Kingsborough Community College seeking to recruit Caribbean students

A group from a New York-based community college recently visited local shores in an effort to attract more students to enroll in the institution’s athletics programme.

Representatives from the Kingsborough Community College (KBCC), a subsidiary of City University New York (CUNY), visited St Vincent and the Grenadines as part of its regional tour to make Caribbean students more aware of the opportunities available to them at the institution, in pursuit of tertiary education.{{more}}

Speaking with SEARCHLIGHT last week Wednesday, April 27, Damani Thomas, KBCC director of Athletics, Recreation and Intramurals, said that the community college sees Caribbean students as “an asset,” not only because they perform well at sports, but also because they tend to perform well academically, too.

“What we have realized is that not many students are informed about the opportunities that are out there for them; so, we have an initiative that is supported by the president of the college for us to attract Caribbean students,” Thomas explained.

“We have one of the best academic programmes; we have one of the best services to provide to students… We pride ourselves on the amount of support that we give.”

Thomas said that the programme his department offers caters to 15 sporting disciplines, which include: men and women’s indoor track and field (which incorporates six sub-disciplines), cross country (indoor and outdoor), men and women’s football, baseball, women’s volleyball, men and women’s basketball, men and women’s tennis and cheerleading.

“We have been doing this over a year now, with very good results. So, for the Caribbean athlete that’s wanting to come up and earn a full scholarship to that next level – the four-year school, where you could progress towards your Bachelor’s and Master’s degree – we offer you that bridge that may never have existed before.”

He also pointed out that the college has collaborated on its athletics programme with an outside clinical company that focuses on improving students’/athletes’ physical performance – both from the physiological and mental aspects.

Representing the clinical company was Leroy Jody Nickie, clinical exercise physiologist and owner of Greater Washington Associates in Exercise Physiology – who also lectures on the Health and Human Performance programme at Howard University.

“We actually take the athletes and baseline them in a way that is really very new in many ways. A lot of professional teams in the US are just now getting wind of what’s really out there in the realm of exercise physiology,” elaborated Nickie.

He explained that his company assesses the physical capabilities and potential of athletes on the programme, and develops individually tailored exercise plans that will improve their muscle function and skills.

“All of this comes together… as tool to help them better plan their training regimens; and in doing so, you, the coach, are able to develop a programme that can either fast-track or slow down the development of your athlete.”

Also accompanying the group was Gavin Ireland, assistant director of Enrollment Service and International Student Affairs.)

“We’ve been to a few [Caribbean] countries so far… and we see this potential in a lot of youngsters, and it’s scary to us, because a lot of those dreams will never be fulfilled. After high school, that’s it,” lamented Ireland.

“Even at the Carifta Games, these kids are not getting the exposure that they should be getting. So, we pride our school on being that bridge to that exposure; that bridge to that scholarship – whether it’s athletics or academics.”

Ireland also explained that the community college only requires passes in three CSEC subjects (Mathematics, English and any other) for consideration to enroll on the programme.

He emphasized that at the KBCC, classroom sizes are smaller and therefore, students received more individualized attention from lecturers. He further said that the institution itself is focused on ensuring that students succeed more so than at larger institutions.

“Dreams begin here. And that is exactly what we try and accomplish.”

To apply for the athletics programme, interested persons are encouraged to apply online at www.cuny.edu/apply. Once an application has been made, applicants should immediately email either Thomas (damani.thomas@kbcc.cuny.edu) or Ireland (gireland@kbcc.cuny.edu) to make them aware of the application – quoting the application number – so that it can be given priority attention.

Although scholarships cannot be offered to incoming students, once accepted and enrolled on a course at KBCC for one semester, students are eligible to apply for the numerous scholarships that are on offer annually at the institution. (JSV)