February 22, 2012
Newburgh, NY -
Fourteen Mount Saint Mary College students traveled from the
mid-Hudson campus to Albany recently and met with New York State
Senator William J. Larkin Jr., 39th Senate District, to discuss
financial aid and the state budget.
The effort was part of Student Advocacy Lobby Day. These Higher
Education Opportunity Program students had an opportunity to
practice civic engagement.
Seated (l-r): Dolores Acosta, New York, NY, psychology major;
Brianna Ronca, Middletown, NY, human services major and president
of Political Awareness Club; Nadirah Muhammad, New York, NY,
communications-journalism major and president of Muslim Student
Union; Elizabeth Adebiyi, Bronx, NY, psychology major and president
of Christian Fellowship Club; Genesis Valverde of Bronx, NY, public
relations major.
Standing (l-r): Jaileene Velez of Schenectady, NY, psychology;
Keino Isaac of the Mount’s HEOP office, Rebecca Sylvestre of
Kingston, NY, nursing; Jefrey Velasquez, Bronx, NY,
history/political science, Student Government Association and a
resident assistant; Liliana Peralta Zapata, Bronx, NY, public
relations major; Eduardo Alvarez, Fishkill, NY, accounting;
Jonathan Torres, Bronx, NY, sociology; Senator Larkin, Christian
Martinez, Warwick, NY, interdisciplinary major; Xiomara Loarte,
Newburgh, NY, interdisciplinary and resident assistant; Corrine
McLaughlin, Bronx, NY, psychology.