I'm Brandon Gibson, I was born and raised in sunny southern California.

There I attended USC and majored in aerospace engineering. Three years

into my course load, however, I decided that it wasn’t for me and made the

hard decision to come out to NY. I taught myself network engineering and

found myself employed but I still wasn’t happy with my choices. Reaching out

to Kingsborough, I enrolled myself in biology classes with the goals and

motivation to become a dentist. From my first semester I reached out to the

honors program and catalogued the requirements needed to join and made

sure I hit each and every one. I’ve recently been accepted to the Presidential

Honors Program which is another check mark on the list to my goals. “It’s not

how many times you fall, it’s how many times you get back up.”

I am Sneha Madimi. I'm from New Delhi, India and I moved to the United

States a year ago. I graduated from Father Agnel School, New Delhi. This is

my second semester in Kingsborough. I believe college exists to empower

you, broaden your horizons, help you to realize your potential and aim for

higher goals and Kingsborough has done that for me. My current major is

liberal arts but I’m planning to pursue journalism in the near future. I have

performed Bollywood and various traditional Indian folk dances on many

stages, I was part of the drama club in my high school years. I have a

passion for writing and I write two blogs. I wish to start a Bollywood Dance

Group in KBCC and be involved in the theater and the college’s newspaper,

Scepter. I wish to grow, work hard and keep rising above in every aspect of

my life. I aim to join the UN and fight for education, child rights and women empowerment. I

have a deep desire for my deeds to serve the society and my words- whether oral or written to

impact the world.

My name is Oleksandr Kozlenko. I was born and raised in Ukraine. It has

been one year since I came to the United States as an international student. I

graduated from a local high school in my native city. I was an active member

of different societies in my high school and received many awards. I am also a

volunteer in a charity foundation. My major at Kingsborough Community

College is computer science. I am a member of the honors program and

recently I was honored to become a presidential scholar. My goal is to transfer

to one of the Ivy League universities and to get a bachelor and a master's

degree in computer science.

My name is Aaron Joshua Pakow and I am beginning my second year at

Kingsborough as a nursing major. I intend on completing a two-year

nursing degree and furthering my academic career at a four-year

institution. While I am originally from Brooklyn, N.Y. I had relocated

frequently in my youth. Though situations were not always easy, I had felt

that given my extremely limited ties to family, friends or any community of

any particular sort, I was given an opportunity to explore different places

and cultures. After achieving my GED diploma, I found myself spending

many years traveling and tasting what the world has to offer. Still, I had felt

an emptiness, which was only filled when I began pursuing knowledge, for

the sake of knowledge, at this institution. Throughout my short time at

Kingsborough I had become a member of Phi Theta Kappa, made the

dean’s list and maintained my 4.0 GPA. Yet, it is not these aspects that provide the greatest

sense of joy, but the feeling of wonder when discovering a new knowledge that is most

significant and most beautiful to me personally. There is a wealth of knowledge to indulge in and

I look forward to doing that at this institution.

My name is Gabrielle Rios and I’m from Brooklyn. I went to Midwood High

School and am now majoring in graphic design and illustration with a plan

to move on to the Fashion Institute of Technology to become an animator. I

have been a part of the Kingsborough newspaper, Scepter, since my first

semester at Kingsborough in 2014 and hope to continue my work as their

production editor until my graduation. I have also been featured in the

student arts gallery during the Annual Students Exhibition in 2015 and I

have been fortunate enough to have some of my art chosen for publication

in Scepter and Antheon.

My name is Alyssa Contreras and I'm a born New Yorker from Brooklyn. I

graduated this year from Abraham Lincoln High School. Choosing Abraham

Lincoln High School was one of the greatest decisions I have made

because I was able to be hands on with animals. My major at the moment is

liberal arts. I am interested in performing arts as well as animal welfare. In

the meanwhile I need to take as many science courses as possible for my

career goal which is to become a vet tech. In high school during my free

time I would volunteer at the animal lab assisting the instructors. Also during

a few school events I would volunteer, such as home games. I'm so excited

to start my new journey in the presidential scholars program. I'm very much

looking forward to it.

My name is Syeda Abbas. I was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in

Pakistan. I moved to the United States about three years ago. I graduated

from Abraham Lincoln High School. Now, I’m a second year student at

Kingsborough Community College. I’m majoring in physics. After

completing my degree, I will be studying astrophysics. I want to pursue my

career in research. Moreover, as to my dreams and goals, I aspire to earn

my degree from Columbia University. I want to live a meaningful life. I

would like to leave something behind in this world, and only Kingsborough

has provided me with amazing opportunities that have contributed to my

academic and mental growth. Kingsborough has also helped me to take a

step out in society as a professional.

As we know hard work is the key to success and you realize that your hard work in paying off

when you get inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, when you receive a

scholarship award and especially when your professors say “I’m proud of you.” However, It

would have never been possible without the support and encouragement of professors and

members of the honors office because they have helped me to start climbing my stairway to the

sky.

