LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (June 12, 2024) —On Friday, June 21, the nearly 2,000 members of theLaGuardia Community College/CUNYClass of 2024 will celebrate earning their associate degrees or certificates at the college’s52ndCommencement. For more information on LaGuardia’s Class of 2024 Commencement ceremony, which will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 21, on the quad of the Queens College campus,click here.
In anticipation of this momentous event, the annual Red Hawks Rising series, named in honor of the college’s belovedmascot, recognizes members of the graduating class and offers a glimpse into their dedication and achievements.
“We are excited to celebrate the LaGuardia Class of 2024,” saidKenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College. “For our graduates who finished high school during the Covid-19 pandemic, this will be their first time participating in-person during a commencement ceremony. Commencement represents the culmination of their dedication, hard work, and perseverance. We congratulate them all and wish them much success in their future.”
LaGuardia 2024 Red Hawks Rising Include:
Zahara Mutebi, 24
Associate of Science inComputer Science
Zahara is graduating with a 3.3 GPA, and this fall will begin pursuing a bachelor’s in computer science and information security at theJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY. In 2019, Zahara moved to the U.S. from her native Uganda to pursue her college education. She wanted to go to an Ivy League school; but because of the pandemic and to save money, she enrolled at LaGuardia in 2022.
“Where I’m from, Ivy League schools are glamorized,” said Zahara, who lives in Elmhurst, Queens with her sister. “Little did I know that LaGuardia fights for the underdog so hard. It takes care of its students in more ways than I thought possible. Because of its support, we can succeed. The professors here are willing to work with you, even when you don’t have hope.”
Through ASAP, Zahara connected with an advisor who helped her stay on track and plan out her course schedule. At theWriting Centerand theMath Lab, Zahara got help with her assignments and test preparation. During times of stress, she turned to theWellness Center, the college’s counseling center for students. And Zahara creditsLaGuardia CARES, for “looking out for my sister and me on days when we couldn’t.”
For professional development, Zahara participated in the winter Q-STEM Research Bootcamp, conducting research on the homeless situation in New York City. She also landed a 10-week paid internship at MoMA, working in its learning and engagement department. “Before this, I didn’t know how art and technology come together,” Zahara said.
Zahara wants to become an entrepreneur and educator. She’s created a side business as a tour guide, creating customized plans for visitors to New York City—site-seeing, restaurant reservations, cultural activities, arranging hotel and Airbnb stays, helping people navigate the city, etc. “People save so much money to come here. I want to give them a good visit, so they have the best experience ever.” Clients find her through word of mouth.
Her additional plans include starting a non-profit organization in Uganda to offer free classes to women in basic computer programming and software development. “In Uganda, women don’t have as many opportunities as men do to learn skills like computer programming,” Zahara said. “I want to help change that.” And she’s designing a software program using artificial intelligence to empower CUNY students to manage their education experience on their own schedule.
For shaping her career aspirations, Zahara thanks Dr. Tuli Chatterji for introducing her to the LaGuardia Humanitarian Initiative (LHI), where she learned about how social activism and partnerships with local and global organizations can address critical issues like food insecurity and access to clean drinking water. “LHI taught me how to advocate for people in need through creative awareness and boosted my confidence in the impact I can make in the world,” Zahara said. “The most important lesson I learned is that sometimes money is just a piece of paper, but a helping hand is more valuable.”
Aim-E Chi, 24
Associate of Applied Science inNew Media Technology
Aim-E is graduating with a 3.85 GPA and hopes to transfer to theCUNY Baccalaureate (CUNY BA) program, where students design their own degree and take classes towards their individualized degree at campuses throughout the CUNY system. Aim-E wants to design a bachelor’s merging criminal justice and graphic design.
Aim-E, who lives in Chinatown, Manhattan, has always been community minded. After high school, she found work at juvenile detention centers in Brooklyn and The Bronx. It was at one of these jobs that she met Dr. Cory Rowe, associate professor of criminal justice at LaGuardia, who encouraged Aim-E to enroll at LaGuardia towards a college degree. Aim-E has long been interested in graphic design, so she decided on New Media Technology as her major.
