2024 Graduation Celebration Journal

Graduation Celebration

TRANSFORMING LIVES & FULFILLING DREAMS

SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024

MISSION & VISION

We empower first-generation Latino students on their journeys to and through college so they can fulfill their remarkable potential. We envision a world where educational equity and opportunity are accessible to all.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Shirley Acevedo Buontempo Latino U College Access Founder & Executive Director

Lisa M. Bell | Treasurer US Bank

Patricia Bogoya-Bravo PepsiCo

Shawn Edwards | Secretary Bloomberg LP

Christine Louvet | Chairperson Louvet Consulting

Miguel M. Mendez

Morgan Stanley

Rafael Pérez Blue Grid Partners

Aldo J. Polak Mizuho Securities

Clara Román Houlihan Lawrence

Jonathan Schwartz

The Brookings Institution

Matthew J. Searles Merritt Healthcare Advisors

Scott Silverstein

Dalia Hernández Valdés Sotheby’s International Realty

Tamara Vasquez | Chairperson Global DEI

Rodrigo Trelles Zabala UBS O’Connor

OUR TEAM

Shirley Acevedo Buontempo, MPA | Founder & Executive Director

Angela Ciminello | Interim Director of Development

Gabriella Rivera | Advancement Manager

Julie DelValle Nunn | Senior Operations Manager

Jennifer Polanco-Calderon | Director of Programs

Haydee Davila | Associate Director of Programs

Kaylin Campos | Senior College Access Program Manager

Jailine Batista | College Access Program Manager

Laura Valencia | College Success Program Manager

Marc Finder | Data & Impact Manager

Doris Tenesaca | Communications Coordinator

Miryam Matute Roca | College Affordability Advisor

Stephanie Palacios | College Affordability Advisor

Debra Hand | College Coach Advisor

Debbie Shiffman | College Coach Advisor

PROGRAM

WELCOME

Shirley Acevedo Buontempo, MPA

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ALUMNI REMARKS

Katya Juarez

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE ’24 & FOX LANE HS ’20

VOLUNTEER REMARKS

Haydee Davila

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

M arie Guarnieri

COLLEGE COACH

SCHOLAR REMARKS

Joseph Barboza

BARUCH COLLEGE ’28 & WHITE PLAINS HS ’24

SCHOLAR CLASS RECOGNITION

Jennifer Polanco-Calderon DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

FIRST EN FAMILIA SCHOLARSHIP

Shirley Acevedo Buontempo, MPA

DORM SUPPLY RAFFLE

Kaylin Campos

SENIOR COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM MANAGER

CLOSING

REMARKS

Shirley Acevedo Buontempo, MPA

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS

For your dedication, time, and effort in helping make college dreams a reality!

COLLEGE COACHES

Meryl Allison

Beverly Araujo Dawson

Karen Baker

Ruben Blancovich

Danielle Casas

Pritesh Chandarana

Missy Closter

Kathleen Cuneo

Camille Cunningham

Joseph Del Toro

Alice Dure

Lina Echeverria

Dominic Ferro

John Finger

Cathy Friedensohn

Kate Galligan

Marc Gold

Jennifer Gold

Gaby Greenwald

Alan Groteinstein

Deborah Bolzan

Susan Buchman

Victoria Buitron

Mario Coronado

Susan Groteinstein

Leah Guarino

Marie Guarnieri

Debra Hand

Elena Herrera

Merle Hugon

Caroline Kaplan

Frances Kellner

Moon Kim

Marnie Korpi

Lydia Kris

Silchen Lee

Laurie Lichtenstein

Christine Louvet

Ellen Lynch

Maribel Marmol

Diego Medina

Sharon Mehlman

Lia Mehos

Jessica Mineo

ESSAY SUPPORT TEAM

Margaret Egan

Prisha Parvani

Phoebe Rhinehart

Deborah Schwarz

*Scholar Alumna

Juanita Montalvo

Anne Mullen

Nichole Nawrot

Jennifer Nicoletti

Marcie Nobel

John Oddo

Joann Petrossian

Susan Power Johnston

Suzan Reznick

Luis Rodriguez

Clara Roman

Joel Serebransky

Robert Shapiro

Susan Silver

Akhir Stewart

Cindy Sullivan

Diane Wrobleski

Josue Zamora Tercero

Linda Zeltner

Debbie Shiffman

Sonia Tatlock-Gagnon

Sophia Ungaro

Nancy Woolf

THANK YOU TO OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS

For ensuring all students fulfill their potential and reach for their dreams!

