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Jackelin is a student in the Dental Hygiene Associate Degree Program, excited to graduate in Spring semester 2024! Jackelin explains, “it’s such an honor to have been nominated for the Student Spotlight. I’ve definitely put in a lot of work and feel that recognition, but it doesn’t come from my hard work alone, it’s from the collaboration of my cohort. We support each other and stick together. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here, so this is a representation of that.” Jackelin started her journey in this profession working as a treatment coordinator for a dental practice. “I observed these patients paying a lot of money for problems they are trying to restore, so ultimately I want to focus on preventative care with my patients.” Dr. Garland says that, “Jackelin is a very dedicated student. She commits herself to practicing dental techniques until she obtains mastery. She engages with faculty and is not afraid to ask for their help as she continually hones her skills and strives to be the best dental hygiene practitioner she can be while a student at Plaza College. As a student, she is supportive and engaging with her peers. She is kind and empathetic with her patients.”
Her father always motivated her to pursue a career in this field because he didn’t have access to dental care back in Ecuador. “My father always said people notice your smile. He’s been passionate about this.” Jackelin’s most memorable moment from being a student at Plaza College was the first day of orientation and the group of friends she made at that event. “I’ve stuck with them throughout this time. These are lifetime friends. We carpool, study, and hangout together. We share many activities together.” Professor Vinci says, “Jackelin is a standout student known for her strong work ethic and dedication. She actively supports her peers, showcasing a collaborative spirit. Jackelin’s commitment to hard work and willingness to assist others make her a valuable asset in the Dental Hygiene Program at Plaza College.”
This semester, Jackelin looks forward to participating in the Dental Hygiene SADHA Bake Sale Fundraiser on Valentine’s Day, National Chip and Dip Day, and Shiny Teeth of Queens! “I’m excited to get all these children in the clinic and provide them with the dental care they need, and their parents too! It’s a good way to give back to the community.” Jackelin expressed great appreciation for all the academic resources that Plaza College extends to its student body such as the APA and Thesis Writing Process Workshops. She appreciates how the Dental Hygiene professors are extremely approachable, very responsive to emails, and deliver advice in a kind manner when attending to patients in the chair, allowing them to learn while also making the patient comfortable. “I also love attending Skills Lab where students can work with Professors on areas they need to improve. Professor Fassacesia says, “Jackelin is the type of student that will make a wonderful Dental Hygienist, because she is compassionate, caring, and a perfectionist. She always wants to improve and when you tell her something she takes it to heart. She is a wonderful student and a pleasure to have in both clinic and classroom.”
Jackelin’s dream job is to teach Dental Hygiene students in both their clinical and didactic courses. “I plan to come and teach at Plaza College after graduation and work part time as a Dental Hygienist in my current dental practice, while also going for my Master’s Degree online.” She cites her strict schedule to maintain high academic standards while also attending to the needs of her family. “As soon as I get home I have 2-3 hours to spend with my baby. Once he’s asleep I study and get assignments done. I don’t procrastinate. As soon as I have an assignment I get it done so that I can have my weekend with my family. I also play soccer so I like to keep that up. I have three planners: a digital planner that is linked to all my devices, a big monthly and weekly planner, and a small monthly planner that I carry with me.” Jackelin’s favorite winter season is futsal (indoor soccer with four players v. four players), and favorite beverage is chamomile tea with honey. She also loves watching The Office and her favorite podcast is hosted by a friend of hers called, “30 Going on 13.” The podcast chronicles all the things she wishes she knew at 13 years old, and how she deals with anxiety, relationships, and eventually how she learned to love herself.
Triana is a student currently completing her Bachelor of Business coursework, and is excited to graduate in Spring semester 2024! Upon seeing she was nominated for the Student Spotlight, Triana says that this was a “special honor to receive in the three years I’ve been a student at Plaza College!” Her children and parents (being immigrants from the Dominican Republic) are her prime motivators for striving to do better and pursuing her education. “Being a mom is the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life. I want my children to see they can have setbacks but can always get back on their feet. Age has nothing to do with it. If you want it, you can pursue it! Seeing their four faces at graduation for my Associate Degree while I was dressed in my cap and gown was incredible. They were like, ‘you did it!”
