33 THE QUEENS COURIER • APRIL 22, 2022 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
York College hosts 55th anniversary gala at TWA Hotel
Honoree Hope Knight heads to the stage to accept her award at the York College Foundation gala at the TWA Hotel on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
true professio
t remem
ens ur udents Honoree Erica Ford accepts
her award and speaks at
the York College Foundation
gala.
Vicki Schneps speaks
on behalf of her late
friend and honoree
Clare Shulman at
the York College
Foundation gala.
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
York College held its 55th anniversary gala
at the iconic TWA Hotel at JFK Airport on
April 13 honoring a cross-section of supporters
including York alumna Erica Ford, the founder
of Life Camp and Empire State Development
President and CEO Hope Knight, the former
leader of the Greater Jamaica Development
Corporation among several other luminaries.
Queensboro Football Club owner Kane,
who has his new soccer stadium rising on the
York campus in Jamaica, received the school’s
Corporate Award, Dr. Margaret Vendryres
was given the Faculty Award, and late Borough
President Claire Schulman received the
posthumous Legacy Award presented by her
longtime friend Vicki Schneps.
York College Chief of Staff Dana Trimball
spoke on behalf of President Dr. Berenecea Johnson
Eanes, who could not attend due to illness.
“York has survived and thrived over fi ve and
a half decades through the love and support of
so many of you here,” Trmimball said. “We are
doing well but we intend to do better.”
Th e theme of the gala fundraising event was
“Where Dreams Take Flight” and fi ttingly it was held
at the former TWA Terminal which was transformed
into a state-of-the-art
hotel alongside the JFK fl ightline.
“Today is a true personal and professional
full-circle moment,” York College Foundation
Board Chairwoman Ana Rus said. “I landed at
this very terminal, Terminal 5, as an undocumented
immigrant from Colombia more than
30 years ago, not speaking English. I remember
landing in Queens County in New York
City like it was yesterday.”
She spoke of the fundraising
effort which represents York’s
largest so far.
“It’s about our York College
students dreaming,
achieving
and striving,”
Rua said.
“To York
College,
where dreams take fl ight. Cheers. And here’s
to landing them.”
Th e new funding initiatives to drive student
success include the dynamic welcome center,
completing crucial building and beautifi cation
projects that will elevate the campus design in
both accessibility and aesthetics;
investing in leading-edge
development programs
and expanding study
abroad opportunities
to help prepare
York graduates as
global citizens.
“York College
enriches lives,
enables students to
grow as passionate,
engaged leaders
with the confi dence
Photo by Paul Frangipane
to realize their intellectual and human potential
as individuals and global citizens,” Port Authority
External Aff airs & Community Outreach Manager
Rachelle Antoine said. “Good quality education
has the power to change the life of a person
and it is being provided right here at York College.”
Th e former York College student recalled
starting her American journey when her fl ight
landed at JFK in 2006. She stayed with six people
in a one-bedroom apartment in Queens Village.
“I share this to say not knowing 16 years
later that I would now serve as the manager of
external aff airs and community
outreach for the John F. Kennedy
Airport redevelopment program,”
Antoine said. “Th is is why I chose
York…the love of the faculty
shared to me and the support that
they shared throughout this program
will never be forgotten.”
buzz
accept
Foundat
Foundat
lande
und
mented t
30 no
Quee
y
o
r
ou
stu
Sc
beha
a
Sh
York
Foundat
mber
p j p g
investing prepare
to
dence
ts
ion
“York has survived and
thrived over fi ve and a half
decades through the love and
support of so many of you
here. We are doing well but
we intend to do better.”
— Dana Trimball
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