To make ends meet while studying at LaGuardia, Aim-E did federal work study in theSocial Sciences Departmentand worked with Dr. Rowe as a “Justice Fellow” with theLaGuardia-Rikers college credit program, co-facilitating the class—running a daily ice breaker and leading discussions about how to achieve academic success—and creating the coursebook and graduation certificates. “Being a Justice Fellow was one of the most meaningful things I’ve done in my life,” Aim-E said. “It was a transformative experience for everyone involved—the professors, Justice Fellows, and the incarcerated individuals. Everyone was brought out of their comfort zone.”
Aim-E also worked with non-profit organizations serving justice-involved individuals, including College Way, which aims to bring educational opportunities to prison settings; Prison Writes, facilitating poetry workshops on Rikers Island; Children of Promise, serving children with incarcerated parents; and Hour Women, serving formerly incarcerated women. In addition, she worked side gigs as a restaurant server and selling green tea for a health supplement company.
“My time at LaGuardia Community College gave me direction and the vocabulary to describe my next career goal,” Aim-E said. “Merging my new media skills with my passion for education, I discovered that instructional design is my calling, specifically designing educational material to be used by incarcerated individuals.”
Julian Poli, 22
Associate of Science inCivil Engineering
Julian, who is graduating with a 3.9 GPA, is transferring toCity College/CUNY to pursue a bachelor’s in civil engineering and a FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) license. His goal is to become a civil engineer, focusing on designing buildings and infrastructure. He’s currently seeking internships in this field.
While studying at City College, Julian plans to continue working at LaGuardia as adiscipline leader for Engineeringwith theStudent Success Mentor (SSM) program. SSMs lead new student orientation, plan and lead social activities for students on campus, provide mentoring, and co-teach First-Year Seminar, a required class for first-year students. Julian credits his work as an SSM for building his self-confidence and leadership skills; as a discipline leader, Julian helps to train new SSMs. “I enjoy working with new students,” Julian said. “I remind them college is the time to build the skills they will need to enter the workforce and be successful in life—how to make connections with others, how to access resources, and more. It’s like engineering—a solid foundation is essential to building a structure. College is the time to build this foundation.”
At LaGuardia, Julian was an ASAPstudent, a member of theHonors Programand LaGuardia’s Model UN. He credits his ASAP advisor Jennifer Lugo, for keeping him on track to graduate in two years. However, in the fall 2023, Julian considered taking a break from college due to financial strain. But a contact at theLaGuardia Community College Foundationencouraged him to apply for aRise Light Scholarship. “Getting the scholarship not only helped me to stay in school and pay my tuition, but it gave me an incredible opportunity to do valuable networking that could help my future career and taught me about New York City’s energy landscape,” Julian said.
Julian is excited for his future and feels prepared to advance to City College. He’s making his family proud. Julian is a first-generation American on his mother’s side—she emigrated from Korea—and Italian on his father’s side. They live in Forest Hills, Queens. “I’m focused on securing a quality education at an affordable cost, ensuring that I graduate debt-free and can pursue a lucrative career in my field,” Julian said.
Angelina “Angie” Ojeda, 41
Associate of Arts inHuman Services: Mental Health
Angie is graduating with a 3.9 GPA and will transfer toMedgar Evers College/CUNY in Brooklyn this fall to pursue a Bachelor of Science in social work with a concentration in substance abuse. She plans to become a licensed clinical social worker specializing in addiction counseling.
“I want to work in marginalized black and brown communities, with people who look like me. I want to help the next generation—giving them the tools to be independent and successful, and to fight substance abuse,” said Angie, who’s currently taking classes at Samaritan Daytop Village towards becoming a credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselor, thanks to a scholarship from theNew York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports.
