LaGuardia Community College Celebrates More Than 2,000 Graduates at 52nd Commencement on Friday, June 21
Ceremony begins at 9 a.m., June 21, Queens College Quad (rain or shine)
QUEENS, NY (June 13, 2024) — On Friday, June 21st, the nearly 2,000 members of the LaGuardia Community College/CUNY Class of 2024 will celebrate earning their associate degrees or certificates at the college’s 52nd Commencement on the quad of the Queens College campus.
Kenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College and Dr. Billie Gastic Rosado, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs will be leading the ceremony. As Grand Marshal, Dr. Sultan Jenkins, Professor of Biological Sciences, will carry the college’s mace during the processional and give welcoming remarks.
Speakers include:
- Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, New York’s 7th District, United States House of Representatives
- The Honorable Donovan Richards, Queens Borough President
Student speakers:
- Carolina Lenes Arreola, a first-generation college student who was born and raised in Colombia, where her passion for justice and bringing solutions led her to become a Commercial and Maritime lawyer. Years later, Carolina moved to the United States with her husband and two daughters. She studied English at The English Language Center, part of LaGuardia’s Adult and Continuing Education Division, then transferred to the Business Administration degree program. Carolina completed multiple internships, earned several scholarships, participated in a range of campus organizations, and even co-founded a club earlier this year.
- Amena Shamia is graduating with a degree in biology. Amena arrived in the United States a few short years ago. After earning her high school equivalency, Amena, along with her brother and sister, enrolled at LaGuardia. In her two years as a student, Amena has participated in numerous research opportunities on campus and beyond, and has been active in several clubs and organizations at the college. And, most recently, Amena was awarded the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship.
Special guests:
- Kevin D. Kim, Esq., Member of The City University of New York Board of Trustees
- Héctor Batista, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, The City University of New York
The Graduates: Read about members of the graduating class in Red Hawks Rising, named in honor of the college’s beloved mascot. Featured graduates include Zahara Mutebi, a Uganda native graduating with a degree in computer science and transferring to John Jay, Aim-E Chi who is graduating with a degree in New Media Technology and is transferring to the CUNY Baccalaureate (CUNY BA) program to pursue a major merging criminal justice and graphic design, Julian Poli, who will earn his degree in civil engineering and is transferring to City College to pursue a bachelor’s in the same field, and other members of LaGuardia’s Class of 2024.
WHAT: The 52nd Commencement for LaGuardia Community College/CUNY
WHEN: Friday, June 21, 9 a.m.
WHERE: Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, Queens, 11367
#LAGCCGRAD2024
• • • •
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.
####