Women of GRIT, a new campus organization that provides academic, personal, professional, community and leadership development to young women at Guttman Community College, ended its first year with two successful events. First, on May 28, Women of GRIT Co-Coordinator and Associate Professor of English Tracy Daraviras and four students–Phebeana Ojomoses, Jessica Jimenez, Mame Cisse and Ninoska Medrano–attended the 30th Annual National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) hosted by the University of Maryland in College Park. As one of America’s premier conference’s for college women, Guttman students were among participants representing all 50 states and several countries around the world.
(L to R): Ninoska Medrano, Jessica Jimenez, Mame Cisse, and Phebeana Ojomoses at the University of Maryland.
The National Conference for College Women Student Leaders provides transformative experiences for college women and prepares them to be the next generation of leaders. Guest speakers and awardees included Maysoon Zayid, actress, stand-up comedian, and writer, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, CEO of Champion Women, poet Elizabeth Acevedo, and former editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine Marcia Ann Gillespie. In addition to attending conference workshops, exhibits, and a graduate school fair, students had the chance to travel to Washington, DC, to visit historic sites such as the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. They also experienced college residential life by staying in the residence halls with a roommate, eating at the university dining hall, and traveling on the college campus. Student Jessica Jimenez commented that the trip has inspired her to consider going away to college once she graduates from Guttman while fellow GRIT member Ninoska Medrano enjoyed the trip’s many new experiences.
On Tuesday, June 16, Guttman’s Women of Gratitude, Resilience, Integrity and Talent (GRIT) mentorship program hosted its 1st Annual End-of-the-Year Celebration to mark the success of the program’s inaugural class. Special guests included President Scott Evenbeck, Provost Joan Lucariello, Dean Charles Pryor and Dorcia Goodridge, Executive Director for the CUNY Office of Logistical Support and Operations at HRA/FIA Office of Policy, Procedures, and Training. Student participants and their professional mentors were recognized for their successful completion and commitment to the program. Members recognized included first year students Ninoska Medrano, Mame Cisse, Phebeana Ojomoses, Jessica Jimenez, Maryam Choudhury, Cecilia Navarro, Yulenny Taveras, and keynote speaker Hillary Espinosa. This year, Women of GRIT mentors represented a variety of professions including education, law, finance, and writing. Guttman alumna Orajah Scotland and Student Success Advocate Eddy Dure were also presented with the Certificate of Gratitude awards for their continuous support of Women of GRIT.
Women of GRIT 1st Annual End-of-the-Year Celebration, June 16, 2015.
The Women of Gratitude, Resilience, Integrity, and Talent (GRIT) offers academic, personal, professional, community and leadership development to young women at Stella and Charles Guttman Community College. The program strives to enhance participants’ lives through mentorship, enrichment programs, and workshops that serve to inspire individual advancement. To date, the average cumulative grade point average for members is a 3.28.