Her best memory being at Plaza College resonates with the students and teachers. “I’ve become very close with a core group of students. We’ve celebrated many milestones together. Dr. Ryder and Dean Zipf have made a significant impact on me. My experience in the BBA Program has been so great. It’s sad that it’s coming to an end.” Her goal for the Winter 2024 semester is to complete her certifications in Microsoft Word and Excel with Professor Mookram’s class. Triana’s history with Plaza College started in 2003 at the Jackson Heights campus. “I was pregnant with my first child and eventually had to leave school. ‘Mom life’ took hold and I spent time raising a family. I was really excited to be accepted again almost 15 years later. I didn’t think of any other college, I wanted to come back to Plaza!” Dr. Finlay shares her insights about having Triana as a student. “What first impressed me about Triana is her ‘can do attitude!’ No matter how hard the task is she always sees herself being able to accomplish it. She is a very hard worker and always comes to class ready to participate and share her experience with others. She is always polite and professional in her conduct and conversations. She is a good example of a business professional. I am impressed with how she manages her busy personal and school schedule even with life’s challenges. Her ability to overcome obstacles is a testament to her grit and determination to succeed. Triana is a true leader in and out of the classroom and I congratulate her for displaying the qualities and characteristics of a successful Business student here at Plaza College.”
She balances her academic and home responsibilities very easily due to her classes being asynchronous, Thursday and Saturday, giving her flexibility in responding to discussion questions and completing assignments. She credits her husband with attending to the needs of her children, while also cooking and taking care of household chores. “Weekends are for my children and family. Recently I acquired a virtual part time job at an accounting firm to handle a variety of administrative duties, through the referral of her current boss. Professor Ryder says that, “I am delighted to write a recommendation for Triana. As their faculty member, I have witnessed her remarkable dedication, intellectual curiosity, and outstanding academic performance and growth. Having Triana for two upper-level academic courses, I have seen firsthand her ability to grasp complex concepts, engage in problem solving and leadership development with her peers and instructor. I have no doubt that she will continue to thrive and achieve great success in her future endeavors.”
Triana’s dream job is to sell real estate remotely, so that she can eventually own and tend to a ranch with horses, cows, chickens, sheep, with a special terrarium for lizards, and a greenhouse. Her favorite winter season beverage is hot chocolate and she loves to plan in the snow with her children at the park. She loves watching Law & Order SVU, as well as movies from the 80’s and 90’s such as Liar Liar, The Color Purple, and Little Shop of Horrors.
Feroza Khan is a student in the Healthcare Management Program completing her coursework in the Winter 2024 semester! Feroza expressed that she would wonder if her hard work was being seen, and that receiving the nomination for the Student Spotlight is a “beautiful acknowledgement of her perseverance.” Feroza originally entered the field of healthcare in 2019 by doing data entry for a portable x-ray company. She enjoyed this role and wanted to elevate her skill set. She eventually transitioned into working for a private orthopedic practice which gave her a more balanced work schedule, and the time to go back to school. Director O’Connor says that, “Feroza is an excellent student, exhibits a strong work ethic with dedication to striving for the best results. She is willing to help her fellow students by providing them with her methods and strategies for completing more challenging assignments. She has been a pleasure to work with.”
Feroza’s most memorable moment at Plaza College was participating in the Honor Society Induction for Sigma Kappa Delta in Fall 2023. “It was really fun to meet my peers in person and celebrate this milestone.” Feroza’s acceptance into SKD was supported by the classes she took with Professor Burns saying that she greatly improved her writing skills. Professor Burns shared that, “I had the pleasure of working with Feroza Khan in both LL61 and LL254. What I appreciated so much about Feroza was her commitment to excellence. For example, if she thought a source wasn’t scholarly enough, she would continue searching until she found the perfect one. If she received feedback encouraging her to work on some aspect of her writing, she made time to meet with me to discuss her writing in more detail. This is the kind of dedication that makes any academic or professional goal, no matter how ambitious, achievable.”