Zeyaam Shahid is a second year business administration student at

Kingsborough. He also has a diploma in Faculty in Sciences

(Engineering). He is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa. After

Kingsborough, Zeyaam plans to enroll in a four year school where he

would get his MBA and a degree in applied sciences or engineering as

well. He ultimately aspires to start a business of his own but wants to

acquire experience beforehand.

Formal education aside, Zeyaam yearns to apply his knowledge to his

everyday life. He also frequently indulges in various intellectual

discourses concerning many philosophical disciplines. To him there is no

end to education. After he has fulfilled his vision, Zeyaam intends to impart his knowledge to

others and to help them in fulfilling their dreams.

My name is Jorge Lopez and I was born and raised in Peru. I moved to

New York City in 2007. I attended Bryant High School in Queens where I

was part of Arista ( Honor society ) for four years. I was part of the second

language honor society as well. There I fell in love with theater, and I was

the stage manager for the last two years of my high school career. At first,

I briefly attended SUNY Albany where I had no vision of the future. I was

caught between who I was and who I wanted to be. My goals were always

in my mind ever since I can remember, but I lacked a plan. I lacked the

diligence that is needed to achieve my goals. When I moved to

Kingsborough I met a great professor, Dr. Wood, and through his class, I

moved my goals from the back seat to the front. My personal goal is to become a neuroscientist

and either to attend a top medical school or to pursue a Ph.D. However, that is just a small

piece of the puzzle. I plan on creating hospitals and schools around the world to help improve

this planet just a little bit. That is how humanity moves forward and education is the key to

unlocking everything. The presidential scholars honors program will help me to get a step closer

to achieving my goals. Personally, I want to do this because of my own desire for knowledge

and because helping others has been my passion ever since I was a kid. I've learned it is not

about the money because the reward is the work itself. My existence on this planet is for you.

I'm not just here to benefit me.

My name is Michael Farias and I was born in California but raised in

Brooklyn, NY. My father is from Colombia and my mother is Irish

American. I graduated from James Madison High School in June 2015

with an Advanced Regents Diploma. It was a great experience because

I was so involved. I was the pianist for the Jazz Band and also played in

the Guitar Ensemble in which we won gold medals at NYSSMA, a

music competition for New York State schools. I also played the piano

and guitar as part of the band for the annual SING! Competition. In

addition to the music activities, I was on the James Madison swim team.

We trained hard to achieve success and usually placed very well in our

division. Aside from the extracurricular activities I also succeeded

academically. I ranked 71st in my class of almost 700 students and

finished with a 92 cumulative average. I took AP classes and College Now classes from

Kingsborough. I am going into Kingsborough as a liberal arts major and am hoping that the

Presidential Scholars Honors Program will give me some direction as to what I would like to

choose as my profession. I look forward to starting my college career at Kingsborough as part of

the Honors Program and I plan on working hard and taking advantage of all that this wonderful

program has to offer.

My name is Chanel Pegeron. I'm from Brooklyn, NY and have been

living here for my entire life! I obtained my GED when I was 17, and

decided to further my studies at Kingsborough. I am currently a

sophomore at Kingsborough and the past year I've spent here has been

an amazing, unforgettable experience. I am currently a fine arts major

with a heavy concentration in psychology.

I plan on doing art therapy since I love art and assisting people has

always come naturally to me in life. My campus involvement includes

not only being a presidential honors student but also a student in the

College Discovery Program. I am also a peer educator, and I hope to

give back to this school as much as it has given to me.

My name is Haziq Naeem. I was born and raised in Brooklyn. I attended high schools in

different countries before finally returning to the United States and getting a GED(now known as

TASC). While in high school, I won essay writing competitions, co-founded clubs, and was part

of the student council. I will be majoring in liberal arts at KCC, although what i'll be studying after

I transfer is still undecided. I am leaning towards a computer science and economics double

major. I hope to bring about or at least inspire others to work towards a change in our economic

and social systems.

My name is Anna Lim. I was born in Russia and lived there for seventeen

years. After successfully passing exams in biology and chemistry, I was

going to go to medical school. But suddenly everything has completely

changed and just two years ago my family moved to the United States. I

started my career path at Kingsborough Community College. My major is

chemistry which I have always loved but have been scared to imagine it as

my future profession. After getting my associates, I am planning to transfer

to City College or to New York University and finish bachelor's degree.

However, I won’t stop at that but I will continue my education with a masters

degree and try to connect my life with research. I am a current member of

the National Society of Leadership and Success and I recently got accepted

to the REEO program and to the presidential scholars honors program. I am also planning to

be involved in different research projects with faculty members.

My name is Douilleny Stefka Cousseillant. I was born and raised in a

caribbean island called Haiti. My family and I moved to the United States

when I was 10 and there were many obstacles. The major issue was that

none of us spoke English like none whatsoever and that was a big issue. I

recently just graduated from Clara Barton High School for Health

Professions. In high school I was a member of the honor society and I was

part of the medical assistant program.

