ award is transformative and aligns with our Foundation’s mission is to support student access to a superior quality education and vocational skills training by providing critical funding for students pursuing rewarding careers in the dynamic Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) industry.”
“Johnson Controls is proud to build upon our significant presence in Suffolk County by partnering with Suffolk County Community College on the Community College Partnership Program. We believe the program will empower people to build life-long careers that will transform their lives and their communities,” said Grady Crosby, VP of Public Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer at Johnson Controls.“Just as smart, healthy buildings are critical to our well-being, well-educated and trained technicians are crucial to keeping our environments operating safely and efficiently. As a leader in the building industry for over a century, Johnson Controls is honored to share our expertise with the country’s leading community colleges.”
Suffolk County Community College’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) program prepares students for rewarding and challenging positions in the ever-changing and growing HVAC/R industry by combining comprehensive, career-based courses such as system design, diagnostics, servicing and controls with real-life, hands-on training through internships and intensive laboratory sessions. The HVAC/R curriculum provides students with the credentials and experience needed to obtain immediate employment upon successful program completion.
Visit: https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/explore-academics/majors-and-programs/hvac/about.jsp for more information.
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