May 2024 - August 2024
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The Office of Communications and University Relations
Old Westbury College Foundation’s Inaugural Own Your Future Gala Raises Over $244,000 for
Student Resources and Scholarships
By Long Island Press Posted
on May 1, 2024
On Thursday, April 25, 2024, the Old Westbury College Foundation (OWCF) hosted its first Own Your Future Gala. Stay
Over 300 attendees gathered at The Inn at New Hyde Park to raise funding for student resources at SUNY Old Westbury, while recognizing university supporters and advocates John B. King, Jr., Ph.D., Chancellor of the State University of New York, Nisha Kaur Sethi, M.D. and Maninder Singh Sethi, Long Island philanthropists, and Leslie and Mark Sillcox, co-founders of the Tortora Sillcox Family Foundation.
The event was emceed by Monica Morales of PIX11 News and “Monica Makes it Happen”, and included presentations by Nora Bassett, OWCF Chair, Timothy Sams, Ph.D, President of SUNY Old Westbury, Victoria Schneps, Co-Publisher of Schneps Media and Donald Gelestino, President of Champion Elevators.
The event raised over $244,000 through sponsorship from numerous organizations including The Las Vegas Sands, the Sethi Family and Goldman Sachs, as well as funding from live and silent auctions benefitting student scholarships during the event. Gifts are still being accepted at https://bit.ly/GalaScholarship24
Full article can be viewed at: https://www.longislandpress.com/2024/05/01/old-westbury-scene/
Timothy Sams at podium.
SUNY Announces $17.7 Million in New Funding to Long Island Campuses
May 2, 2024
Historic Statewide Increase in Annual Funding of $277 Million Over Two Years Thanks to Governor Hochul and the Legislature
$102 Million of $114 Million from FY 2025 Enacted Budget to Support Faculty and Staff Across All State-Operated Campuses
Funding Will Also Increase Paid Student Internship Experiences, Expand Research Efforts, and Reduce Fees for Graduate Student Workers
Albany, NY — The State University of New York Board of Trustees today announced the additional allocation of $114 million in Direct State Tax Support across the State-operated SUNY campuses from the FY 2025 Enacted New York State budget.
In Long Island, SUNY has allocated:
• $13.6 million allocated to Stony Brook University – a 9% increase over the past year
• $2.6 million allocated to Farmingdale State College – a 15.9% increase over the past year
• $1.5 million allocated to SUNY Old Westbury – a 12.3% increase over the past year
The funding marks a historic investment under Governor Kathy Hochul's leadership, with the combined 2023-24 and 2024-25 budgets representing the largest two-year infusion in at least five decades with an increase of $277 million in Direct State Tax Support allocated to SUNY.
Last year, the $163 million increase in the 2023-24 Budget made it possible for SUNY to:
• Provide double-digit percentage increases in Direct State Tax Support at every State-operated campus –including support for faculty hiring and student services across the System
• Invest more than $40 million in mental health services, support for students with disabilities, student internship experiences, expanding research, and addressing food insecurity
• Reduce mandatory fees for graduate student workers
Today's Board resolution maintains last year's investments and the progress they have generated and, using the $114 million in increased funding:
• Provides $102 million to support SUNY faculty and staff, contributing support for salary increases reflected in recent collective bargaining agreements
• Provides $4.5 million for additional student internship experiences to improve student success and the student experience, bringing the two-year total to more than $14 million
• Allocates $4 million to support faculty and student researchers
• Continues to reduce mandatory fees for graduate student workers with an additional $3 million, bringing the two-year total to $6 million
"Today's announcement marks a historic investment in our nation-leading statewide public higher education system and will inject critical funding to support our students and faculty," said SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. "Governor Hochul and the State Legislature's commitment to public higher education is clear in this year's budget. As a result, SUNY has been able to allocate the significant resources our campuses deserve so that we can retain and attract stellar faculty, enroll the largest class of students in a decade, increase paid internships, and expand our research capabilities. There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker, and this funding further positions SUNY as a leading academic institution that delivers on the promise of student success at an extraordinary value."
"This investment in SUNY underscores Governor Kathy Hochul's unwavering commitment to advancing educational excellence and public higher education," said SUNY Board of Trustees. "This historic investment in the students and faculty of each of our State-operated campuses reaffirms our dedication to nurture academic talent, propel research endeavors, foster student success and champion innovation by delivering transformative opportunities for generations to come."
Long Island SUNY campuses score $17.7M in funding
Long Island SUNY campuses score $17.7M in funding
Adina Genn //May 3, 2024 //
Long Island campuses that are part of the State University of New York system are getting $17.7 million in new funding through an allocation of direct state tax support.
