High School Students Participate in Summer Science Program

Students in the RISE program are shown here removing invasive plants that are suffocating native and ornamental species.

Dominican College hosted a three-week summer research experience for high school students in July.  The free program is called RISE (Research Immersion in Science and Ecology) and was generously funded by Orange and Rockland Utilities.

Biology Professor Regina Alvarez said the 15 high school participants in the program were mature, intelligent, and highly motivated to learn.  “Our aim was to expose the students to different STEM and environmental science fields and to nurture and promote their interest in science,” she said.

During the first week of the RISE program, students were introduced to a range of STEM fields and careers through various workshops. Students then worked with undergraduate mentors and a scientist, to complete a project during the second week.  The projects focused on the Sparkill Creek and included chemical descriptions, microbiological and viral genomics, and botanical and ecological surveys. The program concluded with students learning how to analyze data and prepare a poster presentation.  On July 26, 2019 the students presented their work at Dominican College to their families, friends, and teachers.

August 3, 2019

Dominican College Celebrates 25 Years of Campus Development

Dominican College celebrated 25 years of campus development at the 47th Annual Grand Reception on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at The View in Piermont, NY.

During the Grand Reception, special recognition was given to a number of individuals who have been instrumental in the College’s growth including:  Ross Pepe, Jack Holt, Pat Diccianni, Nick Badami (posthumously), Jim Granito,  Pat Aguanno,  Joe Corless,  Jim Hennessy, Pat Miele,  Karim Abood, Jon Prusmack (posthumously), and Patti Prusmack.

“Each of these individuals played a key role in the development of the campus and the construction of new buildings. We are grateful for their wisdom, hard work, and generosity in helping us to develop the campus over the past quarter century,” said Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P., Ph.D., College President.

At the event, it was announced that a brass plaque giving special recognition to the individuals was affixed to a large rock in front of the Hennessy Center.

Dominican College has undergone tremendous growth since 1994 when the College opened the Hennessy Center, the main athletic facility on campus.  In 1996, Hertel Hall, a 290-bed student residence opened, along with the Granito Center, a student center and dining hall. Four years later, the second floor of the Granito Center was completed, containing the Badami Board Room, the Health Center, and the College Bookstore.  In 2005, the Prusmack Center for Health and Science Education was completed to offer updated classrooms, laboratories, and a lecture hall.   Guzman Hall, a 200-bed student residence, was constructed and opened in 2007.  Most recently, in 2017, the Hennessy Center expansion was completed, with a new gymnasium and fitness center.

 

 

June 12, 2019

Dominican College Celebrates 25 Years of Campus Development

Dominican College celebrated 25 years of campus development at the 47th Annual Grand Reception on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at The View in Piermont, NY.

During the Grand Reception, special recognition was given to a number of individuals who have been instrumental in the College’s growth including:  Ross Pepe, Jack Holt, Pat Diccianni, Nick Badami (posthumously), Jim Granito,  Pat Aguanno,  Joe Corless,  Jim Hennessy, Pat Miele,  Karim Abood, Jon Prusmack (posthumously), and Patti Prusmack.

“Each of these individuals played a key role in the development of the campus and the construction of new buildings. We are grateful for their wisdom, hard work, and generosity in helping us to develop the campus over the past quarter century,” said Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P., Ph.D., College President.

At the event, it was announced that a brass plaque giving special recognition to the individuals was affixed to a large rock in front of the Hennessy Center.

Dominican College has undergone tremendous growth since 1994 when the College opened the Hennessy Center, the main athletic facility on campus.  In 1996, Hertel Hall, a 290-bed student residence opened, along with the Granito Center, a student center and dining hall. Four years later, the second floor of the Granito Center was completed, containing the Badami Board Room, the Health Center, and the College Bookstore.  In 2005, the Prusmack Center for Health and Science Education was completed to offer updated classrooms, laboratories, and a lecture hall.   Guzman Hall, a 200-bed student residence, was constructed and opened in 2007.  Most recently, in 2017, the Hennessy Center expansion was completed, with a new gymnasium and fitness center.

 

 

June 12, 2019

Broadway Concert at Convent Chapel to Raise Funds for Jackson DiDona

Jackson DiDona has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer. A concert on Monday, May 20 at 7 p.m. will raise money to help pay for his medical treatment.

Broadway and off-Broadway performers will be singing show tunes during a special concert on Monday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt Convent Chapel on Western Highway. Tickets will be sold at the door for a suggested donation of $20.  All money raised from the event will benefit 5-year-old Jackson DiDona, who has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer.

Jackson’s father is Greg DiDona, the Assistant Director of the Academic Success Center, and his grandmother is Nancy DiDona, Director of Nursing.  The Dominican College Community is supporting the DiDona family as they pray for a miracle for Jackson who has been diagnosed with DIPG, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a type of brain tumor found in an area of the brainstem.  The treatments are very costly and a number of fundraisers are taking place to help the family pay for Jackson’s medical care.