Becoming both independent and successful is something Angie has fought for. She had planned to go to college after high school but dropped out after being assaulted by a classmate at age 16. She became pregnant with her son, now 22-years-old, followed by twin daughters eight years later. She found administrative work and raised her children as a single mother on Long Island. Then during the Covid-19 pandemic, Angie lost her job, and she and her children moved in with family in Queens. Eventually, she found a new apartment in Maspeth and a job as an office manager at a metal fabricator in the Queensbridge section of Long Island City. Passing by LaGuardia Community College on her daily bus rides to and from work, she decided to enroll.
Angie took evening and weekend classes at LaGuardia and worked full-time during weekdays at the metal fabricator. Then in December 2023, one of her daughters had a stroke. Angie tried to keep up with her coursework at the hospital. “But when my professors learned what was going on with my daughter, they told me to take the time I needed to be there for my family,” Angie said. “They gave me so much support. And when I lost my job, LaGuardia CAREShelped me pay my rent. I also received a scholarship from theLaGuardia Community College Foundation.”
Thankfully, Angie’s daughter has made an incredible recovery. Angie got caught up in her classes and turned to Professors Juline Koken and Ellen Quish for help finding a new job. When Dr. Quish heard about a part-time job opportunity at Elmcor, a community-based organization that serves Corona, East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, she recommended Angie, who got the job. Angie was recently promoted to full-time at Elmcor, going into schools to work with youth getting into risky behaviors as a prevention counselor.
“I am working in a community-based organization, using my LaGuardia degree,” said Angie. “I’ve come a long way.”
She’s grateful for her time at LaGuardia. “LaGuardia made me who I am today,” Angie said. “I’m sad to be leaving LaGuardia but isn’t it always sad when we leave home? I can’t thank my ASAP advisor, Anabel Rivas, enough—it’s because of her that I achieved my goal of graduating within two years. My daughters love LaGuardia too. I want to make them into mini–Red Hawks.”
Alisa Fontanez, 20
Associate of Science inBiology: Biotechnology Option
Alisa, who is graduating with a 3.74 GPA, is transferring toCity College/CUNY where she plans to pursue a bachelor’s in biotechnology. Her career goal is to conduct biotechnology or pharmaceutical research. “I also want to focus on information accessibility; to limit anxiety surrounding topics like cancer, vaccines, and more,” Alisa said. “In my personal experience, speaking to doctors can be stressful, especially when dealing with a medical condition.”
This is a personal issue for Alisa, who left the four-year college she started her college journey at due to illness. “I didn’t feel that I received the support I needed at that school, during my recovery. As a result, I decided to come back home to Queens,” Alisa said. “When I felt better, I found a receptionist job at a dermatology center, which turned into a medical assistant job. Then I looked for colleges that offered good support for working students. I was drawn to LaGuardia because of itsASAP program, as well as offering evening and weekend classes. As a result, I was able to keep working, take classes, and get help buying textbooks and free MetroCards.”
At LaGuardia, Alisa worked as a tutor at theSGA Tutoring Lab, and joinedPresident’s Societyand theCUNY Research Scholars Program (CRSP), where she worked on research studying the impact of human pollution on the East River. Through President’s Society, she secured a 10-week paid internship at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where she worked in the publications department.
Alisa, who was born in Brooklyn; grew up in Queens, credits her family for her drive and resilience. “I come from an immigrant family. My parents instilled in me a strong work ethic and an eagerness to learn,” Alisa said. “When my older sister graduated from LaGuardia last semester, she became the first in our family to get a college degree. Now I am following her just three months later!”
“The amazing time I had at LaGuardia is thanks to the staff, classes, and internships here. Professor Allie Brashears has been my go-to person since taking her General Biology II class,” Alisa said. “She has been there or me academically and through tougher personal conversations. And through President’s Society I found friendships with my peers and a mentor, Stefania Dinu, who continuously pushes me to be a better version of myself. I have found my niche here at LaGuardia, so it is difficult to let go of a place that held such comfort. However, I know that I’m ready to continue my education, and I can’t wait to give back to LaGuardia and support other students, just like they have supported me.”
