The "LaGuardia Alumni Newsletter" is an e-newsletter published by LaGuardia's Division of Communications and External Affairs and the Alumni Association to provide news and information to alumni. For information about the LaGuardia Alumni Association, please email: alumni@lagcc.cuny.edu | | MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ADAMS | |
Dear LaGuardia Alumni,
Welcome to the inaugural issue of the LaGuardia Alumni Newsletter. I am honored to greet you as President of LaGuardia Community College, and to extend my heartfelt thanks for your continued connection to this vibrant community.
LaGuardia has long been more than just a college — it’s a launching pad for dreams, a place where dedication meets opportunity, and where every graduate carries forward the spirit of the Red Hawks. As alumni, you are integral to that legacy. Our Alumni Association, which has stood since November 1977 to promote fellowship, support, and pride among graduates, continues to evolve in exciting ways—and this newsletter is one of those new steps forward.
This newsletter will include updates on the initiatives shaping our campus, news about athletic teams and competitions, stories of student and alumni success, and opportunities for you to stay engaged — from upcoming events to mentoring and volunteering. You’ll be the first to hear how the Strategic Plan 2025-2029 is taking shape, how new programs are meeting emerging needs, and how your fellow Red Hawks are forging paths in New York City and beyond.
One of the new benefits we’re proud to offer is an official Alumni I.D. card, giving you access to campus events, athletic competitions, performances, and amenities such as the library, swimming pool, and recreation center (as scheduling allows). We also continue expanding alumni services through career advising, mentoring, networking, and discounts for certain continuing education courses.
But this newsletter is more than announcements — it’s also your platform. We invite you to share your story, your milestones, your ideas, and your connection to LaGuardia. You can contact the alumni association at alumni@lagcc.cuny.edu to share your story and learn more.
Thank you for remaining a vital part of our LaGuardia family.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Adams
President, LaGuardia Community College
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ICYMI: President’s Fall Report Available on YouTube
On Friday, October 3, President Kenneth Adams presented his annual Fall Report. The presentation included divisional updates and work underway to advance the new LaGuardia Strategic Plan.
View the recording on YouTube.
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LaGuardia Community Greenway Features Street Mural Designed by LaGuardia Student
On October 6, the New York City Department of Transportation cut the ribbon on a new pedestrian plaza at LaGuardia, bringing 17,390 square feet of new pedestrian space to Long Island City. In partnership with the college, the LaGuardia Community Greenway, located on 29th Street between Skillman Avenue and 47th Avenue, has transformed an underutilized street into a vibrant, social, public space for students and community members to enjoy.
After three years of Open Streets, student events, programming events, activities, and community outreach, NYC DOT and LaGuardia have transformed the street into western Queen’s newest pedestrian plaza, featuring a block-long mural designed by Fernanda Contreras, a Fine Arts student at the college. The asphalt mural, one of the largest currently on display in New York City, was painted through a collaborative effort from NYC DOT and LaGuardia through NYC DOT Art Partners with the help of volunteer members of the student body and faculty.
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Runners and Walkers Participate in the LaGuardia Community Run
About 200 runners and walkers came out for the Fourth Annual LaGuardia Community Run on Sunday October 19. Proceeds from the 5K race will support Finca La Florecita, LaGuardia’s urban farm, which provides fresh produce to the LaGuardia CARES food pantry, and cultivates the next generation of Urban STEM agricultural leaders. If you participated in the race, you can access results and photos here. The top male runner was Tomasz Wawrzyniak (17:52.61), who has now won the race three times after previously placing first in the 2022 and 2023 runs; the top female runner was Irene Starygina (22:29.51); and the top non-binary runner was Konika Chowdhury (50:23.91).
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LaGuardia and Wagner Archives Celebrates New Location
A ribbon-cutting marked the reopening of the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives in a newly renovated and expanded location. The Archives’ new space, on the seventh floor of the C-Building (Room C-760), features a dedicated gallery, library, climate-controlled vaults, and new classrooms designed to support hands-on learning with historical artifacts. “This new space marks a transformative moment for the Archives,” said Archives Director Jennifer Jensen. “With expanded facilities and dedicated classrooms, we’re not only preserving New York City’s history—we’re empowering students to engage with it directly. Our collections are living resources, and we’re excited to see how the next generation will use them to tell the city’s stories.” President Kenneth Adams spoke about the significance of the Archives to the college and recognized the Archives’ founder, Dr. Richard Lieberman. Guests also heard from Council Member Julie Won (26th District, Queens), Assembly Member Valdez (36th District, Queens), and Council Member Lincoln Restler (33rd District, Brooklyn). Following the remarks, guests were offered guided tours of the newly expanded facility and each received a signed copy of Women in New York Government, a student-produced book inspired by the historic first female majority in the New York City Council.