ALEXANDER HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2024 – LUCA SCHOLARS

COLLEGE MATRICULATION

Adelphi University

Allegheny College

American University*

Babson College

Baruch College- CUNY

Bentley University

Binghamton University- SUNY*

Boston College

Bucknell University

Carnegie Mellon University

Columbia University

Cornell University

Elmira College

Elon University

Fashion Institute of Technology - SUNY

Fordham University*

Georgetown University

Hartwick College

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Hunter College - CUNY

Iona University*

Lehigh University*

Lehman College - CUNY

Manhattan College*

Manhattanville University*

Marist College*

Mercy University*

New York Institute of Technology

New York University

Northeastern University*

Pace University*

Purchase College - SUNY

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute *

Siena College*

Skidmore College

St. John’s University

Stony Brook University - SUNY*

Syracuse University*

The City College of New York - CUNY

Union College*

University at Albany - SUNY*

University of Pennsylvania

University of Richmond

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

Villanova University

Westchester Community College - SUNY*

Yale University

*Two or more Scholars attending

LUCA Scholars Class of 2024 LUCA Scholars Class of 2024

SUNNY AGUILAR

Coach: Meryl Allison

Pace University ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

JOSEPH ALVAREZ

Coach: Robert Shapiro

Boston College ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

DANIEL ALVAREZ

Coach: Akhir Stewart

Fashion Institute of Technology - SUNY ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

DIANA ANGUISACA

Coach: Rhonda Regan

Pace University ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

GUADALUPE ANGULO

Coach: Ilene Haspel

Fordham University ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

AMY ARPI

Coach: Anne Mullen

Pace University ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

ANDREA ARTEAGA

Coach: Sharon Mehlman

Manhattanville University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

SOFIA AVILA

Coach: Akhir Stewart

Westchester Community College- SUNY ’26 | Fox Lane High School ’24

JASON AYAVACA

Coach: Mollie Reznick

Allegheny College ’28 | Peekskill High School ’24

JOSEPH BARBOZA

Coach: Silchen Lee

Baruch College - CUNY ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

LESLIE BURGOS

Coach: Camille Cunningham

Union College ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School

GIANNA CABORNERO

Coach: Alice Dure

Hunter College - CUNY ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

JUSTIN CABRERA

Coach: Diego Medina

The City College of New York - CUNY ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

WENDY CALDERON

Coach: Mollie Reznick

Stony Brook University - SUNY ’28 | Peekskill High School ’24

ANAHI CASCO

Pending | Ossining High School ’24

KARLA CASTILLO

Coach: Meryl Allison

Pending | Port Chester High School ’24

DEVIN CHIMBO

Coach: Josue Zamora Tercero

Carnegie Mellon University ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

BIANCA COTRINA-ARANA

Coach: Susan Johnston

Lehigh University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

VALENTINA CUMACO BERRIO

Coach: Caroline Kaplan

Lehigh University ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

MELINA DE LA CRUZ

Coach: Jessica Mineo

Mercy University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

MICHAEL DURAN

Coach: Dominic Ferro

Binghamton University - SUNY ’28 | Peekskill High School ’24

JACQUELINE DUTAN

Coach: Marcie Nobel University of Pennsylvania ’28 | Alexander Hamilton High School ’24