Tyshawn Washington, 30
Associate of Science inAccounting
Tyshawn is graduating with a 3.4 GPA and will transfer toBaruch College/CUNYwhere he plans to major in accounting and finance. He plans to go onto earn his MBA and pursue a career in accounting or finance. He’s part of a CUNY tradition in his family. His long-time partner just completed her master’s in social work atYork College, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree; she earned her associate degree atBorough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC).
Tyshawn came to LaGuardiaby way of theCUNY Fatherhood Academy. Tyshawn and his partner have three daughters, ages 8, 9, and 14 (along with a dog, a cat, two turtles, and several goldfish). Tyshawn, who lives with his family in public housing in Brooklyn, dropped out of high school when his first daughter was born, finding work in construction and as a mover. In 2020, Tyshawn decided he wanted to go back to school to make a better life for his family. Needing to earn his GED to enroll in college, Tyshawn joined the Fatherhood Academy.
After earning his GED, Tyshawn was hired by Fatherhood as a mentor. When he decided to pursue a college degree, he enrolled at LaGuardia as an accounting major. He joined College Discovery, a program that provides students who enter with less than an 80 average or a GED with supportive services, including advising, tutoring, and financial aid. As a LaGuardia college student, Tyshawn excelled in his classes, despite experiencing personal losses—last year, a brother and a good friend passed away. He credits the support he found at the Fatherhood Academy and College Discovery for keeping him on track. He also found a second job on campus as a mentor for theBlack Male Empowerment Cooperative (BMEC)—helping BMEC students find jobs on campus, scholarship opportunities, access campus resources like LaGuardia CARES, and more. “Finding flexible work on campus allowed me to earn my degree,” Tyshawn said. “I can get home to pick up my daughters and be there for my family. I love being able to go to school in the same area as my jobs.”
Today, Tyshawn is excited about his future. In addition to a career in accounting or finance, he wants to share his knowledge with those in his community. “I want to educate others about financial management—investing, saving, and budgeting. We didn’t learn enough about finances in school,” Tyshawn said. “Just like I get information from my professors, I want to take what I know and pass it on to others.”
Benjamin Gamboa, 20
Associate of Science inBusiness Administration
When Benjamin graduates from LaGuardia, he will be the first in his Colombian family to earn a college degree in U.S. He plans to transfer toBaruch College/CUNY to pursue a bachelor’s in international business. He aspires to work in politics, as a voice for those who cannot speak. “I want to work towards a better future and positive changes in our society.”
As a LaGuardia student, Benjamin found ways to honor and support his Hispanic heritage. “I did everything I could to give representation to the Hispanic community during my time at LaGuardia,” Benjamin said. “Through theS.O.A.R. (Succeed, Observe, Achieve, and Rise) Experiential Learning Program, I worked with English-language learners through an internship with LaGuardia’sCenter for Immigrant Education and Training office. I also served as an Ambassador forCasa de las Américas, creating events where students could learn about themselves and others, and have fun!”
Along the way, Benjamin found a strong community of friends and supportive faculty and staff. “La Casa gave me family—a place where I could be myself and show my roots and connect to amazing people,” Benjamin said.
Benjamin, who has a 3.67 GPA, feels ready to study full-time at Baruch, having taken part in the LaGuardia-Baruch Business Academy. The Academyprovides holistic supportto ensure students’ academic and career success, while studying at LaGuardia and upon transfer to Baruch.
“The LaGuardia-Baruch Business Academy provided 24/7 support before, during and after the transfer process,” said Benjamin. “I’m beyond excited to pursue my bachelor’s degree, meet new people, have new experiences, and learn, but I’m also nostalgic because LaGuardia shaped my life completely, saw me grow into a different person, gave me friends for life, and opened a whole world of possibilities for me.”
Jino Dority, 26
Associate of Arts inFine Arts: Design Studies
Jino is graduating from LaGuardia with a 3.9 GPA, and this fall he will begin pursuing a bachelor’s in art history, practice, and design atThe New School where he’s received a full scholarship. His career aspirations include working in textile conservation or museum curation—preserving historical pieces like vintage kimonos, participating in bespoke fashion and design, starting a gender-free clothing label, and promoting sustainability in textile arts.