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Finding Their Voice: LaGuardia Students Celebrate the Power of Writing
Since 2009, the National Day on Writing has been observed each October 20 to honor the many ways writing shapes our lives—from text messages and journal entries to essays and poems. This year, LaGuardia celebrated National Day on Writing on October 21 to accommodate the Diwali holiday. Students gathered in the Poolside Café around tables scattered with poetry prompts, colorful markers, and blank bookmarks, ready to explore the written word as a method of self-expression. The event—organized by English Department instructors Anastasia Figuera (Adjunct Lecturer), Deirdre Flood (Lecturer and Journalism Major Program Director), and Dr. Rochelle Spencer (Lecturer)—offered students the opportunity to participate in creative writing activities like blackout poetry, translation poetry, and letters to their future selves. Students also played tabletop games, crafted bookmarks, enjoyed refreshments, and visited tables hosted by the Queens Public Library and the LaGuardia Library. Read about five students at the event here.
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Meet the Coaches: Shareika Parry, Head Coach, Women's Basketball
Coach Shareika Parry is entering her fourth season as Head Coach of the LaGuardia Red Hawks Women’s Basketball program. With years of coaching experience and a proven record of building successful teams from the ground up, Coach Parry is a true leader on and off the court. She founded her first women’s basketball team at the Harlem Children’s Zone and is no stranger to developing programs from scratch. As a former CUNY student-athlete, she appeared in the National Tournament and won a CUNY Championship, both experiences that fuel her dedication to mentoring the next generation. Coach Parry emphasizes fundamentals, accountability, confidence, and teamwork, while ensuring her athletes thrive academically and personally. Her goal is to prepare student-athletes for success both on the court and in life.
Learn more about the other coaches leading our student-athletes here.
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October 29, 2025: The Amazin’ Mets Foundation, led by philanthropist and Mets Owner Alex Cohen, has awarded $30,000 in scholarships to LaGuardia students for the 2025–26 academic year. The Amazin’ Mets Foundation Scholarship Fund is administered by the LaGuardia Community College Foundation.
October 23, 2025: Finca La Florecita, LaGuardia’s urban farm, yielded over 3,000 pounds of produce this summer, much of it distributed to those in need via LaGuardia CARES. The segment begins at 12:34 and features interviews with Chelsea Encababian, director of Sustainable Urban Agriculture, and Brendan Parker, a student farm crew member. The program was founded by Dr. Preethi Radhakrishnan, director of Environmental Science.
October 22, 2025: LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams is on PoliticsNY and amNY’s annual list honoring the dedicated leaders across New York’s vast education system.
October 22, 2025: The last General Election Debate for NYC mayor took place Wednesday night at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College.
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LaGuardia’s C-Building is emblematic of the transformation of Long Island City from an industrial district with factories, warehouses, and refineries to a post-industrial residential neighborhood in the late twentieth century. Constructed in 1912 as a factory, the building was originally home to the Loose-Wiles Sunshine Biscuits Company. It was a technological marvel, nicknamed the “Thousand Window Bakery,” designed to maximize airflow and natural sunlight needed for baking.
The company produced, among other snacks, biscuits, Hydrox cookies, animal crackers, and crispy saltines. Many were sold in tins, now considered collector’s items, sometimes sold on eBay. It remained the largest bakery in the world until 1955. The plant closed in 1965, and production was relocated to New Jersey.
In the 1970s, the college started renting space in the building. In the 1990s, New York State purchased the building for the college. Since then, there have been renovations to modernize it, including a façade replacement. In 2025, LaGuardia and Wagner Archives relocated on campus from the E-Building to the 7th floor of the C-Building; their new space features a gallery, library, climate-controlled vaults, and new classrooms.
| | "LaGuardia Alumni Newsletter" is produced and published by the Communications and External Affairs Division; alumni are invited to share their success stories and provide feedback by emailing alumni@lagcc.cuny.edu. |
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