Stony Brook University will see $13.6 million, a 9% increase from last year. Farmingdale State College will get $2.6 million, a 15.9% increase from last year, and SUNY Old Westbury will receive $1.5 million, up 12.3% from last year.
The investment “will inject critical funding to support our students and faculty,” SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr. said in a news release about the funding.
That funding will contribute to salary increases for SUNY faculty and staff. It will provide additional funding for paid student internships as well as support faculty and student researchers. And it will help mandatory reduce fees for graduate student workers.
The funding comes from the 2025 enacted New York State budget and was announced Thursday by the SUNY Board of Trustees, which called the funding over the last two years a “historic investment.” The combined 2023-24 and 2024-25 budgets bring the largest two-year infusion in at least five decades with an increase of $277 million.
“There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker, and this funding further positions SUNY as a leading academic institution that delivers on the promise of student success at an extraordinary value,” King said.
Courtesy of SUNY Old Westbury
BY CHRIS BOYLE
Governor Hochul Announces “Small Business Summer Series” to Connect New York’s Small Businesses to Vital Resources, Support, and Services
PUBLISHED: JUNE 11 2024
Beginning on June 17, Second Interagency Small Business Tour Will Stop in Nine New York Communities to Help Businesses Navigate Licensing, Regulations, Taxes and Other Important Topics..
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York’s “Small Business Summer Series” – a slate of informational events and workshops to connect New York entrepreneurs to free resources, support, and services. The series includes the second interagency Small Business Tour, first announced last year to highlight state programs and services to help small businesses succeed, as well as the 2024 Regional Minority- and Women-Owned Business Expo Series to help expand opportunities for MWBEs. Together, these events build on Governor Hochul’s commitment to helping New York’s small businesses thrive.
“Small businesses are part of what makes New York great, and my administration is committed to giving them the support they need to thrive,” Governor Hochul said. “Starting later this month, we are launching our Small Business Summer Series to connect entrepreneurs to vital resources, expand opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses, and help small businesses contribute to their local economies and build strong, vibrant communities.”
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Small businesses are essential to the economic vitality of communities statewide. The New York State Department of Labor offers a trove of no-cost resources that can help businesses of all sizes compete on the global stage. I encourage entrepreneurs to learn more about how New York State can support your success.”
• Monday, July 22, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Interagency Small Business Tour Stop SUNY Old Westbury
223 Store Hill Road, Old Westbury, NY, 11568
Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “I’m excited to be back on the road this summer with Governor Hochul and our state agency and community partners to showcase the breadth of free resources available to help small businesses succeed. Small businesses are the heart of New York State’s economy, and the MWBE Expo Series is an excellent platform for MWBEs to connect with key decision-makers, learn about upcoming projects, and build lasting relationships that are critical to growth and opportunity.”
Partner Organizations: Long Island Association, Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, and Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
New York’s Chief Diversity Officer Julissa Gutierrez said, “The Small Business Summer Series and Regional Minorityand Women-Owned Business Expo Series demonstrate New York's commitment to supporting and empowering our diverse small business community. By connecting entrepreneurs and MWBEs with vital resources, guidance, and networking opportunities, we are fostering an inclusive economic environment where businesses of all backgrounds can thrive.”
Led by the New York State Department of Labor and Empire State Development, New York’s interagency Small Business Tour builds on the State’s commitment to supporting its small business community. Representatives from NYSDOL, ESD, Department of State, Department of Financial Services, Department of Taxation and Finance, Agriculture and Markets, State Liquor Authority, the Workers’ Compensation Board, and the New York State Insurance Fund will provide important information to small business owners on licensing, regulations, taxes, grants, training, and more. The tour is being held in partnership with Chambers of Commerce. Businesses can register for the tour via NYSDOL’s Small Business Tour registration page
The 2024 New York State MWBE Regional Opportunities Expo Series, hosted by ESD’s Division of Minority and Women's Business Development, is a free, in-person event designed to equip MWBEs with essential information and resources to secure State contracts. The series features valuable panel discussions, engaging networking opportunities, and interactive workshops, as well as showcasing an array of State-sponsored financial and technical assistance programs. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with the New York State agencies and authorities specializing in transportation, construction, and education which, together, represent billions of dollars in contracting opportunities for MWBEs. Registration for events in Syracuse and New York City is now open.