Jino grew up in New Mexico and Wyoming, where he was homeschooled. After finishing high school, Jino moved to Denver where he worked on the conservation team at a museum. It was in Denver where he began transitioning. “I had an interesting relationship with gender when I was younger; I was a tomboy,” Jino said. “In my like teenage years, I didn’t have the knowledge or language to say, ‘Hey, this is what I am.’ In Wyoming, there didn’t seem to be much of an LGBTQ community. Then in Denver, I finally got on the path to discovering who I am.”
In 2020, shortly before the pandemic, Jino moved to New York City and found work in Manhattan’s Garment District in costume design for professional stage performers on Broadway and other venues. He has been making his own clothes since age 15. “As a teenager, I couldn’t find clothes that I wanted to wear in a store, so I asked my mom to teach me how to sew and make alterations.”
Wanting to earn a college degree to help boost his career potential, he looked at options throughout NYC. “The obvious choice would have been to go to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)orPratt. But I wanted to hack the system and earn an associate’s first to save money,” he said. “I chose LaGuardia because it had Japanese language classes, which I didn’t find at the other CUNY colleges I looked at.” He chose to major in Fine Arts: Design Studies because the program merges 3D aspects of industrial and architectural design with painting and illustration.
Jino credits LaGuardia with helping him feel more comfortable in his skin, sharpening his artistic skills, and expanding his vision for his future. As a member of the President’s Society (‘23-‘24 cohort), Jino landed an internship at MoMA, shadowing the exhibition planning and administration manager. “It was amazing to see the inside of a major institution,” he said. “The experience strengthened my appreciation and understanding of admin departments at art museums.”
As he prepares to graduate from LaGuardia, Jino is grateful to have found a welcoming environment for his first college degree. “Gender can be something that’s hard for some people to understand. People sometimes get it wrong and correcting them can be exhausting. But at LaGuardia, I’ve been lucky. I’ve had a lot of teachers and most of them got it right, intuitively. This feeling of acceptance allowed me to step up for opportunities at LaGuardia.” Jino joined thePhi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor’s Society, was selected for aCUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium design project for the 2024 Queens Pride parade, and took home first place in a Library Research Review Competition with his paper on the climate impact of indigo dye.
“I want to thank the faculty at LaGuardia for continuing to push and encourage me throughout my two years here,” said Jino. “I really felt that I had resources and could succeed at whatever I put my mind to, because I was so believed in.”
Shakur Burden, 29
Associate of Arts inHuman Services: Mental Health
When Shakur, who grew up in foster homes and group homes, earns his associate degree from LaGuardia with a 3.0 GPA, he will be defying the odds. According to data from theNational Foster Youth Institute, only 2–6% of individuals who have experience with the foster care system go on to earn a two-year degree.
He is also a single father, raising his 7-year-old Syann in Staten Island. Shakur came to LaGuardia through the CUNY Fatherhood Academy. After earning his GED, Shakur enrolled in college classes and joined College Discovery. Being a single parent while going to school and keeping afloat is anything but easy. Nevertheless, he’s determined to be a role model for his son by staying in school and accomplishing his goals.
Currently, Shakur works with Fatherhood Academy as a mentor for new fathers joining the program. He plans to continue this work while working towards a bachelor’s in human services and community justice at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY, which he will begin this fall. His goal is to earn a master’s in social work and become a licensed clinical social worker, so that he can help children and families like he was helped as a child.
For more of Shakur’s story, watch a Scripps Newsstory about college navigating school and parenthood. The 22-minute video weaves between Shakur’s story and the stories of three other student-parents from different parts of the country.
Kelvin Ortiz, 24
Associate of Applied Science inParalegal Studies
Kelvin finished his LaGuardia degree, with a 3.9 GPA, after the Fall 2023 semester. He’s currently studying atColumbia University, where he has a 4.0 GPA and is pursuing a bachelor’s in economics and philosophy.
