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THE COLLEGE OF NEW ROCHELLE HONORS OUTSTANDING STUDENTS AT ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENT EVENT

Dr. Roblyn Rawlins (far left), Assistant Professor of Social Work in the School of Arts & Sciences and Chair of the Women’s Studies Program, pictured with all the students honored at CNR’s Achievement event.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY, May 3, 2004 – The School of Arts & Sciences at The College of New Rochelle (CNR) honored 19 female students at its Celebration of Student Achievement Awards, which has been held for the past six years.  Sponsored by the Women’s Studies Committee, this event spotlights students’ accomplishments in the areas of creative arts (media, poetry, art), academic projects (women’s rights, body image), and community work (politics, mental health, education).

“The young women we honored reflect the outstanding hard work and talent of our students,” says Dr. Roblyn Rawlins, Assistant Professor of Sociology in the School of Arts & Sciences and Chair of the Women’s Studies Committee.  “The students and the areas they chose to focus on are also a wonderful reflection of the diversity that characterizes the quality of education at our College.” 

Each student honored today was nominated by an SAS faculty member for outstanding work in any discipline or field -- work that was innovative, exemplary, or insightful and that represents the best of liberal arts education.  Certificates were awarded to the students receiving the honor.  The honorees included:

Sylvia Barilkova (Political Science/Economics major from Jersey City, NJ) for her essay on the wearing of the veil in Muslim societies.

Omega Dale (Art Therapy/Psychology major from Parsippany, NJ) for “A Letter to Cornel West," author of Race Matters, CNR Centennial Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient.

Elena Dimarco (English major from New Rochelle, NY) for the short story, “The Office.”

Sonia Dionizio (Art Therapy major from New Rochelle, NY) for her art show, “Making Sense of Madness.”

Julia Geronimo (Social Work major from Shenorock, NY) for coordinating CNR's First Annual "Take Back the Night” on March 30 which attracted over 40 people.  This national event was created more than 20 years ago to publicize and end violence against women.

Fiona Hibbert (Psychology major from Hempstead, NY) for her internship at My Sister's Place, a home for battered women.

Heidi Hughes (Art Therapy major from Binghamton, NY) for her senior art exhibit, “Fundamental Life: Reflections on the Mind, Body and Soul of Women.”

Elizabeth Lasek (Studio Art major from Hopewell Junction, NY) for her art exhibit, “Cut from the Same Cloth: Experiments in Self Fabrication.”

Sophilia LeBlanc (English major from Attleboro, MA) for her short story, “Epiphany.”

Carrie Margolis (Brookline, MA) for her poem “Weather Talks.”

Rebecca Mui (English major from Mattapoisett, MA) for her poem “The Feel of Freedom.”

Daniella Nardis (History major from Bronx, NY) for an abstract and discussion of her senior thesis, “Italian Immigration: 1880 to 1920.”

Kim Rivera (Biology major from New Rochelle, NY) for her project on environmental education for young children.

Ruth Santiago (English major from Sunnyside, NY) for her poem “In All Our Years.”

Christina Simpson (English major from Bridgeport, CT) for selected poems.

Keisha Smith (English major from Bronx, NY) for selected poems.

Pilar Rivera (Psychology major from Bronx, NY) for her internship at United Hebrew Geriatric Center.

Celina Valentin-Caraballo (Psychology major from Bronx, NY) for an abstract and discussion of her Honors thesis in Psychology, "The Influence of Participant Gender and Attractiveness of Target on Attitudes towards Homosexuals."

Janeith Wright (Psychology major from Bronx, NY) for her poems “Hunted” and “Toil.”

Hassmerry Zapata (History/Women’s Studies major from New Rochelle, NY) for an abstract and discussion of her senior thesis in History and Women's Studies, “The Chief and the Butterflies: Raphael Lenidas Trujillo and the Mirabal Sisters.”

CNR Student Achievers from Westchester and Dutchess Counties: (Left to right):  Elizabeth Lasek (Hopewell Junction, NY), Julia Geronimo (Shenorock, NY), Elena Dimarco (New Rochelle, NY), and Hassmerry Zapata (New Rochelle, NY).


CNR Student Achievers from the Bronx: (Left to right): Daniella Nardis, Keisha Smith, Pilar Rivera, Celina Valentin-Caraballo.

The first Catholic college for women in New York State, The College of New Rochelle was founded in 1904 by the Ursuline Order. Today, it comprises the all-women School of Arts & Sciences, and three schools which admit women and men: the School of New Resources (for adult learners), the School of Nursing and the Graduate School.  The main campus of the College is located in lower Westchester County, 16 miles north of New York City.  The College maintains six other campus locations in New York City. Visit the College’s website at www.cnr.edu
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