for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com JUNE 27, 2013 • business • The queens Courier 35 ▶business AgeWell New York awarded York College students Clari Ocasio and Thamar Valcin scholarships to help further their gerontology studies. VISIT QueensCourier.com TELL US WHAT YOU THINK... Punzone Organic: Italian Ultra-Premium Spirits The first-ever organic line of Italian ultra-premium spirits, Punzone Organic has a long history of expertise in fine food and drink. Seven generations of Punzone family members have brought their passion for experimenting with tastes from Italy to New York. Today, Frank Guerrera carries on his family legacy by bringing the incorporating the tastes of Italy into a line of vodka spirits. Years of cooking for and entertaining his friends and relatives allowed Guerrera to perfect his homemade cocktail concoctions, and eventually led him to bottle his one-of-a-kind red sangria. 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Punzone Organic www.punzone.com The First Church of Christ, Scientist: Putting the Teaching of Jesus into Practice The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Forest Hills is designed to remember and put into practice the teachings and healing works of Jesus Christ. The congregation and its leaders aim to reinstate primitive Christianity by placing emphasis on elements often lost in the modern world. These elements include healing the sick, saving the sinners and raising the dead, thus fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy for his followers. The Forest Hills congregation, like all Christian Science churches, provides Sunday services and Sunday school for young people. There is also a Wednesday testimony meeting where members of the John Quincy Adams III, a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship, gives lectures congregation share their own accounts of healing. Core church activities are focused on serving mankind. For example, every around the world. 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The First Church of Christ, Scientist 60 Greenway Terrace Forest Hills, NY 11375 THE COURIER/Photo by Maggie Hayes AgeWell New York awards scholarships BY MAGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com AgeWell New York is honoring two York College students’ passion for gerontology with scholarships to fuel their futures in the field. AgeWell is geared towards helping the disabled and chronically ill stay in their homes and communities. It gave $750 grants to Clari Ocasio of the Bronx and Thamar Valcin of Brooklyn. “They were both very impressive,” said Nina Dobris, Geriatric Care Manager and chair of AgeWell’s scholarship committee. She added the students submitted essays that were “very moving, very touching.” Ocasio, 31, a junior at York College and a single mother of two, has maintained a 4.0 GPA in her major. She chose to study gerontology because, at the time, she was caring for her ailing mother and “wanted to know what was going on.” Ever since her first class on the subject, Ocascio began to understand more. Ultimately, her mother died, but Ocascio continued her studies to help others. “We bonded more ever since,” she said. “Although my mom is not with me anymore, I know she’s watching.” Ocasio is currently a Medicaid service coordinator. But her longterm goal is to become a licensed social worker and advocate for seniors. Valcin, 27, aspires to be in a geriatric care managing position. She is currently a senior at York College. While going to school full-time, she is working as a licensed nurse. She dove head first into geriatrics because she was raised living with her grandparents and helped take care of them as they got older. Now she wants to share her talents with the public and turn it into a career. Valcin unsuccessfully applied for the scholarship in her freshman year. However, she persevered and was rewarded this time around. She maintains a 3.7 GPA at York and will apply to nursing schools next fall. She joined Eta Sigma Gamma and the National Society of Leadership and Success, two honor societies, in May. Dobris said AgeWell found two fantastic candidates in Valcin and Ocasio and hopes to be able to continue helping gerontology students for years to come.
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