Kelvin describes himself as a comeback story. “I came into this life as an underdog, born to a 17-year-old Dominican immigrant mother who raised me in Bushwick, Brooklyn in a home that gave me lead poisoning by the age of five. I was told that I’d be mentally stunted for the rest of my life. But I fought hard to be in regular classes by 3rd grade, even more to be in honors by middle school, and harder still to be in AP courses by high school,” said Kelvin.
By age 18, Kelvin had published a novel,Pretty Women Curse, Ugly Men Sing (Halcyon Novellas, 2018) and enrolled at a four-year college. “That success was short-lived, as I dropped out of college the following year,” said Kelvin.
After working hard-labor jobs for several years, Kelvin found his way to LaGuardia. He credits ASAP and the Paralegal Studies program for giving him the guidance and support he needed. “I found a new beginning at LaGuardia, with a community of people who believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself. Thissecond chance fostered my growth and ambition and enabled me to regain my academic footing. I got very involved at LaGuardia, serving as president of the Criminal Justice Club and as a student ambassador for LaGuardia’s Casa de las Américas as a liaison, and organizing and playing the role of prosecutor in a mock trial overseen by New York State Supreme Court Justice Patria Frias-Colon.” In addition, he joined PTK and was selected for a six-month paid paralegal internship at MetLife.
Kelvin is working towards career goal of becoming a lawyer, and possibly working in government, building on his current job as corrections liaison for theOffice of Assembly Member Erik M. Dilan (54th District, Brooklyn).Added Kelvin, “I want to make a positive impact on my community, to make my immigrant family proud.”
Keys Rigual
Associate of Science inComputer Science
Keys is graduating with a 3.85 GPA and is transferring toHunter College/CUNYto pursue a bachelor’s in computer science and Japanese. His long-term career goal is to start a tech company in Japan that focuses on bringing more high-tech technologies into the workplace. “Many people would be surprised to learn that Japanese culture is famously slow to adopt modern technology; workplaces still heavily rely on paper and outdated technologies like floppy disks,” said Keys (for reference,click here).
When Keys graduates from LaGuardia, he will be the first in his Puerto Rican-Italian-Iranian family to graduate to college. Keys was born in Brooklyn and spent part of his childhood in Queens before moving to Arkansas. After finishing high school, Keys and his twin sister started college in Arkansas together, but they both left after realizing that the tracks they were on weren’t quite right. Keys wanted to switch his major from accounting to computer science because, as he said, “I’ve always liked computers and creating things.”
Keys came to LaGuardia, joined ASAP, and got involved on the LaGuardia campus. “As I immersed myself in the LaGuardia experience, I discovered a world of opportunities waiting to be seized,” said Keys. “The unwavering support my ASAP academic advisors Angela Wang and Brett Cummings fueled my educational journey. It was through LaGuardia that I secured a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows internship with ABW Compliance, a drug testing and wellness company. That internship blossomed into a part-time job, where I still work today, doing social media and other odds and ends.”
Keys, who identifies as queer and has been doing drag since 2009, founded the Queer And Fabulous (AF) student club. “As founder and president of Queer AF, I have had the privilege of being a visible and active leader on campus. This allowed me to contribute positively to our community, and helped me develop essential leadership, organizational, and communication skills,” Keys said. “Through Queer AF, I have worked tirelessly to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance. I also assisted other clubs through their leaders and members to create a strong community within the clubs on campus.”
“However, my path was not without challenges. I am a neurodivergent student, which includes ADHD and autism, although it may not be apparent when meeting me. Sometimes these come with obstacles that can feel insurmountable. I remember having to withdraw from a class because I was overwhelmed. But I took a deep breath, re-enrolled in that class, and gave it my all,” said Keys. “Overall, my time at LaGuardia has been nothing short of transformative, filled with academic achievements, meaningful co-curricular engagements, and valuable professional experiences.”
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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