LaGuardia Community CollegePresident’s Society Ambassadors

2018-19We’d like to introduce our Spring 2019 President’s Society Ambassadors. Each of these exceptional students is pursuing a degree at LaGuardia Community College. Their participation in the President’s Society program will help them get closer to fulfilling their aspirations and dreams.

Spring 2019

Susana AlvisEnglish-Spanish Translation Major

A Colombia native, Susana plans on becoming an interpreter at the U.N. and advocating for human rights. She is very involved on campus as a LaGuardia Student Success mentor, a Mellon Humanities Scholar, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member. Susana is a classically trained singer and has won singing contests in her home country. Opera exposed Susana to the world of languages which has become a passion for her.

Latifa DaniAccounting Major

A Morocco native, Latifa’s innate skill with numbers have led her to pursue an accounting career, and she eventually hopes to obtain a master’s degree. She tutors students on campus on the fundamentals of accounting as an Academic Peer Instructor, and gets so much pride from seeing her students succeed.

Originally from Guinea, Cheick was headed toward a career in healthcare, but he fell in love with the freedom of enterprise and the business world. He hopes to one day give back to Africa and help in its development.

As a single mother, Emily returned to college with hopes of better future for her and her young daughter. Emily aspires to get a master’s degree in fine arts and business. Along with her interest in the arts, Emily is a tech entrepreneur, developing a mobile app focused on improving children’s nutrition. She has volunteered for LaGuardia’s Crear Futuros program and Material for the Arts, helping to provide art supplies to disadvantaged youth in public schools.

Fernando is a Queens native, born to Colombian parents. He already holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and decided to return to college to pursue business. He follows the markets and stays current with international politics and business news. Fernando hopes to run his own asset managment firm one day.

Taher plans on pursuing a four-year degree in finance, and eventually work as a financial manager or consultant. His Egyptian parents instilled in him a desire to give back, which he plans to do within his community once he is successful. Taher has been on the Dean’s List every semester since he enrolled at LaGuardia, and is an active member of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society.

Taher EdrisBusiness Administration Major

Fernando EcheverriaBusiness Administration Major

Emily DiGaetanoLiberal Arts: TV & Film Major

Cheick Ahmed DialloBusiness Administration Major

LaGuardia Community CollegePresident’s Society Ambassadors

Samy GadiComputer Science Major

Originally from Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria, Samy immigrated to New York three years ago. His dream job is to become a data security analyst and help people to protect their personal information. Samy is a LaGuardia tutor and is on the Dean’s list. Samy speaks four languages and enjoys photography, traveling, and soccer.

Originally from Guyana, Nirmela already holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Guyana. She moved to the U.S. to further her education and hopes to work in the field of geological science. Nirmela conducts research for the Intertidal Wetlands Project, as well as for the CUNY Research Scholars Program. She recently completed an internship at Honoring the Future, a non-profit focused on increasing climate change awareness.

Sherzod InogomovMechanical Engineering MajorSherzod emigrated from Uzbekistan and is a technology enthusiast. He hopes to graduate from Stanford or MIT, and eventually work for NASA. He is well on his way, as he was recently accepted into NASA’s Lucy Academy, a virtual program that gives college students the opportunity to learn about NASA missions from professionals. Sherzod has also completed an internship at a prestigious national laboratory. In his spare time, he works on designing mechanical models and printing them on a 3D printer.

Born in the Philippines and raised in China, Danielle and her family moved to New York in 2013 where she soon after realized her passion for filmmaking. At LaGuardia, Danielle is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor’s Society, is on the Dean’s List, and serves as a Peer Advisor. In addition to her passion for film, She speaks three different languages and ultimately hopes to graduate from NYU and merge her passion for film and etymology to produce a docuseries of the different subcultures in the Philippines.

2018-19

Kailyn MoraWriting Through Literature MajorKai is a proud New Yorker who was born and raised in Jamaica, Queens. At LaGuardia, she is President of the Lit Club, Acting Managing Editor of LaGuardia’s Literary and Visual Arts Journal, and teaches a creative writing workshop at the Queensboro Correctional Facility. Kai hopes to become a writer and professor, traveling around the globe to offer displaced and under-served populations, the power of knowledge and critical thinking through language and literature.

After working as a Brand Trainer, Monami realized that she needed a career change in order to fulfill her strong desire to help others and make the world a better place. Since enrolling at LaGuardia Monami has maintained a 4.0 GPA, made the Dean’s List, and was featured in the portfolio showcase. She is also one of twenty-five undergraduate students selected in the CUNY Future Initiatives Leadership. Monami hopes to transfer to a 4-year college and eventually earn her masters.

Pema Thinle MahataraBusiness Administration Major

Pema moved to the U.S. from Nepal three years ago in order to pursue an education. He is looking towards obtaining a degree in business. On campus, he is a Phi Theta Kappa member, a College Senator in the Student Senate and is on the Dean’s List. Pema has been involved in working on wiki projects and recently attended the North America Conference in Ohio.

