38 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • JANUARY 7, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
Late Forest Hills musician honored at awards gala
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e Long Island Music Hall of Fame
(LIMOHF) paid tribute to the late Forest
Hills musician Leslie West in its New
Year’s Eve “Best of the Awards Galas” TV
special on Th ursday, Dec. 31.
Th e 90-minute show was presented by
Jovia Financial Credit Union and aired
on New Year’s Eve at 9 p.m. simultaneously
Queens College Foundation provides emergency funding to support students
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
In an unprecedented time of great
hardship for the student population, the
Queens College Foundation Board of
Trustees has generously allocated $2.75
million in support of need-based scholarships,
the QC student food pantry, and
tech internships.
Combined with funding from other
sources, the one-time, supplemental infusion
of funds will reach $3 million and
will help counter the diffi cult fi nancial circumstances
faced by many students as a
result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Th e funding is intended to ensure that
students who might not otherwise be
able to continue their studies are
appropriately supported and able to
achieve their educational objectives.
Queens College President Frank
Wu said they’re “deeply grateful for
the superb generosity of the QC
Foundation board members.”
“Th is most timely action will
allow our dedicated students to
pursue their higher education,
advance toward graduation,
and fully participate in the
economic recovery of our
city and state,” Wu said.
“Th e Foundation, which
comprises loyal alumni and
friends of the college, is providing
enormous and tangible
assistance and encouragement to our current
students. We are profoundly appreciative.”
Th e Queens College Foundation, a notfor
profi t educational foundation chartered
by the Department of Education of
the State of New York in 1980, is federally
tax-exempt. Like similar organizations
at many public colleges and universities,
the Queens College Foundation ensures
that state-budgeted funds are maintained
apart from private and corporate contributions.
Additionally, it develops and increases
college resources, providing more extensive
educational opportunities to students
and service to faculty. Th e Foundation
receives gifts and grants
with which it fi nances
research advancing
educational objectives
in the college’s
constituent schools; it also awards and
administers scholarships and fellowships.
Th e Foundation is governed by a
Board of Trustees comprising prominent
business, artistic, and intellectual leaders
from New York State and the nation.
Queens College ‘68 alum Lee
Fensterstock, who is the chair of the
Queens College Foundation and chairman/
CEO of Fensterstock Associates,
said they hope to inspire more alumni
and friends to join in contributing to
student success.
“As a proud alumnus, I know fi rst-hand
the professional and personal value of a
Queens College degree,” Fensterstock
said. “We are taking this unprecedented
action in recognition of the challenging
circumstances faced by students as they
cope with the pandemic while pursuing
their studies. Our society needs their
talents as we rebuild the economy. We
are eager to support President Wu and
his team to help assure greater student
retention and graduation.”
Most of the foundation’s emergency
support is earmarked for a new
Queens College scholarship program for
undergraduate students. Th e Retention
Incentive Supporting Excellence program
(RISE) will provide supplemental
support to students who are unable to
meet the costs of higher education as a
result of the pandemic.
RISE scholarships will be issued
for spring, summer, and fall of
2021. All awards will comply with
CUNY fi nancial aid policies. Athletics
scholarship obligations will be supported
as well, with further funding allocated
to address pandemic-related expenses
as competition resumes.
Th e funds will also be used for the
Knights Table Food Pantry, which
reduces food insecurity among QC and
CUNY students; internships operated by
Queens College’s Tech Incubator; and
recruitment of graduate students.
“As the pandemic continues, Queens
College students are facing many diffi -
culties as they work toward completing
their education,” said Zaire Couloute,
president of the Student Association. “I
know I speak for everyone when I thank
the Queens College Foundation for this
generous initiative to help students stay
in school and to keep many of us from
going hungry.”
In response to the circumstances created
by the pandemic, Queens College
also established a Critical Needs Fund in
April to meet the most pressing needs of
the college and its students.
Th e transition to remote learning that
occurred with the onset of the pandemic
brought the economic disparities of
Queens College students to the forefront.
Many lost internship opportunities
and jobs they rely on to support their
families. Th e fund assists in providing
adequate technology supplies and such
basic needs as shelter and food for the
school’s most vulnerable students.
on News 12 Long Island plus
(Optimum channel 61) and Fios (Verizon
channel 530), and was be livestreamed on
Facebook.
West, a towering guitarist who created
the hard-rock milestone “Mississippi
Queen” with his band Mountain, died at
the age of 75 on Dec. 23 aft er suff ering
cardiac arrest at his home near Daytona,
Florida.
Norman Prusslin, co-founder of
LIMOHF, said West was an obvious
choice to be among the fi rst inductees
into the LI Music Hall of Fame.
“At our inaugural ceremony in 2006, it
was Leslie and Mountain who kicked off
the festivities with a rockin’ rendition of
‘Mississippi Queen.’ Les remained a great
friend to LIMHOF … he off ered supporting
comments to our May ’20 ‘United Way
Health Care Heroes’ telecast. Leslie was
Long Island’s rock and roll,’” Prusslin said.
LIMOHF also celebrated other musicians
from Queens and Brooklyn. Th e
show was hosted by Zebra Guitarist and
Vocalist Randy Jackson and featured a
mix of the best speeches, performances
and special moments from past LIMHOF
Induction Galas from 2006 through 2018.
Special guests included Billy Joel,
Debbie Gibson, Joan Jett, Mountain,
Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge,
Little Anthony, Lou Reed, LL Cool J,
Taking Back Sunday, Chuck D, Twisted
Sister, Clive Davis, Little Steven, Good
Rats, BOC, Steve Vai and many more.
“I was very surprised and fl attered to be
asked to host the 2020 LIMHOF ‘Best of
the Award Galas,’” Jackson said. “Th e talent
highlighted in this show far exceeds
any other ‘regional’ Hall of Fame, in both
diversity and worldwide appeal. Back in
2006 I was asked to induct one of my
idols, George Gershwin, into the fi rst class
of the LIMHOF, it is an honor to be back
again to help present this retrospective!’”
Th e special also raised money for the
LIMHOF music scholarship program and
other educational initiatives such as the
mobile museum through an auction of
various items as well as accepting donations
during the program.
Ernie Canadeo, chairman of LIMHOF,
said they were thrilled to present many
highlights from their past induction ceremonies
in the 90-minute presentation.
“It is a testament to Long Island’s
diverse musical heritage with appearances
and performances by so many worldrenowned
rock, folk, jazz, blues, hip-hop
and classical artists,” Canadeo said. “Th is
New Year’s Eve presentation represents a
fi nale to 2020 and a new beginning to live
events in the new year.”
Photo courtesy
of Queens College
Photo courtesy of LIMHOF
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