Four LaGuardia Animal Sciences Majors Awarded Scholarships to Rutgers University
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (September 2, 2025) — Four Animal Sciences majors from LaGuardia Community College/CUNY have been awarded scholarships covering out-of-state tuition, housing, meals, and fees to pursue bachelor’s degrees at Rutgers University.
The scholars—Abigail Arteaga, Angelina Dominguez, Ailis Fernandez, and Ashley Hernandez—began classes today, the first day of the Fall 2025 semester at Rutgers. They will pursue Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), with options in Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Companion Animal Science, Equine and Production Animal Science, and Laboratory Animal Science. Degrees in other majors at SEBS will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) through the Next Generation (NEXTGEN) initiative, the scholarships are part of the USDA-NIFA-supported Animal Science Discovery (ANSCID) program, which builds a structured pathway from NYC high schools to LaGuardia and Rutgers for careers in animal science and related fields.
“The Animal Sciences track is one of the first of its kind at CUNY and is growing quickly, creating unique opportunities for urban students to pursue careers in veterinary medicine, biomedical research, wildlife science, and companion animal science,” said Dr. Preethi Radhakrishnan, director of LaGuardia’s Environmental Science Program and principal investigator of ANSCID. “It has been such a joy to teach Abigail, Ailis, Ashley, and Angelina in my Animal Behavior and Ethics as well as Integrative Physiology classes. They are truly extraordinary students. I have watched them grow, mature, and challenge themselves during their time at LaGuardia, and I am so excited to see them continue to shine at Rutgers.”
Dr. Aparna Zama, co-director of ANSCID and professor at Rutgers University, added, “We are grateful for the continued support and funding from USDA-NIFA to engage, train, and raise up the next generation of motivated and dedicated food, agriculture, veterinary, and biomedical research workforce. The future is indeed very bright for these four LAGCC-Rutgers transfer scholars, and we look forward to providing post-enrollment support and career and professional development opportunities alongside rigorous curricula to ensure their success.”
Meet the NEXTGEN Scholars
Abigail Arteaga, 20, of Queens, is the oldest of six siblings. She is the mother of a young son. A member of the Class of 2025, she was the first in her family to graduate college. Abigail participated in the inaugural Summer Experiential Learning Program (SELP) in 2024.
“Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by animals. I always wanted to learn as much as I could about every new species I had as a pet,” said Abigail. “I’ve bred betta fish—learning how to grow live food cultures, test water parameters, and maintain a safe and healthy nitrogen cycle. I’ve also raised monarch butterflies—figuring out how to preserve milkweed leaves and track caterpillar growth.”
Her favorite memory from LaGuardia was taking Integrative Physiology with Dr. Radhakrishnan. “She is an amazing professor and helped push me even when I felt burnt out. I thank her for that.”
At Rutgers, Abigail will focus on veterinary medicine and hopes to serve underserved communities through accessible animal care.
“Balancing raising my son, working, and going to school isn’t easy,” she said. “But I don’t want to go back to a low-income lifestyle. That drives me.”
Angelina Dominguez, 20, of Mount Vernon, became the first in their family to earn a college degree when they graduated as part of LaGuardia’s Class of 2025. Encouraged by Dr. Radhakrishnan, they participated in the ANSCID Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE).
At Rutgers, Angelina plans to major in Marine Biology and get more involved in research. “I want to share whatever I learn about deep sea animals,” they said. “I love watching videos posted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Nautilus Live, and others. Deep sea animals look so creepy, but I think that makes them kind of the cute.”
Ailis Fernandez, 19, of The Bronx, lives with her two pets: a bird named Mango and a dog named Summer. As a member of LaGuardia’s Class of 2025, her dream of becoming a veterinarian was strengthened through internships at a vet clinic and Rutgers’ SURE and SELP programs.
“LaGuardia gave me so many opportunities and support from friends and professors like Dr. Preethi,” she said.
Ashley Hernandez, 26, graduated from LaGuardia in 2024 and was the first student to receive the NEXTGEN scholarship. She was part of the first cohort of the SURE program in 2024.
Now in her final semester at Rutgers, Ashley studies Animal Science with a focus on Laboratory Animal Science while working full-time as a veterinary technician at an emergency animal hospital. She plans to develop a career in research.
“Dr. Preethi’s support helped me pursue opportunities I never thought possible,” said Ashley. “Getting hands-on lab experience through Rutgers’ summer research program really opened my eyes to a future in research.”
About the Scholarship
The LAGCC–Rutgers Transfer Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for LaGuardia students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in animal science or related fields.
Eligibility Requirements:
- At least 45 credits completed towards an associate degree in Environmental Science, Animal Sciences, or Sustainable Urban Agriculture
- GPA above 3.0 in key science and math courses
- S. citizenship or residency
Application Deadlines:
- Spring 2026 enrollment: Apply by September 18
- Fall 2026 enrollment: Apply by December 16
For questions, contact environmentallagcc@gmail.com.
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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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