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Read about the successes of the 2011 LaGuardia graduates who participated in the Honors Program: 53 CLICK HERE:

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Sasheen Pottinger

"LaGuardia Honors student Sasheen Pottinger (LaGuardia ’09) is now in her second year as a Biology major at Cornell University.

For Sasheen, the Honors Program experience “was priceless.” She notes, “I developed long-lasting friendships and strong problem-solving skills. I was challenged to think outside the box, to be respectful of different perspectives, and to always ask ‘why.’ I developed the necessary tools that will steer me towards success at Cornell and beyond.”

Luis K. Feliz

Luis K. Feliz (LaGuardia ’09, Kaplan Educational Foundation Scholar), who completed the Honors Concentration, was accepted at Brown, Cornell, Sarah Lawrence, Reed, Bard and Swarthmore. He eventually chose to attend Amherst College, where he is currently a Schupf Scholar. Schupf Scholars are selected from the annual pool of incoming students for their outstanding academic record and potential to enrich the Amherst scholarly community.

“Luis tells us that “the professors in the Honors Program embody the rare mix between disciplined scholars and drill sergeants. Because of their belief that diligence breeds results, professors in Honors courses command authority and expect nothing but rigor from their students. You are challenged to substantiate your opinions and engage in lively colloquy. Expect nothing short of a transformative experience.”

Edgar Romero

““I had always wanted to be in classes in which students engage with both the professor and other students. So, during my first semester, I found the Honors Program. An Honors class awakens one’s intellectual curiosity; it is a place in which a question raised becomes an exciting discussion.”

Edgar Romero (LaGuardia ’10) was the 2009-2010 International President of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and a 2009-2010 CUNY Malave Leadership Academy Fellow. Having completed the Honors Program Concentration, Edgar is currently at City College on full scholarship.

Read about Edgar HERE.

Rhazi Kone

The Honors Program met up recently with Rhazi Kone (LaGuardia ’07), a LaGuardia Honors and Columbia University graduate. We are happy to report that he is now working at the United Nations, and is also planning to pursue graduate studies in law and international studies.

Sihyun Kim

All-New York First Academic Team; Cornell ’09, summa cum laude; University of Chicago Law School.

"There's a HUGE difference with the
Honors Program... you will realize just how effective the
deadly dose of lower student-to-faculty ratio and higher standards is..."

Read about Sihyun’s transfer experience HERE.

Yeshey Pelzom

2006 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Scholar; 2008 Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholar; Agnes Scott ’08; King’s College, London.

"...what I read in the Honors classes has had a huge impact on my perception, whether it is the way I look at a literary work or the society around."

Read about Yeshey HERE.

Aaron Hudson

Kaplan Educational Foundation Leadership Program Scholar; Syracuse University.

“The Honors course I took made me open my mind and eyes to life... We were held to a higher standard, and more was expected of us.”

Read about Aaron's transfer experience HERE.

Dimitri Siavelis

Cornell ’10

"Taking an Honors class was an exhilarating experience. Mingling with students after class for a literary conversation was the greatest plus to my learning. I loved the in-class discussions."

Andrea Gombor

Sarah Lawrence College

“My Honors courses offered me an atmosphere where the subjects were engaging, the professors inspiring, and the peers insightful.”

Read about Andrea's transfer experience HERE.

Jonathan Chavez

Honors Program students Jonathan Chavez (LaGuardia ’10) (left) and Kaire Colwell (LaGuardia ’10). Jonathan and Kaire are also Kaplan Educational Foundation Scholars. Jonathan is now at Bard College, while Kaire is at Morehouse College.

Jonathan tells us: “The Honors courses at LaGuardia were life-changing. Now I look around me with a deeper understanding of the things that make the world work.”

Luis alberto lei

Luis Alberto Lei (LaGuardia ’10) (centered) is pictured here with his Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society compatriots, Jaida Triblet (LaGuardia ’10) (left) and Emmanuel Deegbe (LaGuardia ’10). Luis and Emmanuel join LaGuardia Honors Program graduate, Andrea Gombor (LaGuardia ’08), at Sarah Lawrence College this Fall. Jaida, who is an English major, transferred to DePaul University in Chicago.

For Luis, “enrolling in Honors courses is one of the best decisions I have taken. I felt motivated and challenged by my Honors professors and peers. I will remember what I learned and the ideas that I developed in my Honors classes long after my days as a student are over.”

Read about Luis’s transfer experience HERE
Also explore the blog to see Luis’s articles on politics and art.

Check out Luis’s latest article for Amherst College

Sela Hong

Honors Program student Sela Hong (LaGuardia ’09) is in her second year at City College. She entered City as a Skadden Arps Honors Program in Legal Studies scholar, and is now a Fulvio Dobrich New Americans Scholar at the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies at City College.

