SUNY Westchester Community College welcomed a new cohort of 11 students into its Honors College for the Fall 2026 semester. This is the tenth cohort since the Honors College founding in 2017. These ambitious scholars are pursuing SUNY and NYSED approved honors-designated degrees in one of three curricula: Liberal Arts and Sciences – Social Science, Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities, or Liberal Arts and Sciences: Math and Science. Honors College students are chosen following a rigorous selection process, including extensive applications, recommendations, and interviews.
Accepted students receive guaranteed tuition coverage and substantial textbook stipends from the WCC Foundation thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. They must fulfill at least 40% of their program requirements at the honors level and maintain a 3.5 GPA to graduate with an honors-designated associate degree. These student scholars also have access to specialized co-curricular programming, including the study abroad program offered in partnership with Cambridge University, the Philosophia Honors Society, student conferences and symposia, student publications, and internships.
“I graduated from high school in 2015, and subsequently gained real-world experience through working in healthcare, security, and community-based roles,” said Antonio Ostolaza, graduate of DeWitt Clinton High School. “Returning to school nearly a decade later has made me appreciate the educational opportunities that provide the foundation necessary to pivot toward my chosen career path in Engineering. For me, returning to college is not just about earning a degree, but about using my experiences to build a different future for myself. I am grateful to be a part of the Honors College and look forward to what the next two years at SUNY WCC will bring.”
“Our Honors College students embody the remarkable drive, academic capability, and ambition that define SUNY Westchester Community College,” said SUNY WCC President Dr. Belinda Miles. “We are dedicated to offering our most high-achieving scholars a world-class foundation that positions them to excel at elite four-year universities and in their future careers. Yet, as they step into leadership
roles here on campus and in the global community, we remind them that knowledge alone is not enough. To create meaningful impact, talent is often best paired with empathy and respect. I look forward to seeing how this cohort uses their extraordinary abilities to elevate and inspire everyone around them.”
Honors College Class of 2028 Cohort:
Liberal Arts and Sciences: Social Science A.A., Honors Concentration
Mariami Kapanadze, Valhalla High School, White Plains, NY
Derek Kennedy, Walter Panas High School, Cortlandt Manor, NY
Alden Audric Matondo, GED – New York State, Mount Vernon, NY
Devon Nagle-Latefi, Home Schooled, Purchase, NY
Antonio Ostolaza, DeWitt Clinton High School, Irvington, NY
Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities A.A., Honors Concentration
Myra Jukes, Ossining High School, Ossining, NY
Sebastian Landsel Mangione, Byram Hills H.S., Pleasantville, NY
Julia Ferreira Mendes, Greenwich High School, Harrison, NY
Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities A.A., Honors Concentration
Katherine Alvarez, Peekskill High School, Peekskill, NY
Shauna Farrell, Saunders High School, Yonkers, NY
Meredith Morocho Rosa, Walter Panas High School. Mohegan Lake, NY