Shekinah LopezBusiness Administration MajorShekinah moved to the U.S. from the Philippines with her family when she was 10. She is the Vice President of both the Finance and Chess clubs on campus and also volunteers through New York Cares. She is looking forward to getting her bachelor’s in accounting and obtaining a CPA license.

Danielle Jae MarcottMedia Studies Major

Nirmela GovindaEnvironmental Science Major

Monami NagaiSocial Sciences & Humanities Major

Shania PersaudBusiness Administration Major

Nigina OrtikovaLiberal Arts: International StudiesMajor

LaGuardia Community CollegePresident’s Society Ambassadors

Born and raised in Uzbekistan, Nigina moved to the United States at the age of 19. She aspires to be a human rights activist. Nigina is Vice President of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and volunteers in the CUNY Service Corps. Ultimately, she hopes to work for non-profit organizations based out of Central Asia and Middle Eastern countries, and work with the U.N. to fight for women’s rights and promote political advocacy.

A first generation student and immigrant from Guyana, Shania moved to New York three years ago. At LaGuardia, she is a member of the PTK Honors Society and the Honors Student Advisory Committee. Recently, Shania landed a job as a College Assistant with the Honor’s Program Department. Shania is looking forward to majoring in digital marketing, with an interest in actuarial science, at a 4-year college.

2018-19

Bryan SaeterosBusiness Administration Major

Bryan moved to NY from Ecuador at the age of 15 and has been working towards a career in business and finance. Recently, Bryan and his brother created an award winning business idea, an electronic tracking bracelet to ensure security and improve health tracking for the elderly and children with special needs. At LaGuardia, he is a member of the Music Club and an America Needs You Fellow. Bryan plans transfer to Baruch to study finance.

Nicole SanchezLiberal Arts: Political Science Major

Growing up in an impoverished town in the Dominican Republic has motivated Nicole to one day become a human rights lawyer. She holds the position of the Governor of Political Awareness in LaGuardia’s Student Government and sits on the CUNY Board of Trustees Committee. She is the proud recipient of an award for her research during her recent internship in the NYC Comp-troller’s office. A constant Dean’s List student and honor student, during Nicole’s free time she enjoys working on short stories and playing the piano.

Rod SernaAccounting MajorRod is a Queens native and a returning college student, after having worked six years in a variety of jobs. Since enrolling as an Accounting major, he has been elected President of Laguardia’s Finance Club and maintains his place on the Dean’s List every semester. He is set on obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Mathematics, and become a financial analyst, eventually helping families in his community successfully manage their finances.

Daniel TaleroCriminal Justice MajorDaniel was born and raised in Queens and hopes to pursue a career in law. He is on the Dean’s list, the Faculty-Student Disciplinary Committee, the Honors Student Advisory Committee, and the PTK Honors Society. Daniel is also working as a constituent affairs Fellow for NY Assemblyman Brain Barnwell and as a tutor on campus. Ultimately, he hopes to improve the criminal justice system.

Unique UpretiComputer Science Major

Born and raised in Nepal, Unique moved to the U.S. to create a better life. He currently works as a Peer Advisor at LaGuardia. Unique has a passion for helping people and in 2015 volunteered with the Nepal Red-Cross Society to help those affected by the devastating earthquake that struck his home country. He hopes his computer science degree and interest in business will help him achieve his goal of becoming an entrepreneur and have an impact on the world.

Liberal Arts: Math & Science Major

Precipy moved to the U.S. from China last year, and has already made strides in her chosen career path. She hopes to one day attend a top medical school, but she is also interested in many different STEM fields. She won top place with her team in a State Math League last year, she volunteers at NY Cares and also sits on the board of the LaGuardia Student Advisory Council.

Panqian Wang

LaGuardia Community CollegePresident’s Society Ambassadors 2018-19

Kayla WilliamsLiberal Arts: Journalism MajorKayla has a passion for journalism, is a member of the PTK Honor’s Society, and the Dean’s List. She works as a Peer Advisor in the English Department where she helps students like herself reach their highest potential. Kayla enjoys all forms of creative expression, including martial arts, painting, and creating music. Ultimately, she hopes to transfer to a 4-year college, earn her bachelors, and use her voice to tell stories that resonate with people.

Matthew WilsonMedia Studies MajorLooking to improve his future after incarceration, Matthew applied for a program called the Prison-2-College-Pipeline that allowed him to earn college credits before his release. His academic success at LaGuardia has led him to the Honor’s Society, as well as landing a much-coveted NBC News internship. Matthew aspires to be a writer and filmmaker touching on social issues that are often overlooked in media and society. His work at the CUNY Fatherhood Academy with young fathers to improve their reading and writing skills has inspired him to create a docu-series to help change stereotypes of young men of color.

Camilla YeleussizovaFine Arts MajorCamilla has travelled all over the world, speaks four different languages, and has a deep love for fine arts. She chose LaGuardia because of its multicultural student base. She hopes to one day attend law school and work at an international agency like USAID or the U.N. Camilla has made the Dean’s List every semester, is a National Model U.N. participant, and an officer of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society.