Educational Opportunity Program/Merit Access Program

Director's Note

• Fall 2017 seemed to fly by! With record numbers of students enrolled in EOP/MAP, the office has been extremely busy working with students (and we wouldn’t have it any other way)!  Among the highlights, our own Glory Rojas, EOP Counselor was presented with the “Student Engagement Award” for 2017 by Vice President Dennis Craig at this Fall’s convocation.

  This year also marks the 50^th anniversary of the New York State, EOP program. This successful program has graduated more than 80,000 students since its inception and enrolls over 11,000 students in NY State every year. It is one of the oldest and most successful college access program in the United States with retention and graduation rates that exceed national rates.

  This newsletter is appearing in a different format being web-based rather than using an independent program. So now the photos will not be distorted, and the document will be on our EOP/MAP website which we can easily direct people to in order to view it. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page and click on student of the month photos for the whole student profile.

Student Updates

• Yassaman Baratali ’18 performed in November with the Purchase Percussion Ensemble and will be studying abroad in Belize this Winter.

  Isis Gonzalez ’19 will be studying abroad in South Africa this Spring.

  Nekiyah Chester ’20 will be studying abroad in France this Summer.

  Destiny Carattini, Olivia Evans, Yvelyne Freycinet, Leandra Manon,Toni Ann Chianese, and Lunes Lucien appear in Purchase College’s Italics Mine December issue.

  Wandalis Jimenez ’21 traveled to Flint, Michigan this fall to distribute fresh water to residents sponsored by PSGA, Purchase College.

  Lorena Peralta ’18 performed in “Citizen” this Fall and completed her Swimming Career at Captain of the Women’s Swim Team.

  Thalia Perez ’18 showcased her work in “Patria o Muerte”.  A collection of photography acquired during her travels to Cuba this past Summer.

  Jester Sanchez ’18 volunteer at El Museo Del Barrio in NYC.

  Tristen Stafford ’18 was featured in Purchase College’s publication “The Beat”

  Mariam Traore ’19 traveled to Flint, Michigan this fall to distribute fresh water to residents sponsored efforts by PSGA, Purchase College.

  Darlyn Villalona ’21 traveled to Flint, Michigan this fall to distribute fresh water to residents, sponsored efforts by PSGA, Purchase College.

Welcome to Purchase

• Welcome the following transfer students to the EOP/MAP Community!

  Alfa De Jesus ’20	Undeclared
  Amani Graham ’20	Undeclared
  Ryan Leak ’20	Political Science
  Nymia Overton ’19	Political Science

EOP/MAP Fall Town Meeting

• The EOP/MAP Town Meeting was held in November.  John J. Byrnes (Community Engagement) was recognized as this year’s Friend of EOP/MAP Award.  Nicholas Green ’18, Jordan Carr ’21 and Jason Clotter ’20  performed.  The program also recognized the following students for their academic achievement: 

  Isbel Abreu ’19	Thalia Perez ’18
  Yassaman Baratali ’18	Julissa Paulino ’18
  Natalie Gutierrez ’17	Mehnaz Sultana ’18
  Michael Jorge ’19	Luis Herrera ’18
  Toniann Chianese ’18

The Fall Mentoring Experience

• Being a Mentor changed my college experience for the better. EOP/MAP is really a family and a home away from home. The freshmen are so full of life and have a great energy that passes onto anyone around them. I have enjoyed my time this summer and this semester getting to know our students, while giving them the support that will impact them in the long-term.   I graduate this Spring! If I could, I would do it all over again. 

  A big thank you to the EOP/MAP Staff for allowing me to take part in this program. After everything they have done, it always seems to amaze me with how incredible they are and all that they do for the students as a whole and individually.

