By Katy Milberg
Wagner College’s thrilling 2024 NCAA Tournament run ends
Concluding their hard-nosed run into March Madness, Wagner College fell on March 21 to top-seeded North Carolina, 90-62, in a second-round defeat. Julian Brown and Melvin Council Jr. scored 18 points each for the Seahawks in their NCAA Tournament contest in Charlotte, North Carolina. Keyontae Lewis added 13 points for Wagner (17-16). Brown tied the game at 15-15 with a jumper and 12:53 remaining in the first half. But North Carolina (28-7) established a 40-28 lead at halftime that Wagner could not overcome.
The team's exciting postseason campaign included a stunning run to the Northeast Conference title and the Seahawks' first NCAA Tournament win despite numerous injuries that halved the team's roster.
The Seahawks' success became a regional and national story that galvanized the students and staff throughout campus during the college's spring break and drew interest from several news outlets. Read more at Wagner Athletics.
Wagner College Choir performs at Carnegie Hall
Talented members of the Wagner College Choir recently stood upon the iconic stages of Carnegie Hall for their annual concert this year titled “I Chose Love.” In addition to the group performance, four exceptional Wagner students — Grant Anderson, Jade Schoenfeld, Jaylen Gray and Mikyla Phipps — each celebrated their Carnegie Hall soloist debut in a moment of immense honor.
“It is a truly unique experience that only Wagner College can provide!” said Thomas Juneau, director of Choral Activities.
The Choir’s journey in Manhattan did not end at Carnegie Hall. The College Choir was also featured at the Hard Rock Cafe marquis in Times Square. This experience helps solidify Wagner’s involvement in New York City’s vibrant music scene.
Wagner undergraduate student to present at Harvard University conference
Undergraduate student Charles Milne-Home’s academic success has been recognized with the acceptance of his research paper for presentation at the 2024 Scholarship & Social Justice Undergraduate Research Conference hosted by Harvard University. Milne-Home will be amongst the distinguished attendees at the conference April 18th and 19th.
During the conference, Milne-Home will give a 10-minute presentation highlighting research on mental health, education and resistance.
The conference is hosted by the Center for Public Service & Engaged Scholarship and the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural & Race Relations at Harvard College. This conference serves as a platform for accomplished undergraduate students from both private and public institutions across the nation to share their insightful research and engage in meaningful academic dialogue.
Wagner alum to promote sustainability in Armenia
Recent Wagner graduate Yasmin Teekasingh will embark on an exciting journey as she joins the Peace Corps in Armenia, dedicating over two years as a Youth Development Volunteer. In her role, Teekasingh will build strong relationships within the community she is directly serving and will assist on a variety of projects to promote local sustainability.
“I am driven by the ability to make an impact and I only hope I can positively represent aspects of Americanism and American values with respect to Armenian culture,” said Teekasingh.
The Wagner community extends Yasmin the best of luck on her endeavor! Eager to stay up to date on Teekasingh’s journey? Her LinkedIn page will be updated with stories and insights from her time abroad.
Wagner’s Graduate Education Program accepted into Empire State Residency
Dr. Katia González is excited to announce her program’s acceptance into the New York State Department of Labor's Empire State Teacher Residency Program. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently revealed eight institutions selected to participate in the exciting new program, one of them being Wagner College's Graduate Education Program.
The program allows for up to 400 New York State applicants to be admitted and receive a $30,000 stipend. All applicants are required to possess a bachelor’s degree. Graduate students participating in the program will:
- Tackle 1,000 hours of clinical experience in a New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) classroom over the course of one school year.
- Complete the residency program that requires a 2-year commitment to teaching with NYCPS.
This large stipend would cover the cost of Wagner's one-year Graduate 7-12 Education program entirely. González anticipates that Wagner should expect about 40-50 additional graduate education students to enroll in her program. More information about Wagner’s education program can be found here.
Bridging the gap between technical expertise and effective communication
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Melissa Lamanna sought to create a community of confident scientists at Wagner. Lamanna hosts monthly ‘lunch-n-learn’ meetings to provide students a platform to present their research to fellow members of the scientific community. These sessions help bridge the gap between technical expertise and effective communication, empowering students to articulate their research findings.
"It's vital to teach scientists the soft skills to make them comfortable to communicate about their research as a scientist; it does nothing if we do research in a vacuum and never talk about it; here's an opportunity for them to gain confidence to talk about their work to prepare them for post-college life," said Lamanna.
What originated as a small, close-knit group of six attendees has flourished to up to 20 participants. To learn more or to attend the next ‘lunch-n-learn,’ email Lamanna here.
