Meet 2012 Suffolk County Community College graduate Jessica Peluso.
Jessica has more than 10 years of non-profit sector experience in leadership, program development and management and is the Assistant Director of Education and Diversity at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer Center where she manages the national laboratory’s education and diversity initiatives to better support trainees and faculty.
Jessica has BA in Psychology, MA in Human Services and I’m currently working toward an MBA degree in Healthcare Leadership.
“My hope is to bridge my education and experience to enhance the success of research organizations,” Jessica said.
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Learn about Suffolk County Community College Honors Program
Suffolk County Community College honors student Noah Fields, 19 of Holtsville has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship by the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island. Fields was awarded the academic scholarship by the Diocese as part of an inaugural eight-member class of students who are descendants of African slaves as part of the celebration of Juneteenth.
“Suffolk has far exceeded my expectations,” Fields, who is entering his second year at Suffolk this fall, said. Fields said he plans on attending Stony Brook University when he graduates, but also has dreams of studying at New York University where he’d like to major in business.
“The professors and staff at Suffolk were the ones that pushed me to apply for this scholarship and supported me the entire way through,” Fields said. “The network of amazing individuals at Suffolk always try to guide students to their fullest potential and I cannot thank them enough. I am proud to call Suffolk County Community College my school.”
“Noah is an outstanding student and a class leader. He consistently demands the best of himself, and, in his commitment to his education, he inspires those around him as well. The Diocese could not have made a better choice for this award,” said Academic Chair and English Professor Douglas Howard, Ph.D.
Honors Program Counselor and Associate Professor Matthew J. Zisel, Ph.D. wrote in his scholarship reference letter: “Noah was elected as our Honors Club vice-president and was instrumental in building a community of students who worked together on charity, volunteer, and fundraising events. As fate would have it, Noah came along when our program most needed a leader; without him, I am not sure that we would have built the community of students we did coming off the virtual year.”
The Barbara C. Harris Scholars Program’s goal is to promote equity in education by providing financial assistance to Blacks, African Americans and Caribbean-Americans, who are African Descendants of Slavery in the United States. At the 155th Convention of the Diocese of Long Island, the Reparations Committee announced that the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island will officially celebrate Juneteenth at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on June 19, 2022.
This scholarship program is named in honor of the life, legacy, and ordained ministry of the Right Reverend Barbara C. Harris, the first woman of African-American descent to be consecrated as a bishop in the Anglican Communion.
Six Suffolk County Community College students will be honored by The SUNY Chancellor as recipients of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) ALL-New York Academic Award at the New York State Museum in Albany on Thursday, March 2.
“These outstanding students are representative of the scholarship and achievement opportunities afforded by our college,” said Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Shaun L. McKay. “I congratulate all of the students on this achievement.”
The Phi Theta Kappa Award Ceremony recognizes outstanding community college students throughout the state. The ceremony is sponsored by New York Community College Trustees, the New York Community College Association of Presidents, Community College Business Officers Association, and the Faculty Council of Community Colleges.
Suffolk County Community College was recognized just last week by PTK for excellence in the area of membership development with a PTK REACH Reward.
Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in higher education, serving nearly 1,300 colleges in all 50 states and nine sovereign nations. Members of the All-New York Academic Team are recognized for the academic achievements, leadership accomplishments, and engagement in community service.
Leonard Giambalvo, an Accounting Major from Islip Terrace, with a 3.7 grade point average. He has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester during the last two years and serves as Executive Financial Chair of the Campus Activities Board, an Orientation Leader and a Get There From Here Scholar. He was recently selected as Phi Theta Kappa All-State and is a Coca-Cola Scholarship competition nominee. Leonard plans to study Accounting at St. Joseph’s College or St. John’s University.
Jaclyn Kletchka is a Liberal Arts Major from East Islip with a 3.8 grade point average has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester during the last two years. Jaclyn serves as President of the Alpha Zeta Nu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, a Get There From Here Scholar and a member of Suffolk County Community College’s Honors Program. She was selected for Phi Theta Kappa All-State and is Coca-Cola Scholarship competition nominee. Jaclyn plans to major in Child Study at St. Joseph’s College.
Sean Deery is a Business Administration Major from Hampton Bays, with a 4.0 grade point average who has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester during the last two years. Sean serves as President of Phi Theta Kappa, student representative for Tree Campus USA and a Back Yard Garden Group member. He was recently selected as a Phi Theta Kappa All-State and is a Coca-Cola Scholarship competition nominee. Sean’s goal is to attend Cornell University or St. John’s University double majoring in Business and Environmental Studies.
Cassidy Whelan, a Liberal Arts major from Center Moriches with a 3.9 grade point average who has earned Deans List Recognition every semester for the last two years. Cassidy serves as student representative for the concierge desk at the Eastern Campus, a Get There From Here Scholar and is a regular volunteer for the Kent Animal Shelter. Cassidy plans to study Diagnostic Medical Sonography at LIU Brooklyn.
Lauren Bury, a Liberal Arts major from Babylon with a 3.7 grade point average who has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester during the last two years. Lauren serves as President of the Honors Club, Regional Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa’s Alpha Delta Gamma Chapter, and is a recipient of the Fishers Scholarship. She volunteers regularly as a Sunday School Teacher. Lauren plans to attend Adelphi University to major in Business Marketing and Economics.
Anthony Mercurio, a Chemical Dependency Counseling Major, from Holtsville, with a 4.0 grade point average who has earned Dean’s List Recognition every semester for the last two years. Anthony serves as President of Phi Theta Kappa, Student Advisory Board member of the CTEA Local Advisory Council and is a Get There From Here Scholar. Anthony plans to study Nursing at Stony Brook University.
Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Eta Gamma Alumni Chapter 