   Naomi Ortiz ’18
  Arts Management

  ---

  My experience as a mentor has been phenomenal.  It has allowed me to support and advise my mentees when they needed it. I have been able to deliver support in a way that makes sense to them, and always keeping that person’s best interest in mind. I have been able to build a bond and really get to know and understand their personality, learning style, and goals. I was able to get closer to my mentees not only on a professional level, but also as someone they can rely on and come to when they need help. I am very much grateful for this experience because I wasn’t just helping them grow as an individual, but they were helping me grow as well.  ​

  Petronila Rodriguez ’18
  Sociology
  

Student Interns & Athletes

• ATHLETES:

  Tarik Allicock ’18  Basketball

  Katherine Bencosme ’18  Volleyball

  Hailey Cotto ’20  Softball

  Carolina De Los Santos ’21 Softball 

  Joetta Francis ’19  Volleyball

  Isis Gonzalez ’19   Volleyball

  Lumi Huseinovic ’19  Volleyball

  Glennd Jarrin ’21  Baseball

  Isaac Jones ’20  Tennis

  Sunshine Martin ’21  Softball

  Robert Olejarz ’18 Swimming

  Catherine Oteng ’19  Volleyball

  Cheyenne Paul ’21  Volleyball

  Lorena Peralta ’18 Swimming

  Kamal Williamson ’19  Volleyball

   INTERNSHIPS:

  Yassaman Baratali ’18  Purchase College - EOP/MAP Ombuds Office

  De’Juan Encarnacion ’19  Purchase College SUNY- The Office of Institutional Advancement

  Isis Gonzalez ’20  Purchase College - EOP/MAP Ombuds Office

  Natalie Gutierrez ’17  Purchase College Multicultural Center

  Natasha Jimenez ’19  Purchase College - EOP/MAP Ombuds Office & FYS Peer Advisor

  Leo Desmond Joseph ’19  Purchase College - EOP/MAP Ombuds Office

  Nicole A. Kaouris   ’19  Purchase College - EOP/MAP Ombuds Office

  Anulsa Ledesma   ’20  White Plains PTA, Social Media Coordinator

  Jennifer Miley ’19  Purchase College - EOP/MAP Ombuds Office

  Olivia Nieves ’19  Purchase College - EOP/MAP Ombuds Office

  Naomi Ortiz ’18  Purchase College - EOP/MAP Ombuds Office

  Melina Payano ’18  Lincoln Hall Boys Haven

  Lorena S. Peralta ’18  Purchase College - EOP/MAP Ombuds Office

  Diandra Pichardo ’19  Purchase College - EOP/MAP Ombuds Office

  Miguel Reyes ’19  Bronx River Community Center

  Rafael Reyes ’18  The City Knights Sports Youth Foundation

  Nathaniel Rojas ’19  MAC Group

  Esther Vargas ’18  Alta Spa

  Ashely Wilson ’19  Michael S. Goldstein, Esq. - Adoption and Family Law  & EOP/MAP Office Mentor  Program

  Shania Wofford ’18  NYS University Police (UPD)

A Mentor's Note

• I loved being a Peer Mentor. I had a lot of fun with my mentees in the summer and was happy that we were able to continue to build our relationships throughout the semester. As a Mentor, not only was I able to teach and guide my mentees, they have also taught me a lot through the experiences that they have shared with me. I felt very honored to be a resource to the incoming freshmen. 

  I enjoyed this experience!  

  Ashely Wilson ’19
  Sociology

• Bogumila Backiel ’14 is graduating with a Master’s of Science in Environmental Conservation in December from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

  Latisha Blackburn ’15 will be pursuing an MSW degree from Columbia  University School of Social Work.

  Eric Burgos ’10 & Sully Gonzalez Burgos ’10 welcome Mason as parents this December.

  Steven Brown ’15 is an Event Coordinator at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events.

  Anjanette Merric ’10 earned a MA degree in Arts Entrepreneurship from Purchase College, SUNY.

  Dionis Ortiz ’00 is completing an MFA degree from Hunter College.

  Antonio Santiago ’01  was recently promoted to the level of Dean of the Danbury Campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College.

  Kameron Wood ’15 Most recently, while living in Los Angeles, has worked on the set of “Untitled Grey’s Anatomy Spinoff” pilot wrangling Cast. It is a Shondaland project premiering on ABC soon. Also working on “Unsolved: the murders of Biggie and Tupac” coming to USA network while handled the background performers on the show.

  Dr. Janette Yarwood ’96 is the Democratic Staff Director of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Human Rights, Global Health and International organizations and has earned Ph.D in Cultural Anthropology from the CUNY Graduate Center.