ANTHONY ENRIQUEZ

Coach: Clara Roman

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

SHANIA FLORES

Coach: Debra Hand

Cornell University ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

JOSEPH FLORES

Coach: John Oddo

Northeastern University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

CHRISTIAN FLORES

Coach: Elena Herrera; John Finger

Pace University ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

DANIREL GARCIA

Coach: Diane Wrobleski; Linda Zeltner

American University ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

ASHLEY GASTELU-GUTIERREZ

Coach: Tara Martinez

Skidmore College ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

RONNIE GONZALEZ

Coach: Luis Rodriguez

Manhattan College ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

SOFIA GREGORIO MIGUEL

Coach: Susan Silver

American University ’28 | Fox Lane High School ’24

PAMELA GUEVARA

Coach: Ellen Lynch

Fordham University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

AMARIE GUZMAN

Coach: Merle Hugon

Elmira College ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

ELIZABETH HEREDIA

Coach: Jennifer Nicoletti

Iona University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

KAYLEE HERNANDEZ

Coach: Suzan Reznick

Manhattanville University ’28 | Peekskill High School ’24

KAREN HIDALGO

Coach: Merle Hugon

Hobart and William Smith Colleges ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

ALEXANDER ILLESCAS

Coach: John Oddo

Syracuse University ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

GRACE JAPA

Coach: Tara Martinez

Mercy University ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

RONALDY LIZARDO

Coach: Josue Zamora Tercero

Marist College ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

ANDERSON LOJA

Coach: Joel Serebransky

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

JUAN LOPEZ

Coach: Joseph Del Toro; Lia Mehos

Babson College ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

JORGE LOPEZ

Coach: Joseph Del Toro; Lia Mehos

Fordham University ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

YADIRA LOPEZ

Coach: Alan Grotenstein; Susan Grotenstein

Pace University ’24 | Ossining High School ’24

KARLA LOPEZ FLOREZ

Coach: Christine Louvet

Northeastern University ’24 | White Plains High School ’24

DANIELA LUCAS

Coach: Jennifer Nicoletti

University at Albany - SUNY ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

KARLA LUNA MELENDREZ

Coach: Joel Serebransky

University at Albany - SUNY ’28 | Fox Lane High School ’24

GABRIELA MALDONADO

Coach: Kate Galligan

Elon University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

BRIAN MALDONADO

Coach: Joseph Block

Lehman College - CUNY ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

CATHERINE MARRERO

Coach: Caroline Kaplan

Pace University ’28 | Woodlands High School ’24

JANIRA MARTINEZ

Coach: Suzan Reznick

Columbia University ’28 | Peekskill High School ’24

MIRIAN MARTINEZ

Coach: Moon Kim

Fordham University ’28 | New Rochelle High School ’24

KAYLEY MARTINEZ

Coach: Anne Mullen

Syracuse University ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

ALBA MARTINEZ CASTILLO

Coach: Merle Hugon

Pending | Fox Lane High School ’24

JEREMY MEJIA

Coach: Luis Rodriguez

Manhattan College ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

TANYA MEJIA

Coach: Leah Guarino

Westchester Community College - SUNY ’26 | Peekskill High School ’24

JENNIFER MELGAR

Coach: Anne Mullen

Mercy University ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

JOCELYN MELGAR BRAVO

Coach: Karen Baker

Siena College ’28 | Peekskill High School ’24

ZULEIKA MENDOZA

Coach: Jessica Mineo

Hartwick College ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

JAMIEL MEZA

Coach: Jennifer Nicoletti

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

DANIELA MOLINA

Coach: Gaby Greenwald

Pace University ’28 | Fox Lane High School ’24

ANA MORA ORZUNA

Coach: Marcy Klein

Iona University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

MARCO MOROCHO LOZANO

Coach: Missy Closter

Stony Brook University - SUNY ’28 | Alexander Hamilton High School ’24

JENNIFER MORONTA PEREZ

Coach: Lydia Kris

Villanova University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

CHRISTOPHER MOYA RAMIREZ

Coach: Nichole Nawrot

Mercy University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

MARIA MUNOZ DELEG

Coach: Frances Kellner

University of Richmond ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

DAYANARA NARANJO

Coach: Joann Petrossian

Binghamton University - SUNY ’28 | Fox Lane High School ’24

JENNIFER NIEVES

Coach: Diane Wrobleski; Linda Zeltner

Lehigh University ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

EMILY ORELLANA

Coach: Cathy Friedensohn

Binghamton University - SUNY ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