A full schedule of events is below:
The full article may be view at https://www.longisland.com/news/06-10-24/governor-hochulannounces-small-business-summer-series-to-connect-new-yorks-small-businesses-to-vitalresources-support-and-services.html
SUNY Old Westbury students feted with regional media awards
By The Island 360 June 11, 2024
Students and faculty of SUNY Old Westbury celebrate their 2024 FOLIO Awards (from left to right): Renee Delorenzo, Gabrielle Gambuzza, Dr. Özgür Akgün, Professor Lisa Payton, Tim Coventry, Derell Smith, Julianne Sucre, Christopher Zepeda, and Professor Joseph Manfredi. (Credit: SUNY Old Westbury)
SUNY Old Westbury students and recent American Studies/Media and Communications Department graduates recently earned 2024 Folio Awards for their work in varied forms of media. T
he awards, run by the Fair Media Council, recognize the best in news and social media coverage and were presented during an awards luncheon in June 2024.
In the Political News – Student category, OWTV won for “Robin Rue Simmons – How the Next Generation Can Lead on the Road to Reparations.”
The report centered around a spring 2023 visit to campus by Robin Rue Simmons, founder and executive director of FirstRepair and a Pritzker Fellow at the Institute of Politics of The University of Chicago, who discussed the nationwide discussion regarding more and greater compensation for Black Americans for the lasting legacy of slavery, racism and discrimination in the nation continues to grow.
Renee DeLorenzo served as reporter and editor for the project, with filming and support conducted by Julianne Sucre, Casim Jewsbury, Christopher Zepeda, and Nasir Fanfan.
In the War & Protest – Student category, OWTV took home a second honor for “OW Speaks: IsraelPalestine Conflict.”
Having first aired on November 19, 2023, the program featured interviews with Old Westbury faculty members discussing the heightened conflict in Middle East that arose in October 2024. The honor was given to Tim Coventry, who served as director and host of the program.
Also earning honors were the production crew comprised of Derell Smith, Marcus Ennette, Bethany Wilson, Sanique Sutherland, and Julianne Sucre.
In addition to the student honorees, a member of the Media & Communications faculty was selected to serve as a judge for the Folio Awards. Dr. Özgür Akgün, an American Studies/Media and Communications department assistant professor, served as a FOLIO judge for the third consecutive year in the 2024 awards program.
Developed in the 1980s as a way to encourage and reward Long Island news, the Folio Awards have grown over the years.
Expanding news categories to include New York regional and National news and social media categories for campaigns that seek to inform, educate or inspire are qualified for entry. Today, a Folio Award is regarded as the gold standard for news that matters
The Fair Media Council is a nonprofit organization that is recognized as one of the oldest, most successful media watchdogs in the country today
SUNY Old Westbury Student Media Excellence Recognized at FOLIO Awards
Future journalists honored for work covering political, international news
SUNY Old Westbury, Posted Wed, Jun 12, 2024 at 10:11 am ET
SUNY Old Westbury students and recent graduates in the American Studies/Media and Communications Department recently earned 2024 Folio Awards for their work in varied forms of media. The awards, run by the Fair Media Council, recognize the best in news and social media coverage, and were presented during an awards luncheon at the Garden City Hotel on June 7, 2024.
Developed in the 1980s as a way to encourage and reward Long Island news, the Folio Awards have grown over the years. Expansion of news categories to include New York regional and National news as well as social media categories for campaigns that seek to inform, educate or inspire are qualified for entry. Today, a Folio Award is regarded as the gold standard for news that matters.
In the Political News - Student category, OWTV won for "Robin Rue Simmons - How the Next Generation Can Lead on the Road to Reparations." The report centered around a spring 2023 visit to campus by Robin Rue Simmons, founder and executive director of FirstRepair and a Pritzker Fellow at the Institute of Politics of The University of Chicago, who discussed the nationwide discussion regarding more and greater compensation for Black Americans for the lasting legacy of slavery, racism and discrimination in the nation continues to grow. Renee DeLorenzo served as reporter and editor for the project, with filming and support conducted by Julianne Sucre, Casim Jewsbury, Christopher Zepeda, and Nasir Fanfan.
In the War & Protest - Student category, OWTV took home a second honor for "OW Speaks: Israel-Palestine Conflict." Having first aired on November 19, 2023, the program featured interviews with Old Westbury faculty members discussing the heightened conflict in Middle East that arose in October 2024. The honor was given to Tim Coventry, who served as director and host of the program. Also earning honors were the production crew comprised of Derell Smith, Marcus Ennette, Bethany Wilson, Sanique Sutherland, and Julianne Sucre.
