York's Class of 2023's Achieving the American Dream

More than half the 2023 Graduating Class are the first in their family to earn a college degree.

May 30, 2023, Jamaica, Queens – One thousand seventy-seven students will graduate York College this June. More than half of the graduating class, 558 (61.5%), will be the first in their family to earn a college degree. In a further reflection of York College’s robust diversity, more than 200 members of the graduating class were born outside of the United States and in addition to English, more than 37 languages are spoken by graduates, with the top five languages being Spanish, Bengali, Chinese, Creole, and Urdu. “I am so proud of our graduates,” said York College President Berenecea Johnson Eanes. “A college degree changes the life trajectory of our students and I am confident they will make a difference in their communities, the nation and the world.” CollegeNET ranks York College #2 in the country for social mobility for its graduates. The Commencement Ceremony will be held on June 1st at the UBS Arena at Belmont Park.

Diversifying Key Industries

More than 500 York College graduates earned degrees in the health field, which will help create more culturally competent care. York College graduates in the health field include nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, bio technicians, chemists, public health experts, gerontologists, psychologists, physician assistants, pharmaceutical scientists and more. Almost 250 York College graduates will fan out into the business industry through earning degrees in accounting, finance, computer science, information systems, and human resources. “It is important to diversify the leadership pipeline and our graduates will help contribute to this shift,” added President Johnson Eanes.

A Family Affair: Mother/son and Mother/daughter Graduate Together

A mother and daughter and a mother and son duo are among York College’s 2023 graduating class. Specifically, seven-time York College Dean’s List Achiever Amrita Seegobind earned her Bachelor of Social Work and her son Simeon Seegobind earned his degree in Mathematics. “As an older individual, in the beginning, I was not too sure what college life would be like for me because I was not born and raised in the United States. However, attending York College changed my views on older individuals continuing with their education. Because of the professional and fostering environment of the staff and faculty, I was able to thrive and accomplish my goal of graduating with my BSW, and I am planning to continue with an MSW program,” said Ms. Seegobind.

“My mom was a student at York College, and she encouraged me to apply to York College so that she could be my advocate.  The major that I chose was Mathematics because of my disability because I realized that I was better with numbers than words. I was very fortunate to be registered with York College’s Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD). The CSD staff were very caring and helpful throughout my college years. They made sure that I received all the accommodations needed so that I was able to function in a college environment conducive to learning. I am very proud to be graduating with my Mom!” said her son Mr. Seegobind.

In addition, Samori Ferdinand is graduating with her B.S. in Pharmaceutical Science and her mother Shana Corbett is graduating with her B.S in Business Administration.  “As a mom, my children became my main focus and pursuing a higher education was put on hold,” said Ms. Corbett. “As my children grew my attention to higher education returned,” she added. “When my Mom introduced the idea of attending York College with me, I strongly urged her to pursue it. I always knew my Mom wanted to pursue higher education however; she put this aside to raise us,” said Ms. Corbett’s daughter Ms. Ferdinand. “Since we have been at York College we have experienced so much together! We’ve stayed up late studying for finals, attended a few York events together and supported each other academically. I've seen her reach achievements that were once only thoughts for her, and this has inspired me greatly,” added Ms. Ferdinand.

Award-Winning Alumuna to Receive President’s Medal

Deborah Persaud MD, an internationally-known Pediatric AIDS Researcher and member of the Class of 1981, will be presented with the Presidential Medal of Honor at this year’s Commencement Ceremony. A professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Persaud’s research interests include HIV/AIDS drug development and mother-to-child HIV transmission. She holds joint appointments in international health and molecular microbiology. She is also chair of the Scientific Committee of the International, Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT) group.

About York College: Through York College’s hallmark liberal arts and science programs, students can select from more than sixty undergraduate majors and five Master’s programs. One of the 25 colleges within the City University of New York (CUNY) system, York College is the first choice for prospective CUNY students interested in the health professions, allied health sciences, and business, including aviation management. Located in Queens, the most ethnically diverse borough in New York City, York College has established itself as a model for enabling first generation college students to earn an undergraduate degree and preparing them for graduate education and the competitive marketplace.

Press Contact: Vivian Todini 917-747-7980 / vtodini@york.cuny.edu