Kaplan Educational Foundation college acceptances

The Kaplan Educational Foundation celebrates the latest college acceptances from its 16th cohort of scholars in its Kaplan Leadership Program.

Established in 2006, the Kaplan Leadership Program helps high-potential, low-income and underrepresented community college students complete their associate’s degree, successfully transfer and go on to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree at the nation’s most highly-selective schools. The program focuses on a holistic approach – providing extensive tutoring, academic advisement services, leadership and career training, stipends for living expenses, and other resources and support to help them expand their personal goals, and eventually attain leadership roles in their professions and communities.

Since KEF’s inception, Kaplan Leadership Scholars — primarily first-generation college students — have consistently earned admission to the country’s most competitive schools; 92 percent of Kaplan Scholars have earned a bachelor’s degree.

Those students accepted include:

• Bernice Agyeiwaa, Bronx Community College — Smith College
• Fatima Bah, Hostos Community College — Cornell University
• Yassine Gaye, Hostos Community College — Princeton University
• Jose González, Hostos Community College — Rice University
• Junaid Ilyas, Union College — Rutgers University
• Rubi Larancuent, Bronx Community College — Princeton University
• Ella Mukasa, Hudson County Community College — Emory University
• Andre Watson, Hostos Community College — Yale University
• Jacqueline Yentumi, Borough of Manhattan Community College — Wellesley College

Students also received acceptances from Brown University, Claremont McKenna College and Northwestern University.

“As the recent affirmative action ruling will make it more challenging for selective colleges and universities to attract underrepresented students, the transformative work of KEF  becomes more important and relevant than ever,” said Nolvia Delgado, executive director of KEF. “We’re thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our students at this time, who continue to build on our scholars’ strong legacy of success.”

Purchase College dean’s list

Purchase College announced that more than 1,200 students were named to the dean’s list for the spring semester. Of those, 10 are from greater Riverdale.

• Kermis Batista of Bronx, NY
• Jaden Doret of Bronx, NY
• David Fitzpatrick of Bronx, NY
• Amya Fortunato of Bronx, NY
• Claire Giegerich of Bronx, NY
• Andres Merlano Catalan of Bronx, NY
• Ahna Pultinas of Bronx, NY
• Christina Roldan of Bronx, NY
• Mackenzie Sky of Bronx, NY
• Wren Woodward-Aviles of Bronx, NY

Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher and taken a minimum of 12 credits. For BA and BS programs, a semester GPA of 3.50 is required. For BFA and MusB programs, a semester GPA of 3.75 is required.

Purchase College, part of the State University of New York network of 64 universities and colleges, was founded in 1967 by then Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. His aspiration for Purchase was to create a dynamic campus that combined conservatory training in the visual and performing arts with programs in the liberal arts and sciences.

Today, Purchase College, SUNY is a community of students, faculty, and friends where open-minded engagement leads to intellectual growth.