In addition to the student honorees, a member of the Media & Communications faculty was selected to serve as a judge for the Folio Awards. Dr. Özgür Akgün, an assistant professor in the American Studies/Media and Communications department, served as a FOLIO judge for the third consecutive year in the 2024 awards program.
The Fair Media Council is a nonprofit organization that is recognized as one of the oldest, most successful media watchdogs in the country today.
SUNY Old Westbury students and faculty celebrate their FOLIO Awards (L-R): Renee Delorenzo, Gabrielle Gambuzza, Dr. Özgür Akgün, Professor Lisa Payton, Tim Coventry, Derell Smith, Julianne Sucre, Christopher Zepeda, and Professor Joe Manfredi. (SUNY Old Westbury Office of Communications/University Relations)
Walmart Joins Retailers Tailoring Private-Label Offerings to Gen Z
By PYMNTS | June 14, 2024
As Gen Z shows an inclination for shopping from retailers’ own brands, major players are tailoring their privatelabel offerings to these young consumers’ desires and preferences.
Walmart, for instance, recently relaunched its $2 billion No Boundaries fashion brand with an eye toward attracting new Gen Z shoppers.
“There’s a huge opportunity for Walmart to reach a Gen Z customer with a brand that has both incredible style and unbelievable prices,” Jen Jackson Brown, senior vice president of Walmart U.S. fashion brands, said in a statement. “We have 145 million U.S. customers shopping with us in stores and online each week, and the new No Boundaries brand is designed and marketed with intention to reach this young adult audience by focusing on fit, quality, style and fabrics that resonate with them.”
Given this goal, the brand puts an emphasis on self-expression, which younger consumers tend to prioritize, as well as on modern trends such as baggier jeans and crop tops.
Indeed, Gen Z private-label customers seem to pose a valuable opportunity for retailers, according to findings from the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA). The group’s research reveals that 67% of Gen Z shoppers are highly aware of store brands, and 64% frequently purchase them. Additionally, 56% are likely to experiment with store brands to find the best value, and 51% consistently choose their shopping destination based on the availability of store brands.
“To succeed with Gen Z, retailers must establish a foundation of store brand suppliers who meet their customers’ quality expectations,” Sara Williamson, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing at SUNY Old Westbury, said in a statement accompanying the report.
As such, major retailers are tailoring their private-label offerings to the demands of Gen Z consumers. Take, for instance, environmental concerns. H&M has for years had its “Conscious Collection,” which uses sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester. The firm highlights its commitment to ethical practices, which resonate with Gen Z’s eco-conscious mindset. Target, similarly, has its “Everspring” line, featuring household products made from natural and biodegradable ingredients, along with sustainable packaging.
Gen Z also tends to value transparency. Sephora touts its “Clean at Sephora” private-label products that provide greater transparency about product ingredients. Amazon has its “Amazon Aware” providing detailed product information and sourcing details to ensure that products meet certain third-party certifications.
Notably, PYMNTS Intelligence data show that Gen Z consumers are less likely than millennials to be trading down to lower-cost products such as private-label brands amid inflation, though this could be because they were already buying them. Supplemental findings from last year’s “Consumer Inflation Sentiment Report: Consumers Cut Back by Trading Down” found that 37% of Gen Z consumers had been purchasing lower quality grocery products due to price increases, and 33% said the same of retailers. Conversely, a significantly greater 45% and 42%, respectively, said the same. In fact, these findings could indicate, if anything, that Gen Z shoppers tend to be more loyal to their favorite brands than their older counterparts.
As Gen Z continues to prioritize values such as self-expression, eco-consciousness and authenticity, retailers who align their private-label brands with these ideals are likely to thrive. The significant purchasing power and brand loyalty of Gen Z consumers make them a crucial market segment, driving innovation and reshaping retailers’ own-brand strategies to meet their evolving demands.
For all PYMNTS retail coverage, subscribe to the daily Retail Newsletter
SUNY Old Westbury listed among best colleges by Money
By The Island 360
The State University of New York at Old Westbury earned a strong 4.5-star rating (out of five) to be included on Money’s 2024 list of Best Colleges.
According to Money, “Money’s analysis showcases the country’s top 745 colleges based on graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries and more.”
The 745 selected schools are culled from a starting list of more than 2,400 institutions of four-year public and private nonprofit colleges and universities throughout the U.S.
The rankings are based on 25 factors in three categories: quality of education, affordability, and outcomes focused on earnings ten years after college entry.