Feroza recently completed the application process for the Bachelor of Business Program at Plaza College. “The Department of Career Services inspired me to move forward after seeing their presentation! I didn’t want to wait and immediately started the next steps.” She explains that “from day one, all Professors at Plaza provided clarity and gave expectations early on. Everything I’ve learned in each class I’ve applied to my current job. I share everything I’ve learned with my co-workers!” Her dream job is to work as a hospital administrator, whether it’s a public or private entity. The medical aspect is important, but the administrative process is equally important to patients. I want to give patients more clarity and streamline processes, which can be particularly hard if patients have a language barrier.” Professor Ferrer says, “Feroza is a very diligent and committed student. She knows what’s expected and does her very best to execute all tasks. It is a pleasure to have her as a student.”
Feroza keeps a stringent schedule between her job and school. “When I get out of work, I go straight to class. If I’m late, I review the recordings. I put my assignments first. I struggled at first but then got into a routine for the last three semesters and things improved greatly.” Her favorite year round beverage is an iced chai latte. Her favorite shows are the Vampire Diaries and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Jose Lopez is a Court Reporting student with the goal to complete his coursework and graduate by Spring semester 2025! Upon finding out he was nominated for the Student Spotlight, he expressed “I’ve never received an honor like this and appreciate my Professors for choosing me. It’s a great feeling that they see me as going above and beyond, and doing my best to excel in this program.” Jose was inspired to pursue a career in Court Reporting during COVID when he had jury duty. “It opened my eyes to a career path forward. CR has given me a chance to shine. I have an affinity towards Court Reporting because I am legally blind and this profession has helped me because I need to pay attention to detail. I also have good listening skills.” Director Santucci says, “I am so happy that Mr. Jose Lopez was nominated for Student Spotlight. He is dedicated to his studies in Theory and Advanced Theory. He possesses all the qualities needed to be a successful Court Reporter.”
Jose enjoys Professor Lemmo’s class because she shares first hand experiences of working in the profession. “I like getting a sense of what’s to come in the future. I like being challenged. It’s intimidating to start a new career but she teaches me not to be scared, to speak up, and to be positive.” This semester, he looks forward to enhancing his skill set in speedbuilding. “I keep hearing stories about this and I want to see how I can handle it. For now I need to get stenotheory right.” Jose shares that the Professors in the Court Reporting Program at Plaza College are willing to invest time in supporting students and are very communicative. “They know this field is difficult and are willing to provide guidance.” His dream job is to work for the criminal courts and grand jury to provide essential record keeping. Professor Lemmo shares that, “Since my initial meeting with Jose in the A to Z class, I felt he was very interested in court reporting and that he would work hard to be successful in this field. He is now in his second semester and is a straight A student. He has had to overcome some obstacles that have made him an even better student. He is helpful in class and I have the utmost respect for his dedication and hard work.”
To maintain a strong academic standing, he always gets his assignments done as soon as possible, and never leaves them until the last day. “I break it up as needed but stay consistent to get it completed.” His favorite beverage is Snapple Iced Tea and his favorite activity is video games because they have taught him skills he can apply to his future career when using the controls to direct the movements of a character. There’s speed involved and your fingers must have dexterity.” He also looks forward to watching season two of Loki, a series based on a Marvel comic.
On Wednesday, February 7th, Plaza College hosted the Unified Court System press conference. The event featured several guest speakers with notable experience in the field of court reporting. The event was part of a seven day series of events celebrating National Court Reporting and Captioning Week.
Included on the panel of guest speakers was Denee Vadell (Senior Court Reporter and creator of “@stenofluencer”), Reid Goldsmith (President of the New York State Court Reporters Association and Plaza College adjunct faculty member), Christy Bass, (Human Resources director for the New York State Court System), Joshua Edwards, (Co-founder of StenoCaptions,LLC), and Karen Santucci, (Director of Plaza College’s Court Reporting Program).
At the press conference, the Office of Court Administration announced two new positions for Court Reporters. Through a new trainee position, recent graduates have the opportunity to refine their skills under the supervision of more experienced court reporters and managers, with a possibility of promotion upon completion of the one-year traineeship. A state-wide court reporter position was also unveiled, with applications being accepted on a continuous basis.
