Reflections from Our Ace Scholars
Introducing CUNY SPS’ Spring 2023 Ace Scholar Recipients (Part Two)
The ACE (Achieve Your College Education) Scholarship is a unique program at CUNY SPS offered to high-achieving undergraduate students who are close to graduating. Endowed by the generous support of founding donor Alan Fishman, the scholarship underwrites 100% of tuition and follows recipients through degree completion.
As part of their award requirements, ACE Scholars mentor newly admitted undergraduate students, in addition to strengthening the School community through various service activities. Each semester, a cohort of ACE Scholars are selected to be ACE Peer-Mentors, where they will provide unique insight and support to new students returning to complete their undergraduate studies at CUNY SPS.
To learn more about the Spring 2023 recipients and their plans, we caught up with several of them and asked them to share their thoughts on the ACE scholarship and becoming a peer mentor.
In the second part of this two-part series, we talk with Kate De Luca, (Health Information Management, BS ‘23), and Intisar Alwahaib (Psychology BA ’24).
Is this your first semester as an ACE scholar? If so, what do you think will be the greatest impact of the ACE Scholarship? (Or if this isn’t your first semester, what has been the greatest impact so far?)
Intisar Alwahaib: “This is my first semester as an ACE scholar. The ACE scholarship will impact my academic journey because it will prepare me for my future career in various ways, such as being responsible for the needs of others, in this case the mentees. Additionally, the ACE scholarship is an opportunity for me to dedicate my full attention and time on expanding my knowledge and understanding of the current college work by reviewing and tutoring others.”
Kate De Luca: “Being awarded the ACE Scholarship for my final semester at CUNY SPS truly means so much to me. In my mind it’s a testament to how far I’ve come, as if saying, ‘I made it.’ As someone in recovery from addiction, mental illness, and cervical cancer, I have worked tirelessly at bettering myself and building a better life. Learning from my experiences and using them to help others has been the best way I’ve found to heal and move forward, and I think that holds true for educational experiences too. The ACE Scholarship provides me with a great opportunity to support others as they begin their academic journey at CUNY SPS, and also helps me in my own journey, both personally and financially.”
How do you think that the ACE Scholarship has already, or will, affect your leadership skills?
Alwahaib: “The ACE scholarship improves my leadership skills by training me to be accountable for the performance of others, figuring out ways of suggesting better solutions and effective management methods, and most importantly how to communicate with others in the academic and professional fields in ways that can facilitate handling difficult situations and enhancing performance.”
De Luca: “Though it’s early in the semester, I can already see that being a mentor to other students is helping me to build confidence in my own knowledge and abilities. It’s also an opportunity to learn how to better connect with people from different backgrounds, and to connect people with resources to meet their needs. Being a mentor is teaching me to support people in a way that promotes self-efficacy, which, in my mind, is really important for success. I think these skills are crucial in anyone’s life, both personal and professional, beyond CUNY SPS.”
Part of being an ACE Scholar involves being an ambassador for the School. What would you tell people is the best part of CUNY SPS?
Alwahaib: “The best part of being with the CUNY SPS is being able to prosper, improve, and achieve despite the fact that we are working remotely. CUNY SPS enables students to communicate with the school community effectively and efficiently. I started my college journey during the outbreak of the pandemic and I have not been in such an advantageous environment until I joined the CUNY SPS. [The School] provides the flexibility I need to accomplish my work thoroughly, which students need to succeed and progress. …[I]t is essential to allow students to choose their convenient work and school schedules to enable them to carry out all their tasks. CUNY SPS was designed to make that a possibility.”
De Luca: “I have relished my time at CUNY SPS. Maybe it’s because I’m a little older now than I was for previous educational endeavors, or maybe it’s because I feel like I don’t take things for granted as much as I once did.”
How do you think that the skills you acquire through the ACE program will help you in your career?
De Luca: “I hope to be able to use the skills I’m learning to help people in positions of disadvantage or disability to connect with the resources that will allow them to live their best lives. It’s clear to me now that that’s the reason I have survived everything I have survived.”
Alwahaib: “My career in the medical field or in the psychology department depends heavily on helping others and being able to find out ways to provide help. The ACE scholarship is also formed to support and develop the ability to build relationships with people and come up with possible options and solutions to provide assistance that can direct people to the right actions.”
What is the most valuable student hack you intend to pass on to your mentees?
Alwahaib: “I learned to read the syllabus at the beginning of the course to have an idea of what the major assignments would require. That alone will make assignment completion much easier because I can be informed of what I should focus on when doing the weekly readings based on the assignment guidelines. Highlighting the important parts of the readings facilitates gathering supporting information for the assignment [is also important]. Lastly, form a communication circle in the class, either in Blackboard (the School’s online learning platform) or a separate group chat to share ideas, feedback, and get reminders of important information and events to stay connected…[this] can lead to taking advantage of the different resources that CUNY SPS offers.”
What are your plans post-graduation?
De Luca: “I recently decided to change direction a bit from Health Information Management after graduation and I applied to graduate school for Rehabilitation Counseling.”
Alwahaib: “My post-graduate plan is to enroll in a medical program to obtain my master’s degree. Both of my degrees — bachelor’s and master’s — require having an insight into people’s needs and having the ability to comprehend what they need to overcome difficulties.”
Any messages you would like to pass on to those students who may be deciding whether to head back to school for their degree?
De Luca: “To those who might be trying to decide whether they should head back to school I say, DO IT! We are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. Stop thinking about it and just do it.”
Anything else that you would like to add?
De Luca: “CUNY SPS has been paramount in helping me achieve my academic, professional, and personal goals. I can’t even begin to express the gratitude I have for what I have been able to overcome and accomplish in life because of the help I received from others via scholarships, financial aid, mentors, counselors, legal aid, etc. I really just want to dedicate myself to paying it forward in any way that I can and I appreciate this opportunity to do just that.”