There I started my journey in health care. My favorite show in the whole

world is Law and Order SVU. II could watch that show every day until I die

and I will not get bored. This show had a great impact on me and really

piqued my interest in forensic science. I want to be become a forensic

nurse. I am starting school at Kingsborough in the fall and I want to major in nursing. I can't wait

to be part of the presidential honors program because I think this program is going to help me

immensely.

My name is Yessenia Wallace. However, I am better known as and prefer

to be called Jessie. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and have

loved every minute of it! I went to Abraham Lincoln High School. During the

process of applying for college, I looked at Kingsborough as more of a

backup plan. One day through a friend, I was told about the presidential

honors program, and it immediately made me look at Kingsborough as more

than a back-up option.

This will now be my first semester at Kingsborough as a liberal arts major. I

look forward to being a part of such an amazing program at Kingsborough.

My name is Caterina Di Graziano and I am 18 years old. I am an Italian-

American and I am very proud of my ability to speak two languages. I

travel to Castellamare del golfo, Sicily, Italy, almost every summer for a

month to spend time with family and friends. I have lived in Brooklyn all my

life and attended Brooklyn Studio Secondary School for junior high school

AND high school! The school was small and homey and I was able to

have many beautiful opportunities there. I always love to be extremely

involved and participated in multiple clubs such as, the dance team

(captain), yearbook committee, leadership, debate team, Italian club

(president), Jewish club, big and little club, soccer club and CEC as a high

school board member in which I was proud to accept many awards. The

major I am taking at Kingsborough is business. I am going to school to

hopefully become a successful business lawyer. I am excited to be a part of the presidential

honors program and for the experiences ahead.

My name is Reanna Ramasami, I was born in Guyana and came to

America with my family when I was thirteen years old. I went to Abraham

Lincoln High School, where I met many humble individuals who inspired

me to be the person I am today. I am always looking for helpful

opportunities which can benefit me and my community as well. I have

volunteered in various organizations throughout my years in high school.

However, I am very grateful to be a part of this amazing honors program,

now that I am entering my first year in Kingsborough Community

College. My goals in college are staying focused and getting involved on

and off campus. I am going to be majoring in speech pathology, and I

am ever so grateful for the opportunity to do so. In conclusion I am

looking forward to opening new and exciting paths as I become a better

me.

My name is Ilhom Islomov. I was born in Uzbekistan, Samarkand. On

June 4th, 2010 I moved to the U.S with my family. I attended James

Madison High School, completed numerous AP courses, received many

awards and graduated with an advanced Regent's diploma. I also played

on a handball team at JMHS. Besides that, I was involved in many clubs

at our school such as; key club, math club, and Islamic Club. During my

lunch period and after school, I was tutoring students who needed my

help either to pass their classes, tests or state exams. I love helping

people and bringing happiness to their lives and beautiful smiles on their

faces. Best major for me at Kingsborough was chemistry because my

goal is to become a dentist. I am proud to be a Presidential Scholar and

an active member of the Honors Club.

My name is Sarit Levy.. I was born and raised in New York. I graduated

from Ezra Academy in 2015. During my four year journey at Ezra

Academy I took part in various extracurricular activities such as stock

market, newspaper, and the forensic science team. While being a full-

time student and balancing extracurricular activities I also work after

school with disabled kids. My passion lead me to pursue a career that

works alongside children with disabilities. After graduation from

Kingsborough Community College I plan on enrolling in an occupational

therapy program and specialize in art therapy. With love and support

from my family and friends, I know success is possible. I'm excited to see

what Kingsborough holds for my future.

My name is Nandanee Tiwari and I was born in Guyana, South

America. At the age of five, my parents and I migrated to the United

States hoping for better economic and educational opportunities. My

parents worked tirelessly and made many sacrifices to ensure my

wellbeing. It is this sacrifice that motivates me to excel in school. At Life

Sciences Secondary School, I was president of the Science Club, and

secretary of the National Honors Society (ARISTA), and participated in

Model UN. I coordinated fundraising events for causes ranging from

breast cancer to Doctors without Borders, and worked to mentor fellow

students and assist teachers in my spare

Time. I also participated in MedDocs at Mount Sinai School of Medicine,

which sparked my interest in the workings of the human heart. At

Kingsborough I am working towards my

associate's degree in biology. I will be graduating a semester early and plan to attend Queens

College to further my education. Alongside my parents' sacrifices, I too will work hard to attend

Harvard Medical School, eventually becoming a cardiovascular surgeon.

My name is Amanda DellaVecchia. I was raised in Brooklyn, New York

and I graduated from St. Edmund High School. This is my first year at

Kingsborough Community College and I will be studying graphic design.