BRENDA ORTIZ SEGARRA

Coach: Clara Roman

Iona University ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

HENRY PATINO

Coach: James Pugh

Marist College ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

ADALY PERDOMO MALDONADO

Coach: Marnie Korpi

Union College ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

ALISON PESANTEZ

Coach: Karen Baker

Pace University ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

CYNTHIA PINTADO

Coach: Cindy Sullivan

Bucknell University ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

KAYLA PIZARRO LOJANO

Coach: Tara Martinez

Pace University ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

ANASTACIA PULMAN

Coach: Joel Serebransky

University at Albany- SUNY ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

JENIFER QUISPE

Coach: Juanita Montalvo

Manhattanville University ’28 | Alexander Hamilton High School ’24

KATERYN QUITO

Coach: Marie Guarnieri

Pace University ’28 | Alexander Hamilton High School ’24

KATIE QUIZHPI

Coach: Susan Markel

Bentley University ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

JULIANA RAMIREZ

Coach: Ellen Lynch

Mercy University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

DAMARIS RAMIREZ

Coach: Caroline Kaplan

Stony Brook University - SUNY ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

ESTHER RAMIREZ PORTILLO

Coach: Meryl Allison

Pending | Fox Lane High School ’24

BRIAN RIVERA

Coach: Joel Serebransky

Purchase College - SUNY ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

SHANTAL RODRIGUEZ

Coach: Lina Echeverria

Cornell University ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

DELIA ROJAS

Coach: Caroline Kaplan

St. John’s University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

JACQUELINE SAETEROS

Coach: Cheryl Smith; Meryl Allison

Pace University ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

DAVID SANCHEZ

Coach: Danielle Casas

Manhattan College ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

CHRIS SANCHEZ

Coach: Marc Gold

Pace University ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

MELODY SAPIONE

Coach: Maribel Marmol

Yale University ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

JULISSA SEGARRA

Coach: Marie Guarnieri

Union College ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

KATIE SEVILLA

Coach: Beverly Dawson

Pending | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

JOHN SUCONOTA

Coach: Ruben Blancovich

Westchester Community College - SUNY ’26 | Peekskill High School ’24

GISSELLE TAPIA

Coach: Laurie Lichtenstein

Binghamton University - SUNY ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

ANDREW TAPIA

Coach: Kathleen Cuneo

Pace University ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

KELLY TULA

Coach Jennifer Gold

Adelphi University ’28 | Alexander Hamilton High School ’24

ANGEL VALENCIA

Coach: Pritesh Chandarana

New York University ’28 | White Plains High School ’24

RANDY VALLEJO

Coach: Ruben Blancovich

New York Institute of Technology ’28 | Ossining High School ’24

LORELEY VILLAR

Coach: Diane Wrobleski; Linda Zeltner

Siena College ’28 | Sleepy Hollow High School ’24

MARVIN ZACARIAS

Coach: Ruben Blancovich

Pending | Fox Lane High School ’24

GUADALUPE ZEPEDA

Coach: Silchen Lee

Georgetown University ’28 | New Rochelle High School ’24

YERYLY ZHININ

Coach: Suzan Reznick

University at Albany - SUNY ’28 | Peekskill High School ’24

JOSHUA ZUNIGA

Coach: Elena Herrera; John Finger

Pace University ’28 | Port Chester High School ’24

IMPACT

Founded in 2012, Latino U College Access (LUCA) is a social impact organization that transforms lives by making college dreams a reality for low-income, first-generation, Latino youth. We guide students, who have demonstrated academic ability, through individualized coaching and culturally relevant programming as they navigate higher education to successfully enroll in schools that meet their financial and academic needs, enabling them to graduate on time and career ready with little to no debt.

Nationally, only 1 out of 10 first-generation college students earn a four-year degree. At LUCA, 99% of Scholars remain on track to graduate or have graduated.

Providing access to higher education is critical among Latino youth. College graduates have greater career opportunities and earn substantially more over their lifetimes. But, the benefits of higher education go beyond economic gains. Education can change everything!

OUR PROGRAMS

LUCA SCHOLARS: COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM

LUCA SCHOLARS: COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM

COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS

FINANCIAL AID SUPPORT

FAFSA BOOT CAMPS