During the concert, performers will be singing songs from Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line, Man of La Mancha, Camelot, My Fair Lady, and many other favorites.  The concert was organized by Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Michael Pizzi, who will be performing with his friends. When he is not teaching, Professor Pizzi is busy producing charity cabaret concerts, musical revues, and creating classes and Broadway camps for children with special needs.

Parking for the concert will be at the main Dominican College parking lot at 480 Western Highway, Orangeburg, NY.  For additional information about Jackson and to learn more about how you can help, visit dc.edu/jacksonstrong/.

May 14, 2019

College Offers Additional Career Fair for Healthcare Students

The College held its first Healthcare Career Fair on April 3, 2019 in the Granito Center.

Students met with company recruiters, applied for jobs and internships, and polished their networking skills at two Career Fairs in April.  For the first time, the College held a Healthcare Career Fair to cater to the College’s many healthcare students.  The annual Career Fair, which is open to the public, took place on April 2, 2019. The Healthcare Career Fair, which better accommodated students who had clinicals, was held a day later.

“Our first Healthcare Career Fair was a huge success,”  said Internship Coordinator/Career Counselor Rose Macom, MSEd.  “Students took advantage of the opportunity to meet and network with healthcare employers.  The two hours went by very quickly.  Employers gave us excellent feedback and we learned about new externship opportunities for our students.”

The annual Career Fair also was successful with a 20 percent increase in the number of students who attended.  Macom said that recruiters at both events were impressed with how well prepared the students were,  based on their resumes and knowledge of the companies.

 

April 4, 2019

Federal Reserve Bank of NY Economist Presents “Outlook on the Economy”

Jason Bram from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York spoke to business leaders, students, and college administrators on the “Outlook on the Economy.”

An economist from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York delivered his annual “Outlook on the Economy” presentation on Thursday, January 24, 2019 in Dominican College’s Fury Lecture Hall. Jason Bram, Research Officer, Regional Analysis Function, spoke about the latest economic indicators.

Bram spoke during week five of the government shutdown. He said it was too early to gauge the effect of the shutdown on the economy, although he was concerned about the government workers who were not getting paid. “But in terms of its effects on the economy, it’s something to be vigilant about,” he said. “It doesn’t seem to have had an effect yet, but that doesn’t mean it won’t.”

Bram also told the audience of business leaders, students, and college administrators that:

  • The labor market remains strong and wage growth has picked up.
  • Manufacturing and housing have shown signs of slowing.
  • New York City’s economy has continued to boom, while other local economies across the tri-state metropolitan region have grown modestly.
  • New York City’s finance sector has remained sluggish, but its tech sector has grown briskly.

Bram produces the regional Beige Book reports, and uses monthly business surveys to monitor and analyze current and emerging economic trends and issues of concern.

January 26, 2019

Volunteers Take Part in MLK, Jr. Day of Service

During the MLK, Jr. Day of Service at Dominican College some volunteers made birthday bags with cake mix, icing, candles, a birthday banner, birthday cards, and gifts for needy children.

Community members from throughout Rockland County volunteered at a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event sponsored by Volunteer New York at Dominican College on Saturday, January, 19, 2019.

Nicole Lowrance of Volunteer New York said the Day of Service is a wonderful way for families to honor the legacy of Dr. King.  “There’s not a better way to honor him than coming together, being of service to others, and making goods that are going to non-profit partners in this community and Westchester as well.”

Volunteers worked on a number of projects during the Day of Service held in the Granito Center including birthday bags for children at the Nyack Center, gifts for the troops and veterans, and dog pull toys for sheltered dogs. Volunteers also had the opportunity to learn CPR.

January 19, 2019

Acclaimed Christmas Concert to be Held on December 2

Each year, approximately 500 people attend the Dominican College Christmas Concert featuring the Rev. Alphonse Stephenson and the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea.

A beloved Dominican College tradition continues on Sunday, December 2, 2018, with the Annual Christmas Concert featuring the Reverend Alphonse Stephenson and the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea.  The concert will be held at 3 p.m. in the Hennessy Center on the Dominican College Campus at 495 Western Highway in Blauvelt, NY.

The concert features 40 classically-trained musicians, directed by Father Alphonse, who was the conductor and musical director of the 1980’s Broadway run of A Chorus Line.  The orchestra, which will be accompanied by three vocalists, is made up of some of the area’s finest musicians and performs concerts throughout the region.

Tickets for the concert are priced at $35 for General Admission, $30 for seniors and veterans, and $20 for students under age 22 with a school ID.  Concert tickets include a post-performance dessert reception.  In addition, a holiday buffet will be held in the Granito Center at 1 p.m. before the concert, at a cost of $20 per person.

To purchase tickets, visit https://dccollege2021.wpengine.com/christmasconcert2018/, e-mail specialevents@duny.edu or call 845-848-7406.

November 13, 2018

Annual Healthcare Symposium Focuses on Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment

Former trustee and cancer survivor Jon Prusmack, Dr. David S. Siegel, Chief of the Division of Multiple Meloma, Hackensack University Medical Center and Dr. Joel W. Beetsch,  Vice President, Global Patient Advocacy, Corporate Affairs, Celgene Corporation (shown left to right) were speakers at the 6th Annual Healthcare Symposium at Dominican College.