My biggest life goal is to be happy and successful. I always want to be

creating new things and also creating change. I plan on participating in

clubs and sports here and being involved the most I can. My family and

friends are my biggest motivators and each day I'm working towards my

goals with their support.

My name is Kate Maziarz and I am from Poland. I came to the United

States 3 years ago when I graduated from high school. I have been a

student at Kingsborough since spring 2015 majoring in chemistry. I

became an honors student in the past fall term. I am interested in

finishing a BS degree and pursuing a PhD in polymer chemistry. As a

student of KBCC, I have to say that this school has the best faculty.

Professors and the honors office are very supportive in helping me

achieve my goal.

My idol, Maria Curie Sklodowska said: “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is

only to be understood.” Everything, what we see around us, must have

an explanation. I believe that chemistry is one of the paths to understand

this world. That’s why I try to study as hard as possible and ask

questions. In January 2015, I was able to become a research student in the chemistry

department. I presented our results at a John Jay symposium as a CUNY Research Scholar.

Also, I attended the ACS Boston 2015 meeting where I had a poster presentation and I met

chemists from all over the world.

My name is Jenna Panzarella and before I became a student at KBCC I attended John Bowne

High School. My whole high school career was a learning experience, from learning from my

actual classes to learning from my peers surrounding me. In my high school I worked my lunch

period in my library. There I helped multiple students write their disciplinary essays and assist

my librarian shelving books, and filing away student library cards. I had developed a love of

psychology in taking a class my senior year, and I had chosen that as my major. I hope that in

the future I will be able to continue my love for psychology as a forensic psychologist in the FBI.

My name is Sabrina Kolenovic and I'm from Brooklyn, New York. I

graduated from New Utrecht High School and I am now majoring in

business at Kingsborough.. All throughout high school, I was part of the

NAF: Hospitality & Tourism program. Within the program, I learned the

ins and outs of the hospitality industry. My career goal is to obtain an

internship every summer throughout college. This past summer, I was

accepted to join the Urban Leadership Fellows program. This

prestigious program provides young individuals a taste of the real world.

I interned in an investment firm that dealt with the distribution of

municipal bonds. I was also provided with workshops on public

speaking, excel, etc.. I am excited to begin my college experience with

the honors program and I look forward to meeting you all soon!

My name is Sabrina Poidomani. I have lived in Brooklyn, New York my

whole life. I attended Brooklyn Studio Secondary School where I was a

part of the debate team. Today, I am a part of Kingsborough Service

Corps. Through this program I get the opportunity to give back to my

community by helping its youth. About 4 days a week after class, I help

elementary kids with their homework, serving as their own tutor at a

public library.

I am currently going into my second year here at Kingsborough,

majoring in liberal arts. I plan to transfer to Columbia University, where I

can obtain my masters degree in psychology.

Safinaz Mashali was born in Los Angeles, CA. She grew up in Egypt and

resided there until the egyptian revolution. She has been residing in

Brooklyn for almost 5 years. Coming to Kingsborough was a big step for

her since she took a couple of years off from college life after she landed

back in the states. It was one of the best decisions she made. This will be

her third year at Kingsborough, and second year as a presidential

scholar. For her, a college setting is a starting place where one is able to

navigate for opportunities and to grow intellectually on and off campus.

She has been discovering many things about herself and what she is

capable of doing unconsciously. Her current major is chemistry, but she

plans on enrolling in the surgical technology program in the near future.

She also joined the Salzburg Seminar Program last semester, and

became the VP of Student World assembly. She was listed on the dean’s

list three times, aced all her eighteen honor credits classes, and one of her Honors Contract

Projects was published in the Distinctions Journal and she also got accepted into the CUNY

Service Corps

ʺBeing a presidential scholar is truly like a golden key that opens up so many doors and

opportunities for dreamers like myselfʺ..

My name is Trisha Gustave. I am from the Caribbean Island, St. Lucia.

Currently, I am a liberal arts major at Kingsborough and this coming

semester is my last. When I migrated to the U.S at 17 years old, I

attended a GED program to complete my high school diploma. After

receiving my GED, I decided to attend Kingsborough. During my first

semester, I was recommended by one of my professors for the honors

program. I immediately registered for it and also joined several other

programs such as the REEO program and the honors representative

program. Each of those programs has contributed to my academic

growth. As an honor student I’ve had a great experience so far. I’m

looking forward to attending a four year college where I will major in

English/Arts. This journey has been both exciting and challenging but I

intend to make it through God’s blessings.

My name is Tanel Kirkland, I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and I

am currently a rising sophomore at Kingsborough Community College and

I am a fine arts major with a concentration in photography. I am the

technical specialist for our school's chapter in the Phi Theta Kappa Honors

Society. Coming to KCC really changed my life for the better and I have

learned a lot more about myself. Since I've been here, I have made new

friends and met staff members who have helped me come a long way. The

professors I had have really opened my mind to how the world works and

how to questions things to get a better understanding about it. The

Presidential Scholars Honors Program has helped me realize my true

potential and that everything in life is all about strategy and once you have made the right move,

things will run smoothly. After I graduate from Kingsborough, I plan on going to FIT to

complete my bachelor's degree in fine arts and open up my own studio in the future and help the

youth express themselves through the images they take.

