OUTSTANDING STUDENTS
Wagschal was a co-founder of the Humans of RCC club and co-
organizer of the “Meet and Eat.” She also served as treasurer of RCC’s
chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Students and as a student
blogger. She hopes to earn a bachelor’s in Computer Science and launch
a career in software engineering. She credited her Honors advisor, Dr.
Adessa Butler, with offering invaluable academic and general guidance,
as well as the support of Abigail Hunte from Campus Communications
for extracurricular activities, and her professors for their academic
nurturing.
“My education at RCC gave me the foundation that allowed m e
to apply to some of the top universities in this country, and to feel
confident to take on academic challenges,” she said. “In addition to
growing academically, I made great connections, learned from my peers,
theorized, researched, debated, presented, and wrote comprehensively.”
Ummaikhair Zuhair
transferred to RCC from
Penn State, where she studied
mechanical engineering. She
nearly dropped out of RCC
when it proved too great
a struggle to keep up with
her studies while working
full-time in a retail store and
providing overnight care for
her grandmother in a local
nursing home. One professor
expressed concern that she
was falling asleep in class.
She persevered, and told her
professor that she wanted
to continue to attend and prove that she was a good student. She
overcame the restrictions of challenging work and family obligations
to thrive in the classroom and make a difference on campus. When her
grandmother passed away in 2015, Zuhair was able to apply herself
more fully to her academic work.
In an effort to strengthen campus diversity and to expose the college
community to the richness of her faith, Zuhair founded and is president
of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), and co-founded the Center
of Muslim Life religious office. The MSA organized a bake sale that
netted more than $700 for Rockland Foster Care, and collaborates with
other faith-based clubs on campus for interfaith activities.
Zuhair was selected to represent RCC at SUNYCON, a prestigious
SUNY conference. She is vice president of RCC’s Student Government
Association, secretary of the Transfer Club, and a tutor in English at the
Reading and Writing Center. She has also risen to assistant manager in
her full-time retail job.
Zuhair holds a 3.38 GPA and is set to graduate with an AS in
Business Administration. She plans to earn a bachelor’s in Finance
and envisions a career on Wall Street, and eventually owning her own
business. “When I started at RCC, I did not want to be here, but now,
I do not want to leave!” she said. “The faculty helped me find the person
that I now am, and motivated me to go further in life.”
Phi Theta Kappa
Awardees 2017
Emma Colchamiro
Rika Yokoji
Two students were selected for the USA
Today Phi Theta Kappa All-New York
Academic Awards, which they received in a
ceremony at the New York State Museum in
Albany on March 2.
Emma Colchamiro, with a 4.0 GPA, was
selected for the First Team. She anticipates
graduating in May with an AA in Liberal Arts
and Science: Humanities & Social Science, and
is planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in
Political Science.
Colchamiro intends to become a lawyer
and aims to work on behalf of environmental
organizations. She currently serves as student
representative to the RCC Board of Trustees
and president of the Speech and Debate
Team. She was also named a 2017 Coca-Cola
Community College Academic Team Bronze
Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Rika Yokoji, who earned a 3.97 GPA,
was selected for the Second Team. After
graduating from RCC in May with her AS,
Liberal Arts and Science: Mathematics and
Science, she plans to pursue a bachelor’s in
Economics and master’s in Business.
At RCC, Yokoji has been involved in
many campus activities such as the Student
Government Association and student
volunteer program. She is also passionate
about singing and helped create the Glee
Club.
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