The 6th Annual Healthcare Symposium focused on CAR T-Cell Therapy – a groundbreaking new cancer treatment that has had promising results in clinical trials.  Former College Trustee and cancer survivor Jon Prusmack is one of just 20 people nationwide to take part in a clinical trial using CAR T-Cell Therapy to treat multiple myeloma.  One year later, Prusmack is cancer-free.

Prusmack opened the health symposium by telling his success story.  He started the clinical trial after his cancer mutated and chemotherapy, which he had been on for 15 years, was no longer effective.  “The end result is no chemotherapy.  You live a normal life.  Does it work forever? Nobody knows.  It’s still in clinical trials.  But for the one year, that I’ve been on it, it’s been terrific: live a normal life; work hard; no chemo; energy.  I just feel terrific,” he said.

The speakers at the October 5, 2018 event were Prusmack’s physician, Dr. David S. Siegel, Chief of the Division of Multiple Myeloma, Hackensack University Medical Center, and Dr. Joel W. Beetsch, Vice President, Global Patient Advocacy, Corporate Affairs, Celgene Corporation.  Celgene has worked on developing this new therapy.

Dr. Siegel said CAR T-cell Therapy is an enormous step forward for all oncology.  So far, the therapy has been tested only on blood cancers, however, clinical trials are beginning for treating solid tumors.  The therapy involves removing T-cells from the body and modifying the cells in a lab to be able to identify cancer cells. The modified T- cells are grown and expanded and then injected back into the patient.  The CAR T-cells bind to cancer cells and kill them.

The Health Symposium was held in the Fury Lecture Hall in the science center bearing Prusmack’s name.

October 6, 2018

High School Students Attend STEM Camp at College

Dominican College junior Tahinah Lamour (left) is shown here mentoring Spring Valley High School students to help them extract DNA from water samples collected in local ponds.

Twelve Rockland high school students are attending a 3-week science camp at the College this summer.  The experience is called RISE (Research Immersion in Science and Ecology) and is being held on campus from July 22 through August 10.  The program is free and was funded through a generous grant from Orange and Rockland Utilities.

“The program is important because it’s exposing high school students to the sciences and they are doing hands-on projects that they may not have the opportunity to do somewhere else,” said Biology Professor Regina Alvarez.

The students are taking samples of the Sparkill Creek and local ponds and using microbiology and chemistry to analyze the samples in the College laboratories.  The students are also studying the biodiversity of the area with botanical and ecological surveys. In addition to the three College professors working with the students, five Dominican College students are working as mentors with the high school students.  On Friday, August 10, the high school students will present their findings during a ceremony in the Lawrence Room in Rosary Hall at 7 p.m.  Family and friends are invited to attend.

August 1, 2018

Annual Career Fair is Open to the Public

About 40 businesses and organizations will be represented at the Dominican College Career Fair on April 11, 2018.

About 40 businesses and organizations interested in hiring will be at Dominican College on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 for the annual Dominican College Career Fair. The event is open to the public.  Don’t miss this opportunity to meet company recruiters, apply for jobs and internships, and polish your networking skills.  Attendees will also be able to have their photo taken to use on their LinkedIn profile.  The event will take place in the Hennessy Center, 495 Western Highway, Blauvelt, NY from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Businesses participating in the Career Fair include Liberty Coca-Cola, New York Life, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., and Crystal Run Healthcare.  Insurance agencies, health agencies, not-for-profit organizations, law enforcement, government agencies, and the military will all be represented at the event.  Visit: www.duny.edu/events/career-fair-2018/  to view a listing of companies that will be in attendance.  Businesses interested in recruiting at the event can also register at that site.  For additional information, please call 845-848-4032/4033.

March 22, 2018

Visiting Fellow Urges Students to Speak Out About Climate Change

Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow Dr. Robert K. Musil delivered a lecture entitled “Last Chance for the Environment? Why Scientists and Citizens Must Act” on March, 19, 2018 in the Fury Lecture Hall.

Environmental leader and author Dr. Robert K. Musil, head of the Rachel Carson Council and former CEO of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Physicians for Social Responsibility, urged students to speak out about climate change during a March 19, 2018 speech in the Fury Lecture Hall.

During his lecture entitled, “Last Chance for the Environment? Why Scientists and Citizens Must Act,” Dr. Musil said the science behind climate change is undeniable and the students should speak up, march, lobby, and finally, un-elect those who will not pay attention.

”Unless you all make it part of what you do – when you wake up, when you go to bed, and in 2018 – things aren’t going to change in your lifetime, and they will get very bad,” he said.  “There will be more Superstorm Sandys.  There will be more forest fires.  There will be more destruction of coastal lands. It will be bad.”

Dr. Musil is visiting Dominican College for several days and speaking with a variety of classes as part of the Council of Independent Colleges Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows Program. This program brings prominent artists, diplomats, journalists, business leaders, and other nonacademic professionals to campuses across the United States for substantive dialogue with students and faculty members.

 

 

March 20, 2018