Her name is Anshera Galan and she was born and raised in Haiti. She

migrated to New York three years ago and went to Sheepshead Bay High

School. Her major at Kingsborough Community College is liberal arts.

Additionally she's interested in medicine in the future. She would like to

become a pediatrician later on in life. Two reasons inspired her at an early

age. First,she would like to advocate for children who do not have anyone

to defend them in a world that neglects their rights. Secondly she would

like to support them sanitarily and emotionally. She feels like by

becoming a pediatrician she will have more opportunity to accomplish her

goal. She believes that if she works hard she will be able to make a

difference in children's lives around the world.

After her graduation from Kingsborough, she will major in psychology. She's exceedingly

involved in school's activities and she's looking forward to accomplish more.

My name's Jermani Faulk and I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.

My family is from Barbados and I live in a household of four. I attended

high school at John Dewey Campus in Coney Island. I went there for my

freshman year and transferred to High School for Civil Rights at Thomas

Jefferson Campus during my sophomore year, where I earned my high

school diploma with no problems. In my high school I was very involved

in the student body. Therefore, through academic excellence I was given a

part time job in the main office, where I helped teachers and I prepped

students for regents. Also, during graduation I received awards and

medals for exceeding standards in every subject during my years in high

school. However, I’m currently studying liberal arts here at

Kingsborough, where I plan on graduating on time with an associates degree at the top of my

class. I plan on being an avid leader and being of help to my fellow classmates. I will do an

internship for basic networking. After graduating from Kingsborough I want to attend a 4 year

university to obtain my bachelors and masters degrees in business administration. After that, I

plan on joining a well-known business to get experience. Eventually I plan on being a business

owner and an artist.

I am Anika Collins, a second year student at Kingsborough Community

College and I must say that I have not regretted my decision to enroll and

become a part of this awesome family. One of my most favorite quotes is

from Mahatma Gandhi “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” with

this in mind, my goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker and

change the world for the better one day at a time. I intend to graduate from

Kingsborough and further improve myself at a four year college. I am very

excited to see what is ahead for me as a presidential scholar and member of

the REEO program as I believe this will propel me to be the world changer I

aspire to be. I expect great things this year. Carpe diem!

My name is Syed Mukarram Ali. I moved to the United States with my

family when I was 18 years old and I got my GED diploma from

Kingsborough. During my time here I found that the teachers were very

encouraging and helpful. I was not able to get enrolled into college right

after due to financial reasons. Now that my father has a teaching job and my

family’s financial situation is stable it was clear to me that Kingsborough

was my next stop. This is my second semester and I’m really enjoying my

time here. My major is engineering and I love mathematics. My calculus

professor A. Krishnan encouraged me to accompany him to a Phi Theta

Kappa induction ceremony. I was impressed and realized that hard work and

good grades are awarded. Kingsborough has given me numerous

opportunities to help build my character and increase my knowledge for which I’m forever

grateful.

I’m Channing Ghailani, I am not exactly sure what to say about myself so

I’ll start with where I am from and what led me to being a student here. I

am from Oxfordshire, England where I spent my childhood. After that my

family and I moved to Kent where I graduated secondary school. I adore

travelling and have been lucky enough to have created such wonderful

memories with friends and alone travelling across Europe.

My experiences I have from travelling impacted my decision in wanting to

live and study in New York City one of the greatest cities (well, besides

London of course). Studying at Kingsborough has taught me many life

lessons in the short time I have been here about my strengths and

weaknesses.

Of course, I have made friends here that I hope to remain in touch with once we graduate to

continue our journey in achieving our dream careers. My goal this fall semester is to participate

in clubs and the honours society, becoming more of an active member. Being a presidential

scholar will most definitely offer me great opportunities for the near future. Each day is a

learning experience and giving yourself the best education is something to appreciate.

My name is Areeg Albaali. I'm from South Arabia. I came to the United

States when I was 12 years old. I started my education at I.S 303 and I

graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School. My favorite subject is

earth science. Therefore I tutored kids during my lunch period and

Saturdays. I've also participated in the health corps program where we

encourage kids and teenagers to eat healthy, stop smoking, and exercise. I

achieved a lot of things at Abraham Lincoln High School The most

memorable achievement I accomplished there was receiving the New York

City Council award by Chaim Deutsch. I came to Kingsborough

Community College because I believe that I can achieve a lot of things that

I won't be able to do elsewhere. My major is liberal arts and that's another

reason I came to Kingsborough Community College to figure out what I want to do in my future

study.