“The university is regularly recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion…and the school scores in the top 2% of all colleges on think tank Third Way’s economic mobility index,” Money’s editors said of SUNY Old Westbury. “On the outskirts of New York City, SUNY Old Westbury offers students the best of both worlds. They can attend classes on a 600-acre, tree-lined campus on Long Island, then hop on a roughly 45-minute train ride to Manhattan for easy access to a world of cultural attractions and internship opportunities.”
This marks the 10th year Money has published its Best Colleges ratings. The full methodology can be found on Money.com
Money is a leading digital news provider on issues related to finance that grew from its start more than 50 years ago with its iconic print magazine.
An aerial view of the Student Union at SUNY Old Westbury (SUNY Old Westbury Office of Communications)
‘Key to the Island’ award presented to SUNY Old Westbury president
By The Island 360 June 26, 2024
SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy E. Sams was among those celebrated on June 12, when the Long Island Association held its third annual Evening of Honors event.
Approximately 400 business community members were in attendance to honor the achievements of innovative companies, executives and their employees who have boosted Long Island’s economy and supported the region’s communities through philanthropic efforts.
President Sams was presented the “Key to the Island Award,” recognizing someone who may not have been born on Long Island but has now become the region’s adopted son or daughter.
Sams was raised by his paternal grandparents on the South Side of Syracuse and attended Union College in Schenectady, SUNY Albany, and Temple University in Philadelphia for his PhD in African American Studies. He moved to Long Island in 2021 when he assumed the presidency of SUNY Old Westbury.
“It is an honor to be recognized with the Key to the Island and I thank the LIA Board of Directors and all of its members,” said Sams in accepting the award. “While my time here has been just three years, I’ve come to recognize the strength of our business and civic communities and am pleased to build here on the more than 50-year foundation that’s been created by SUNY Old Westbury as a leader on issues involving education, service and justice for our region.”
The LIA recognized him for his leadership of the campus since his arrival, including leading the institution to university status, expanding opportunities for students through a partnership with Brookhaven National Laboratory, and contributing to Long Island’s efforts to train the next generation of employees and make sure they stay in our region.
“The Long Island Association is proud to recognize companies and individuals who have made a transformative impact on our region’s economy and contribute to Long Island’s unparalleled quality of life,” said Matt Cohen, LIA president & CEO, “They are all truly deserving of these honors, as they continue to lead the way to ensure Nassau and Suffolk Counties flourish now and in the future.”
Other honorees during the event included:
• Medal of Honor Award – Catholic Health: The Medal of Honor is the LIA’s most prestigious award. Catholic Health is the region’s second-largest private employer and with approximately 16,000 employees, six acute care hospitals, three nursing homes, a home health service, hospice, and a network of physician practices – serves hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders each year, providing care that extends from the beginning of life to helping people live their final years in comfort, grace, and dignity.
• The Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for Community Service – Optimum: Jen Chapin, Harry and Sandra Chapin’s daughter, joined the LIA in recognizing Optimum for their widespread community support and treated the audience to a musical performance. Optimum is one of the largest broadband communications and video services providers in the United States, headquartered on Long Island.
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Gene Bernstein: Gene Bernstein served on the LIA Board of Directors for many years in his capacity as Chairman of Northville Industries Corp. and also was a Co-Chair of the LIA Energy and Environment Committee. Together with his brother Jay, Gene helped lead Northville’s highly successful wholesale, storage, pipeline transportation, and refined products trading businesses. Gene has actively participated on numerous philanthropic and civic boards, chairing many, including the Alfred University Board of Trustees, the advisory board of The Energeia Program at Molloy University, and the First Tee of Metropolitan New York.
SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy Sams (center) receives the "Key to Long Island Award" from Long Island Association President Matthew Cohen (left) and LIA Board Chair Lawrence Waldman. (Credit: Craig Cooper)
BY CHRIS BOYLE
Long Island Association Holds Annual Evening of Honors
PUBLISHED: JUNE 27 2024
Event recognized business leaders who support Long Island’s economic development and make a positive impact in the community.
On June 12, 2024, the Long Island Association (LIA) held its third annual Evening of Honors event, where approximately 400 members of the business community celebrated the achievements of innovative companies and their employees who have boosted Long Island’s economy and supported our region’s communities through philanthropic efforts. The event was held at the Heritage Club at Bethpage.
“The Long Island Association is proud to recognize companies and individuals who have made a transformative impact on our region’s economy and contribute to Long Island’s unparalleled quality of life,” said Matt Cohen, LIA President & CEO, “They are all truly deserving of these honors, as they continue to lead the way to ensure Nassau and Suffolk Counties flourish now and in the future.”