She says: “Taking Honors classes was one of the smartest choices I made during my time at LaGuardia. These classes helped me build a solid foundation for my future and to be connected with other motivated and academically accomplished students. Honors classes not only trained me to develop advanced study skills, but also made me a better critical thinker.”

Read about Sela HERE

Tashdid Hasan

Columbia University

Completed the Honors Concentration.

“The Honors classes I took were more than just classes. In an Honors class, a student is a part of a focused and hardworking team. The combination of a dedicated team of students and inspiring teachers creates an energetic and engaging atmosphere in the classroom, which challenged me intellectually and pushed me beyond my comfort zone. The experience was both intellectually and academically rewarding. Through lively discussions and rigorous writing assignments in my eight Honors classes, I improved my thinking process and writing skills.
Students are measured against a higher scale in Honors classes, so more is expected from them. This experience gave me confidence that I can meet the academic requirements of a four-year institution. Moreover, the friendships that I developed after a semester of intellectual discussions are worth cherishing.
I would say take honors classes if you seek to satisfy your academic curiosity, make great friends and have some (academic) fun.”

Read Tash’s article HERE

Padma Aryal

Georgetown University

"People often underestimate a community college education, but I think LaGuardia's Honors courses are just as demanding as some of the writing intensive courses here at Georgetown University. I am doing a double major in International Affairs and International Development, both of which require 500 pages of reading on an average week and a bunch of long research papers. The Honors Program at LaGuardia gave me an opportunity to not only challenge my Georgetown peers, but also a foundation for intellectual advancement. The Honors faculty work tirelessly one-on-one with their students to help them succeed. I benefitted from all of the five honors courses that I had taken at LaGuardia, including Dr. Chaffee's Ethics and Moral Issues class. I dare you to take some Honors courses if you think that you are not merely a community college student, but a thinker and a doer of tomorrow!”

“Honors students Sihyun Kim and Rhazi were selected to be on the 2007 All-State Academic Team. Both received acceptances from top schools like MIT, Tulane and Johns Hopkins. Sihyun graduated from Cornell and is now at Chicago Law School. Rhazi graduated from Columbia and works as a designer in Manhattan.”

LaGuardia Honors Program student Brian Park (LaGuardia ’10) is now at New York University-Polytech.

“The classes that I took in the Honors Program helped me to prepare for the courseload at NYU-Poly,” says Brian. Furthermore, “students are expected to learn more on their own than they are in most regular classes. The Honors Program has helped me to deal with the academic demands and expectations at a selective 4-year institution.”

Gabriel Lockwood (Skadden Arps Honors Program in Legal Studies, City College)

As an older student going back to school, I was extremely impressed with the intelligence, passion, and intellectual curiosity of my fellow honors students. The academic rigor of the courses and engaging interaction exceeded my expectations in every way. I was inspired by the professors, who all showed a passion not only for the subject matter, but also for the very act of teaching, of expanding our horizons and pushing us to excel. All this, coupled with the increased attention and opportunities for participation afforded by the smaller class size, made for a truly enriching experience both academically and personally.

Kevin Magana (Georgetown University)
Honors Concentration Graduate, Coca Cola National Bronze Scholar, All-State First Academic Team, 2011 Pearson Prize National Fellow

First things first: LaGuardia's Honors Program is exceptional! From the moment
you step into the classroom, you are immersed in an intellectual field fueled by your peers' and professor's love of knowledge. Your understanding of academic disciplines will deepen through intimate classroom discussions and debates, group projects, and challenging examinations. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT allow the prospect of a rigorous education deter you from starting this intellectual journey, for it is exactly this that will ignite imagination, fuel hunger, and embolden your dreams of what is achievable. Did I also mention the support network? Honors faculty members are the MOST dedicated individuals in empowering you to set and achieve high academic and professional goals. Join the Honors Program. Allow your psyche to flirt with radical transformation;
you'll realize it to be the most significant investment during your stay at LaGuardia.

Maria Munoz (Sarah Lawrence College)

Being an Honors student has allowed me to enroll in interesting classes that have exposed me to inspiring professors, ambitious students and life-changing experiences. I encourage other students to be part of the Honors Programs not only for the top-notch small classes that benefit them intellectually, but for the extensive network of students and mentors with whom they will be able to work closely as they set goals to be successful in their respective fields.

Diana Youssef (CUNY Baruch)
The Honors Program presented me with opportunities to challenge my intellect by engaging in valuable discussions with peers and academics who share the same passion for enlightenment. Graduating from the Honors Program not only reflects well on me, but is a testament of how hard I’ve worked, and how I am willing to take on challenges to excel in my career.

Maria Acosta (SUNY Binghamton)

One of the biggest advantages of being part of the Honors Program is having the opportunity to be in a classroom where every student is willing to learn rather than simply wanting to pass the class. Consequently, class discussions become energetic conversations focused on analyzing facts. And this is where learning becomes fun!