My name is Tak Yiu Tong. I was born in China, but I went to high

school in New York. It has been seven years since I moved to New York

with my family. My major at KCC is animation in graphic design and

illustration. I plan on transferring to a four year college. I want to be an

anime designer and Prototype designer. My artwork will be published in

the 2015 Antheon art magazine at Kingsborough.

My name is Michelle Yedin, a sophomore at Kingsborough and proud

Editor-In-Chief of Kingsborough’s newspaper, Scepter, and the

Honor’s newsletter, The Extra Mile. During my freshman year at

Kingsborough I’ve taken over three honors courses and one honors

enrichment component, including POL 71, which is a class for the

National Model United Nations program, and absolutely loved them all.

I’ve had the privilege of representing Vietnam at the United Nations

and even had the chance to sit in Israel’s chair, which was really

amazing because I’m a proud Israeli. I’ve become very friendly with

many professors and have been very fortunate to receive an abundance

of support and guidance to insure that I move on to a four-year college. I’ve been persuaded to

join the student publication club and have excelled as a writer ever since, and also gained greater

leadership roles and responsibilities as the year passed. In addition, I have made it to the Dean’s

List with a 4.0 GPA, become a Phi Theta Kappa member, and have also been awarded the

Retirees Scholarship. No doubt, being pushed to go the extra mile has benefited me in many

ways, and will only help me at my next college and future career. Kingsborough certainly is a

“community” college and I am so proud to be a part of the many opportunities at hand.

I am John Johnson, a graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School who is

extremely eclectic and dynamic. I enjoy various physical pursuits, such as

cycling and running for many miles, rowing, and exploring nature. I

played a main role in my high school’s remake of the play/musical

“FAME.” I love English, and I will be earning a liberal arts degree

concentrating in English here at Kingsborough Community College. I

then plan to go to Columbia University and get enrolled in their

undergraduate program for creative writing. After my bachelor’s in

creative writing, I plan to earn a Master’s in English in the United

Kingdom. And then I will finally earn a PhD in English at Harvard

University. Despite my academic aspirations, I plan on beginning a career

in modeling and acting. Needless to say, I am a very ambitious individual with a unique mind,

and imagination.

Hello my name is Kevin Morales and I am a Mexican-American born in

Brooklyn, NY but raised in Mexico. I technically received my.high

school diploma from The Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice

but I went through six different high schools in order to graduate and

continue my education. I am now currently working towards an

engineering science degree at KBCC in hopes of transferring to

Columbia or Cornell University and receive my bachelor’s degree in

mechanical engineering. However my main objective is to become a U.S

Air Force Pilot. Becoming a pilot with the Air Force is a difficult career

which is why I decided to become part of honor societies in order to set

myself apart from my competitors. I have also managed to become a

2015 American Needs You Fellow and now as a presidential scholar I

expect to exceed my limits and go above and beyond.

My name is Angelika Shastapalava. I was born in Brest, Belarus. It

has been four years since I moved to the United States by myself. My

family is back in Belarus. I graduated from Lyceum № 1 in my native

town. I have been on the acrobatics and swimming teams for four

years. Right now I am doing dancing. My major is liberal arts. Since I

have entered KBCC I have become an active member of the

community here. I am currently a member of KCC Reads, Honors

Program, Phi Theta Kappa and National Society for Leadership and

Success. My goal is to transfer to Columbia University or NYU.I am

sure that being a part of such a great program as the Presidential

Scholars will help me to achieve my goal.

I'm Lukas Zienius, and I'm a proud presidential scholar at

Kingsborough Community College. I'm originally from Kaunas,

Lithuania, in which I lived until my move to the United States. I'm

someone who believes in both scholastic and athletic excellence, thus

I have a strong passion for hitting the books and being a leader in the

classroom. Because of this attitude, I have finished an excellent first

year in Kingsborough, and I'm setting the bar even higher for the

second year. I was recently elected as the treasurer of the Phi Theta

Kappa international honors society Xi Kappa chapter here in

Kingsborough, and I'm also involved in the campus clubs, as well as

the Kingsborough tennis team. This is my final year in Kingsborough,

and I aim to finish up my business management degree, and I wish

everyone an excellent year.

My name is Ana Deleon. I’m a mother of two boys. I was born and

raised in Brooklyn NY. My family is from Panama so I speak Spanish

fluently. I also am proud to say that I attended Kingsborough 25 years

ago. I wasn’t able to finish what I started at the time but I can say that I

am just as excited now as I was then about being part of Kingsborough

Community College. Kingsborough has so many programs to offer to

help you on your journey. I couldn’t think of a better school to be a part

of. This is my 3rd semester here at Kingsborough. My major is

business administration. My goal is to transfer to Baruch as a graduate

from Kingsborough and pursue my studies in business management

concentrating in international business. I know that the Presidential Scholars program will

prepare me for my journey to Baruch. I am honored to be a part of the Presidential Scholars

Program. My goal is to move to Panama when I’m done and to apply what I learned to life.