“The Long Island Association can advocate and foster a positive business climate because of the support of our members, as well as the honorees and sponsors of the 2024 Evening of Honors,” said Larry Waldman, Chair of the LIA Board of Directors, “With collaboration between the private and public sectors, the LIA can achieve its mission to spur growth and remain economically competitive.”
The Honorees included:
Medal of Honor Award: Catholic Health
Key to the Island: Dr. Timothy Sams, President of the State University of New York at Old Westbury
• The Medal of Honor is the LIA’s most prestigious award. Catholic Health is the region’s second- largest private employer, with approximately 16,000 employees, six acute care hospitals, three nursing homes, a home health service, hospice, and a network of physician practices. Under the sponsorship of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Catholic Health serves hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders each year, providing care that extends from the beginning of life to helping people live their final years in comfort, grace, and dignity. Its facilities have been nationally recognized for excellence, including St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, which has been rated among the top 10 hospitals in the region by U.S. News & World Report.
• The Key to the Island recognizes someone who may not have been born on Long Island but has now become an adopted son or daughter of the region. Dr. Timothy Sams was raised by his paternal grandparents on the South Side of Syracuse and attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, SUNY Albany, and Temple University in Philadelphia for his PhD in African American Studies. Immediately prior to Old Westbury, Dr. Sams served as Vice President of Student Affairs for Prairie View A&M University in Texas. Dr. Sams was appointed President of SUNY Old Westbury in January 2021, and his notable accomplishments include leading the institution to university status, expanding opportunities for students through a partnership with Brookhaven National Laboratory, and contributing to Long Island’s efforts to train the next generation of employees and make sure they stay in our region.
Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, President & CEO of Catholic Health, said, “Catholic Health shares the LIA’s strong commitment to Long Island. Our mission is to provide exceptional health care services to communities across Nassau, Suffolk and even parts of Queens. We do this n ot just at our six hospitals, but at our expanding network of Ambulatory Care sites, always delivering outstanding care and treatment with a healthy dose of compassion.”
The Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for Community Service: Optimum
Dr. Timothy Sams, President of the State University of New York at Old Westbury, said, “It is an honor to be recognized with the Key to the Island and I thank the LIA Board of Directors and all of its members. While my time here has been just three years, I've come to recognize the strength of our business and civic communities and am pleased to build here on the more than 50-year foundation that's been created by SUNY Old Westbury as a leader on issues involving education, service and justice for our region."
• Jen Chapin, Harry and Sandra Chapin’s daughter, joined the LIA in recognizing Optimum for their widespread community support and treated the audience to a musical performance. Optimum is one of the largest broadband communications and video services providers in the United States, with offices on Long Island. Their commitment to our region’s communities includes support of FIRST Long Island Robotics and the Optimum Innovator
TEAM WORK ON AND OFF THE COURT
When college basketball player Adrian Mejia suffered a stroke, doctors from three Northwell hospitals came together to save his life
At 6:44 p.m. on May 8, 2023, Frank Nyberg, MD, was nearing the end of his shift at Syosset Hospital when the call came: EMS was on the way with a stroke victim. More than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year, and as an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Nyberg had cared for his share. But this wasn’t a typical stroke patient. This was an 18-year-old collegiate athlete with no history of serious health problems.
Adrian Mejia was a freshman at SUNY Old Westbury who had been recruited to serve as point guard for the Panthers, the school’s NCAA Division 3 basketball team. The season ended earlier that spring, but on that day in May, Mejia and his teammates were playing a pickup game outdoors. Mejia caught a pass and drove for a lay-up, but his momentum took him past the basket and into the pole supporting the hoop. He hit his forearm — hard.
“I feel stronger than before, because I’ve been through more and I know what it feels like to be at the bottom.”
— Adrian Mejia
“It hurt, but I didn’t think anything of it,” he recalls. “Then I started feeling a tingling sensation that started in my left hand and traveled up to my shoulder. A couple of minutes later, I felt tingling in my left foot, and it started traveling up my left leg.” But he wasn’t concerned until he missed the next shot.
“I started to get a headache and a little drowsy, like I needed to sit down,” says Mejia. “I asked a friend on the bleachers for some water because I was very thirsty. But he couldn’t understand what I was saying.”
Two friends walked him to the athletic center in search of help. As he stepped through the door, Mejia’s left leg gave out and he fell, hitting his head on a window beside the doorway as he went down. When his friend returned with a school nurse, “I asked for some water, and as I’m drinking, it’s dripping down the left side of my face. My friend and the nurse are acting alarmed, like ‘What’s going on?’” Mejia says.