To find out more about these exciting new positions, visit the official website of the NYS Unified Court System.
The announcement of these new positions comes in the midst of a court reporter shortage, with guest speakers emphasizing the need for more court reporting staff across the state.
Kala Williams is a student in the Bachelor of Nursing Program, graduating in Spring semester 2024! Kala shares that it’s a “great honor to be recognized for my extreme dedication in the Student Spotlight. The field of Nursing is my baby. I fell in love with this profession after my son was born and diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, leading to many hospitalizations. I’m truly dedicated to this profession, especially when it comes to women’s health.” 
Ebony Jones is a student in the Health Information Technology Program, completing her coursework in Fall 2024! Ebony expressed that “this is the first time I’ve been acknowledged for my hard work and drive to complete what I’ve started.” Her desire to pursue a career in the healthcare field came after losing two family members. She wants to inspire others to take better care of themselves. Ebony’s favorite courses at Plaza College have been Developmental Psychology with Professor Eder, because it allowed students to be open in speaking their minds and telling their stories; along with Medical Terminology with Professor Velez-Araujo, because she was able to apply all she learned to her current role working in a pharmacy.The celebrations kicked off on Saturday, February 3rd at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Manhattan
with a networking event hosted by the NYSCRA! Participants enjoyed appetizers, raffles, and
the opportunity to connect with fellow stenographers. Plaza College hosted two virtual events on
Monday, February 5th and Wednesday, February 7th. These events were joined by current and
prospective students, graduates, and industry professionals. The theme of this year’s
celebration was “Finding Your Path in Court Reporting,” meant to inform future and current court reporters of all of the opportunities available to them as they begin their professional journeys.
Guest speakers included: StenoCaptions, LLC., Denee Vadell (the Stenofluencer), Michelle
Ganpat (Certified Yoga Instructor), Arthur Aidala, Esq. (Attorney and radio host of AM970s’ the
Aidala Power Hour), and Katherine O’Hara (Plaza Graduate, 2022). Attendees were informed
on the different careers available within court reporting, played trivia, and were led through an
exercise to teach them coping mechanisms for high-stress scenarios, much like passing speed
tests in court reporting!
On the morning of Wednesday, February 7th, Plaza College hosted a press conference led by
the New York State Unified Court System, where they announced the new Court Reporting
Trainee position. Members of the industry spoke about the crucial role of stenographers in the
court system and how court reporting is the “best career you’ve never heard of!”
On Thursday, February 7th, the NYSCRA hosted a second in-person networking event at
Mannino’s Italian Kitchen and Lounge in Commack. The well-attended event brought together
members of the industry to network and celebrate the incredible work court reporters provide for
our justice system!
Check out the photos below from the events!
On Friday, January 26, 2024 Plaza College’s School of Dental Sciences celebrated Cohort 8 of the Dental Hygiene program with a Pinning Ceremony. Dr. Laura Sleeper, Dean of Dental Sciences, led the afternoon festivities, which were hosted at Il Bacco Ristorante in Queens.
The pinning ceremony is a traditional event that represents the final chapter in a student’s journey to becoming a dental hygienist, officially welcoming them into the field of dental hygiene.
Harold Jennings, Director of the Part-Time Dental Hygiene program at Plaza College, spoke of the students’ success as they journeyed through the curriculum and their preparedness to enter this profession. The administration along with faculty members, including Laura Fassacessia and Dr. Margaret Garland, presented the students with certificates of achievements and various awards. Darius Somelkhian, the head of strategic partnerships at Cloud Dentistry, presented a scholarship to graduate Roseann Cox.
The ceremony, which concluded with the graduates reciting the Dental Hygiene Oath, was followed by a celebration with the graduate’s friends and family!
On Friday, January 19th, Plaza Nursing School students from Cohort 2 attended their pinning ceremony held at The Inn at New Hyde Park in Long Island. The nursing pinning ceremony is a traditional event that represents the final chapter in a student’s journey to becoming a nurse, and welcomes newly graduated nurses into the field of healthcare.
Plaza Nursing students celebrated their hard work and accomplishments surrounded by friends and family at a subsequent reception. Congratulations Cohort 2!
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