My name is Renea Burke and I came to KCC in fall 2013, after an eight-

year hiatus from attending school. I remember my first semester on

campus- I was extremely nervous about what college would be like after

all that time. But my hard work and academic excellence earned the

attention of my professors, and they encouraged me to become an Honors

Presidential Scholar. By spring 2014 I discovered other organizations that

mattered to me and got involved. During my time at Kingsborough, I

have been actively involved on campus as a Phi Theta Kappa member, a

radio personality at WKRB 90.3 FM (KBCC's radio station), the Honors

Club President, as well as a Student-Advocate for various issues around

youth immigration rights. I will earn my associate’s degree at the end of this year, and then

transfer to a four-year college to complete an undergraduate degree in art activism. I've always

been creative, whether it's dancing, singing, writing, or drawing. I intend to use art to raise

awareness on social matters in my community.

Gustavo Tellez is a Mexican-American who is on a journey to finding

his place in the world. He attended the High School of Art and Design

and later took some time off and worked in the private sector, gaining

valuable experiences. Currently, he is attending Kingsborough

Community College and is pursuing a degree in accounting. On campus,

Gustavo seeks other like-minded individuals for friendship and

fellowship, which is why he enrolled in numerous activities and clubs

like: the REEO Program, Presidential Scholars Program, Phi Theta

Kappa, and The Accounting Society. He has also been selected to The

National Society of Leadership and Success and nominated for

membership into The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. After his studies, he plans to work

in the financial sector.

My name is Megan Kelly Perez. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New

York. When choosing which school I would like to attend while I was in

middle school, I showed a lot of interest in Edward R. Murrow High

School. Upon entering Edward. R. Murrow High School my main focus

was art, being that I am a very creative person I figured it would help me

grow in that field. Murrow gave me so many opportunities to also learn

in different fields such as theater, costuming, music, business, and

psychology. Psychology ended up being something that I was very passionate about and wanted

to pursue as a career. My major in Kingsborough Community College is currently mental health

and substance abuse. I want to be able to help people who are facing challenges and have a better

understanding of how they can personally help themselves. Hopefully, upon taking the courses

that contribute to my major I will associate myself with many other students who are as

passionate about mental health as I am.

My name is Estefania Galarza. I missed out on being a natural born U.S citizen by five years. I

was born in Ecuador, but my spirit, heart, and mind do not differ from any other American. I

have discovered that many wonderful opportunities about this country are indeed just there,

waiting to be grabbed. Growing up in this country empowered me to reach out and just grab

them. By the time I graduated high school in New Jersey, I had successfully completed college

credit courses at Georgetown University, Syracuse University, and Harvard University. I left

high school highly empowered, wanting something yet having to discover that a different path

awaited. Here at Kingsborough, I am as motivated and as energetic as I was in high school. I am

progressively moving forward through KCC’s liberal arts program only (it is my hope) to be

inundated with the study of economics afterwards. All this so I can someday impart knowledge

and help resolve the many societal problems we have.

Hi, my name is Faigy Roth. I grew up in an insular Hasidic community in

Monsey NY. I attended a Hasidic school where secular studies were not

valued and therefore not taught to the students. My first language is

Yiddish, and I’m still trying to master the English language. This will be

my last semester at Kingsborough Community College. The more I learn,

my thirst for more knowledge grows. My life is now so much richer with

knowledge and information. My major is biology and I’m looking forward

to attending medical school. I hope to build on my current successes and

reach for higher goals. I aspire to transfer to a top four-year college that

will help me reach my goal of becoming a doctor. I’m looking forward to

being part of the Presidential Scholars program this semester.

My name is Hao Zheng and I am from the southern part of China, Fujian. Before the age of 14, I

had never left the small village. Everyone has to experience something for the first time, just like

I had to emigrate from China to Asheboro, North Carolina—it’s the place that I first lived in. I

spent two years there and started high school there. After that, I, once again, migrated to

somewhere new— Houston, TX where I continued my high school in Cypress Falls High

School. I finished my work there, and received my diploma. I now go on to KBCC pursuing a

higher degree in accounting, because I want to have a better control of my finances.

My name is Nick Mancini and I was born and raised in Buffalo, New

York. I moved around a lot throughout my life due to complications

between my parents. I bounced between Buffalo and Las Vegas until I

was about eight because of where my mother and father lived. Instead

of seeing this situation as a disadvantage, I decided to learn from it. In

turn, I became a strong and independent person. Eventually, I settled

in Buffalo with my mother. After graduating high school, my mother

wanted to move back out to Las Vegas. She pretty much gave me an

ultimatum. Either I stay in Buffalo and try to fend for myself, or I

move to Las Vegas and see it as a new beginning. So I decided to

leave. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever made but also one of the best. Being in Buffalo, I

was always distracted by the wrong things; parties, my crazy girlfriend and the such. I never had

any time to just focus on myself and what I wanted in life. By isolating myself in Las Vegas I

was able to conjure the path I wanted to take in life and make goals for myself. The only problem

was that I did not have any money for school. This led me to enlist in the army a couple months

later. After being in the army with one tour to Afghanistan under my belt, I had become the

change I wanted to see. The military gave me leadership skills along with the work ethic and

professionalism I needed to succeed in life. With that, I drove up to Brooklyn from where I was

stationed in Georgia. It was always a dream for me to live in or near New York City. Now that