The next thing he remembers is waking up in an ambulance.
CONFIRMING A STROKE
When the ambulance arrived at Syosset Hospital, Dr. Nyberg immediately ordered an angiogram — an X-ray that would show how Mejia’s blood was flowing. The exam revealed a large clot in his internal carotid artery, one of the main vessels that feed the brain. Mejia was having a stroke.
When a stroke is caused by a clot, the protocol is clear: As long as it’s been less than 4.5 hours since the onset of symptoms, clinicians generally administer something called tenecteplase (TNK), an intense clot-busting medication. But there was a catch. Mejia had also suffered a physical trauma when he collided with the pole, and then again when he hit his head at the athletic center. It was unclear if those traumas dislodged a clot that already existed in Mejia’s body, but the fact that he might have hit his chest was concerning.
“If you have trauma to the chest and develop neurologic symptoms, you could have an aortic dissection” — a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the
artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body, says Dr. Nyberg. An aortic dissection can cause massive internal bleeding.
“If that’s what happened, and we gave him tenecteplase, it would kill him,”
Dr. Nyberg says.
But if they didn’t infuse the medication, the massive clot would continue blocking blood flow to Mejia’s brain. And that could also be fatal.
Faced with a tough decision, Dr. Nyberg reached out to Northwell’s TeleStroke, an emergency service that provides real-time virtual access to the health system’s neurological experts. Within moments, he was conferring with several Northwell neurologists, including Richard Jung, MD, an interventional neurologist based at the Stroke Center at South Shore University Hospital (SSUH). As they discussed the case, Dr. Nyberg ordered an additional test — a CT scan of Mejia’s chest — to check for signs of aortic dissection.
“The results showed no tear of the aorta,” says Dr. Nyberg. “So we made the decision to push the clot-buster.
“Having quick access to that team was a critical help,” he adds. “Our conversation helped me make a good decision.”
A TRANSFER FOR FURTHER CARE
In many cases, a drug like TNK will fully open a blocked vessel. But when a clot is large — as it was in Mejia — TNK merely breaks it up and restores partial blood flow. Mejia would need a procedure called thrombectomy to completely remove what remained of the blood clot. So with the help of TeleStroke and Northwell’s Transfer Center, Dr. Nyberg sent Mejia to Dr. Jung at SSUH for the lifesaving procedure. The ambulance brought him directly to the neuro-interventional suite at the Linda and John Bohlsen Neurosciences Center.
Dr. Jung and his colleagues inserted a catheter in the femoral artery in Mejia’s right groin and snaked it up to the right carotid artery in his neck. Then they used a suction device to pull out the clot. Even given Mejia’s precarious position, everything went smoothly. Within 15 minutes, the procedure was over.
Mejia woke up in a hospital bed at SSUH in a room full of people. His mother and younger brother had rushed to Long Island from their home in Washington Heights, as had several other family members and friends. “My uncle was the first person I spoke to,” says Mejia. “He told me that I had had a stroke.
“The vibe in the room was just so sad. Everyone was in shock and confused about how this could happen. My mother and brother had trouble gathering themselves,” says Mejia, who tried to reassure them that he was OK.
Dave Rice — a family friend who Mejia says is like a father to him — was there as well. He was impressed by Mejia’s refusal to see himself as a victim.
“The next day, I was at the hospital with him, and he says, ‘Coach, I
remember what you taught me. Things don’t happen to me; they happen for me,’” recalls Rice, who is co-founder of Kings of New York Athletics, an organization that helps young men and women get the opportunity to play collegiate sports. “I said, ‘You will recover from this, you will get out of this bed, you will get your health back and you will play college ball again. The operative word is will.”
After a week and a half in the hospital, Mejia — still weak and with some mild speech impairment — was transferred to a rehab facility in Washington Heights for inpatient rehab. He did another two weeks of outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
At the end of that time, Mejia was feeling much better. But his journey was far from over.
A STROKE’S CAUSE REVEALED
Strokes most often occur in people 55 and older. When the problem occurs in someone younger, doctors typically order an echocardiogram to check for a condition called patent foramen ovale (PFO) — a hole between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sure enough, Mejia was among the 5% of
stroke victims who have this congenital defect.
“PFO is fairly common, and in many cases it doesn’t cause symptoms. But its presence can sometimes lead to significant health risks,” says Chad Kliger, MD, director of structural heart disease of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Northwell’s Lenox Hill Hospital.
