Monday, January 20, 2025
Students at Uniondale High School are getting a head start on their college education through the Hofstra-Uniondale Pathway Program, which allows them to take college courses while still in high school and helps set them up for future success.
The program is a partnership between the Uniondale School District and Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication.
At a Dec. 18 ceremony in a studio at the Herbert School, the first cohort of 15 students was celebrated for completing the program’s inaugural year. The event also marked the arrival of a new group of students, who will begin the program in the spring.
Rhonda Taylor, the school district’s assistant superintendent, praised the partnership, emphasizing the impact it will have on students as they prepare to “take over the world” after high school.
“Beginning in Uniondale, but then wherever they go across the nation or the world’s colleges, we are making sure that they’re going to be ready to take it over,” Taylor said.
To participate in the program, students were required to submit applications, followed by one-on-one interviews to ensure they were a good fit for the academic challenge.
Once selected, students took one college class in the spring of their junior year and another in the fall of their senior year. Classes, which were held once a week in the afternoon on the Hofstra campus, earned participants three college credits each, which can be applied at any university. The Uniondale district provided students with transportation to and from Hofstra.
Aashish Kumar, a professor of radio, television and film at Hofstra, explained that the program gave students a taste of college life and curriculum. They took courses in media literacy during their first semester with professor Brian McFadden, and foundations of radio, television and film with Kumar in the fall.
“I think they appreciated the freedom that you get as a college student, how you speak, how you conduct yourself, what your expectations are,” Kumar said. “I think those are the big learnings, and we wanted them to have a little taste of college life, or at least college curriculum, before actually leaving.”
Giancarlo Alvarado, 17, one of the students in the first cohort, said he enjoyed the program, especially the first class they took. He said he appreciated that there was “a lot of freedom” and the experience was “way different” than high school.
Another student, Carina Vigil Gonsalez, 17, said she enjoyed “having the experience of being involved” at a college, including going to lectures.
For Allison Martinez, 17, the opportunity to have “free access to the campus” was a highlight. She also said she learned how to be more independent and how to better manage her time.
The program will also provide scholarships for four students in the first cohort, covering their tuition and housing. The applicants will be required to go through another interview process, and the four winners will be selected by April 1.
The scholarship is part of Hofstra’s ongoing commitment to Uniondale students, providing them with not just academic opportunities, but also access to resources and support, according to Hofstra President Susan Poser.
“That is our commitment to them and to Uniondale,” Poser said. “We have shown you what a college experience is like, and I know that the four selected to receive this competitive scholarship will build on that experience and do wonderful things while they’re here at Hofstra as first-year students and beyond.”
For students in the second cohort, Poser offered words of encouragement. “Remember that this university is a place where you can dream big, you can prepare for your future and achieve your goals, and we are here to support you every step of the way,” she said.
Among the students in the second cohort is Joselyn Alas, 16, a junior at Uniondale High School. She is excited about the chance to work on projects and improve her research skills, and she is most looking forward to “making friends and communicating our shared experiences,” she said.
Kaylie Caballero, 16, said she’s also eager to participate. A passionate writer, she is hoping the program will help her improve her skills. “I’m hoping to expand my abilities in writing and speech,” Caballero said.