I'm here, I'm pursuing a career in law enforcement. It has definitely been a big challenge

adapting to the way of life out here. Working out and other hobbies like photography and reading

have helped tremendously though. After Kingsborough, I plan to transfer to John Jay, Columbia,

or NYU. My ultimate goal is a career in the FBI.

My name is Marjona Nurillaeva. I was born in Uzbekistan. I have

been in this country for four years. I went to Franklin D. Roosevelt

High School. During my high school years, I always wanted to attend

Kingsborough Community College. That is because some of my

friends always told me all about positive stuff that KBCC has and I was

also told that it has organization that I wanted to be in. Therefore, now

I am in KBCC and part of the honors program. My goal is to graduate

within two years and transfer to a four year college.

My name is Raymond Kubiak, I am a graduate of FDR High School studying at Kingsborough

for liberal arts. I was born and raised in Marine Park and I have lived here my whole life. Living

here has taught me a lot of things on its own, and I love this area so much. The parks, the people,

the pizza places. What's not to like? While I was in high school I was in two plays, the musical

Guys and Dolls and the comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The theatre program at FDR is

such an amazing experience and I miss all my fellow actors/actresses everyday, but I know

they're out there somewhere pursuing their passion, and that makes me happy. I only have 150

words so I'll cut this a little short, Congrats to all those graduating this year, and best of luck in

all your endeavors!

I'm Michael Player and I'm a first year college student at Kingsborough

Community College. I've been living in Brooklyn my entire life and

during my entire life, I've met so many people. I recently graduated from

Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School this past June and now fast

forward a few months later and I'm a college student. I hope college can

be just as interesting as high school. To me Kingsborough is a good

opportunity for me to to gain a good foundation for my life after college

and into my early adulthood.

My name is Jamila Wallace. I was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica,

where I spent the first 10 years of my life. In 2004, I migrated to New

York City and I graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in

2010 with advanced courses in macroeconomics, architectural

engineering and civil engineering. My goal, at the time, was to pursue a

career in architecture. However, when those plans were derailed, I took

some time off to reformulate my success plan and my first choice was

KCC. My goal is to earn a bachelor's degree in economics, thus, I chose

to major in mathematics at KCC with the intent of strengthening my

mathematical, statistical and computer science foundation. By taking

KCC honors courses, I increased my involvement in extracurricular activities on and off campus.

For instance, I presented at the 2014 KCC Reads Conference. In addition, I became a member of

the National Society of Black Engineers and started an academic program to help 8th graders of

underrepresented, minority groups gain entrance into NYC's top high schools.

My name is Eleonora Achrak and I’m a student at Kingsborough

Community College. I’m majoring in biology with hopes of becoming a

doctor someday. Originally I was born in Russia, but when I was seven

our family moved to Israel. I came to the United States about three

years ago in order to make my dream come true and become a doctor.

When I was in high school, my grades weren’t as high as I would like

them to be. I hope that my grades and achievements will be greater in

the United States than in my home country. When I started my very first

semester, I was so afraid of failure that I pushed myself to learn and

absorb everything that I could.

My name is Amenah Saleh and my major is nursing. After being a

Kingsborough student for about a year now I've decided to challenge

myself and become a Presidential Scholars member, and I wish to later

continue my education at either Long Island University or Hunter

College. During my high school years, I never took my education

seriously, which is why my grades didn't start off so well. Not many

people believed I could possibly achieve something one day; it was to

the point where I actually started believing it myself. From then on I've

decided to make a change so I graduated high school early and have a

fresh new start at Kingsborough. For my second year I hope to get more

involved around campus and later on be one of the very few people in

my family to graduate college.

My name is Kristina Paul and I graduated from the High School for

Health Professions and Human Services. When I first entered high

school I focused more on having a social life than on my academics. I

sort of wanted to have fun because I did not want to be the same girl

that I was in middle school. I had no choice but to focus on my school

work in middle school because it was my escape from being bullied at

the time. I snapped out of this trance after joining a program in my

school called The Liberty Partnership Program. I really believed that

this program changed my life because they reminded me that there is a

life after high school, through several college trips to prestigious

institutions such as Harvard, Georgetown, Boston College, and etc. All these experiences

allowed me to broaden my horizons. I would not be as ambitious, persistent, determined and as

motivated if it was not for this program showing me that my hard work will be rewarded. Most

importantly I needed to learn to dream big in order to not get stuck in a cycle.