That’s because a PFO can allow a tiny blood clot to travel from the right side of the heart to the left side — and blood from the heart’s left side goes directly to the brain.
Mejia would need another procedure, this time to close the hole in his heart. On August 31, Dr. Kliger performed the procedure at Lenox Hill, avoiding traditional openheart surgery.
“We use a minimally invasive approach and insert a small tube that enters the vein in the leg. With an ultrasound inside the heart, we can see the PFO clearly,” Dr. Kliger says. He placed a closure device into Mejia’s heart — two discs that sat on either side of the hole. “This device acts as a scaffold,” he says. “Tissue grows over it, effectively and permanently sealing the defect.”
Mejia now takes a daily baby aspirin to help prevent clotting. About a month after his PFO procedure, he was cleared to return to activity. A few months after that he resumed training with his team, and he recently played in two games. He says he feels good and is committed to “knocking off the rust” as he continues to polish his athletic skills.
“I think this was just God building character,” says Mejia. “I feel stronger than before because I’ve been through more and I know what it feels like to be at the bottom.”
Scan the QR code for more info on how a life-saving thrombectomy works.
In 2022, Mejia celebrated his high school graduation with his grandmother, Candida Arias, left, and mother, Johanne Gomez, right.
Long Island, NY
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Reworld™ Hosts SUNY Old Westbury Students for Facility Tour
Reworld™ Hosts SUNY Old Westbury Students and Educators for Facility Tour in Hempstead
Jake Mendlinger,Community Contributor
Reworld™, a leader in sustainable waste solutions, recently hosted students and educators from SUNY Old Westbury for an exclusive tour of their state-of-the-art facility in Hempstead. This tour provided an in-depth look at the innovative waste-to-energy processes and sustainable practices that Reworld™ employs to manage and reduce waste on Long Island. Participants had the opportunity to see how a Thermomechanical Treatment Facility (TTF) operates, learning about the integration of waste-to-energy technology with other waste processing methods to create efficient waste ecosystems.
“Welcoming SUNY Old Westbury students and educators into our Hempstead facility was a great experience,” said Maureen Early, Lead Community Relations Specialist at Reworld™.
Posted Mon, Jul 29, 2024 at 11:47 am ET
“Reworld™ is focused on education and community engagement, and we hope that the tour was inspiring and helpful to the next generation of environmental leaders.”
During the tour, students and educators observed the entire waste process, from the collection and sorting of waste to its conversion into energy. They learned about the company’s commitment to sustainability through initiatives like ReDirect360™ (Zero Waste-to-Landfill), ReDrop™ (Wastewater Treatment), and ReCredit (Sustainable Carbon Offsets). The facility tour also highlighted the importance of metals recovery services, which recycle over 60,000 tons throughout their facilities on Long Island of ferrous and non-ferrous material each year which would be buried instead of recovered for recycling. This is the equivalent of 47,000 cars worth of steel and 290 million aluminum beverage cans.
Students were particularly impressed by the technological advancements in waste-to-energy processes and anaerobic digestion, which transforms organic waste into biogas for electricity, heat, or vehicle fuel. These cutting-edge technologies not only manage waste efficiently but also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generating renewable energy.
Reworld™ remains dedicated to fostering educational opportunities and community partnerships. By providing tours and educational resources, the company aims to raise awareness about sustainable waste practices and inspire future generations to contribute to environmental sustainability.
For more information about Reworld™ and their initiatives that support various community empowerment and environmental programs fostering positive change locally and globally, please visit www.reworldwaste.com.
SUNY Old Westbury STEM leader earns national service award
By The Island 360 August
Monique Clark-Ciceron, co-director of the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) at SUNY Old Westbury, earned the Dr. John Staley Award for Outstanding Service at the 25th annual Best Practices Conference of the Association for Program Administrators of CSTEP and STEP, Inc. in June.
The award celebrates Clark-Ciceron’s almost 20 years of service and efforts in helping students succeed in their higher education pursuits.
“I was deeply surprised and humbled to receive the award on the first night of the conference,’ said Clark-Ciceron. “It is truly rewarding to have my work recognized, and I am profoundly grateful for the support I receive from SUNY Old Westbury and the New York State C/STEP network.”
The award is named for Dr. John Staley, who served as assistant vice provost for faculty affairs and associate vice president for public service and urban affairs among other professional responsibilities at the University of Buffalo.
20, 2024
Dr. Renaldo D. Alba, President of the Association for Program Administrators of CSTEP and STEP, Inc. (APACS), presenting Monique Clark-Ciceron her award.
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